[s] and [h] variation

Print

[s] and [h] variation

Lamont Lindstrom, Mon, 2022-10-03 11:44
Regarding: 
Dialects
State
Closed
ISO 639-3: 
tnk

C. 2000, [h] was replacing [s] in some major lexemes (e.g, ramasan/ramahan, 'good'), particularly around Imaki village and coastal areas to the south.  Earlier [s] usage remained common around Port Resolution and the area east of the volcano now called Nepraineteta ('body of the canoe').  I will be back on Tanna in Oct 2022 and will check to see if this trend continues.

Editorial Action

No action taken at this time.

Comments

Chuck Fennig, Mon, 2022-10-10 11:06

Dear Lamont,

Thank you for this information on the dialects of Kwamera [tnk] in Vanuatu.

Currently, Ethnologue has only the following information on the dialects of Kwamera: "2 main dialects". Rather than the details of lexical change, we would like to start with dialect names. Would they be Imaki and Nepraineteta?

Best regards,

Chuck Fennig
Managing Editor, Ethnologue

Lamont Lindstrom, Mon, 2022-10-10 12:53

HI Chuck, in the late 70s when I learned Kwamera I noted a number of what I called "village microdialects"....there were about 20 words (for 'no, see, now' etc) that varied depending on village (and these villages were spatially near and intermarried. I figured these served as identify markers...in-marrying women would have to adopt the local standard. But my guess is that there is a regional dialectical difference between Kwamera's northern speakers (between volcano and Port Resolution) and those living along the southeast coast.
Though I don't know if differences are notable enough to signify dialects....I need to find out! One could label the areas northern and southern (or southeastern). My comment suggested Imaki (name of the largest village along the SE coast, though Kwamera comes close) and Nepraineteta. This is a relatively new regional label that popped up about 10 years ago (it means 'body of the canoe'). These regional labels are political--villages that collect into regions recogized--I think--by the island council of chiefs. The Imaki region, in this system, calls itself Nafe, using the main language name. As everything on Tanna, things are complicated! But safe,, I think to say there are minor lexical (and that one allophonic) difference between northern and southeastern speakers. If I find out more I'll post!
lamont

Add new comment

View the Discussion