Vera’a

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A language of Vanuatu

ISO 639-3
vra
Alternate Names
Vatrata, Vetrat
User Population

500 (2020 A. François).

Location

Torba province: Vanua Lava island west coast, Vera’a village.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, North and Central Vanuatu, Northeast Vanuatu-Banks Islands, East Vanuatu
Dialects

None known. Reportedly similar to Lemerig [lrz] and Vurës [msn].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; dual and trial numbers; common and personal articles; isolating analytic language; no affixed on verbs; tense-aspect-mood markers; 17 consonants and 7 vowels; exclusive/inclusive pronouns; possessive classifiers; verb serialization.

Language Use

Used by all. Most also use Bislama [bis] (Schnell 2011). Many also use Vurës [msn], especially adults (Schnell 2011). A few also use English [eng], the language of education for older speakers (Schnell 2011). A few also use French [fra], the language of education for younger speakers (Schnell 2011).

Language Development

Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Vera’a
Writing

Latin script [Latn], limited usage.