Central Vanuatu languages


The Central Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in central Vanuatu.

Languages

Clark (2009)

Clark provides the following classification of the Central Vanuatu languages, divided into geographic areas. Outlier languages identified by Clark are in italics. Clark's Central Vanuatu branch is wider in scope, including not only the Shepherd–Efate languages, but also the Malakula and Ambrym–Paama–Epi languages.
According to Thieberger, Efatese is an artificial mixture of the languages of Efate.

François (2015)

The following list of 19 Central Vanuatu languages is from François.
No.LanguageOther namesSpeakersEthnologueISO 639-3Region
107North Ambrym5250Ambrym
108OrkonFanbak30Ambrym
109Southeast Ambrym3700Ambrym
110DaakiePort Vato1300Ambrym
111DaakakaSouth Ambrym, Baiap1200Ambrym
112Dalkalaen1000Ambrym
113RaljagoWest Ambrym, Lonwolwol<10Ambrym
114PaamaPaamese6000Paama
115LamenLamenu, Varmali850Epi, Lamen
116LewoVarsu2200Epi
117BiereboBonkovia-Yevali900Epi
118BakiBurumba, Paki350Epi
119MkirMaii180Epi
120BieriaBieri, Vovo, Wowo25Epi
121NamakuraMakura, Namakir3750Efate, Shepherd Islands
123Nakanamanga9500Efate, Shepherd Islands
124LelepaHavannah Harbour400Efate, Lelepa
125Eton500Efate
126South EfateErakor6000Efate

Additionally, the extinct Sowa language was formerly spoken in central Vanuatu.