Lehali language


Lehali is an Oceanic language spoken by about 200 people, on the west coast of Ureparapara Island in Vanuatu. It is distinct from Löyöp, the language spoken on the east coast of the same island.

Phonology

Lehali has 10 phonemic vowels. These are all short monophthongs :

Grammar

The system of personal pronouns in Lehali contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers.
Spatial reference in Lehali is based on a system of geocentric directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, and yet innovative.