Apma

Apma is a member of the Oceanic branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken in central Pentecost island in Vanuatu, and there were about 7,800 speakers in 2001. The language is also known as Abma, dalekte (language) or daleda (our language).

There are three main dialects of Apma:

Suru Mwerani, which is spoken in the villages of Melsisi, Tansip and Vanrasini, and is the most widely spoken variety of the language.
Suru Rabwanga, or Suru Bo, is spoken between Bwatnapni and Namaram
Suru Kavian is spoken north and east Namaram. Speakers of other dialects find it difficult to understand.

Apma was documented by Catholic missionaries, who also produced translations of religious texts. An Apma version of the New Testament was published in the 1970s. Some collections of Apma stories were published in the 1980s, and a dictionary of Apma has also been published.

Apma alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

Stress is normally on the penultimate syllable of a word, unless a word end with a consonant or long vowel, when the stress moves to the final syllable.

Download an Apma alphabet chart (Excel)

Sample text

Tei lego ba aji nuuru mabin ratru di le imwaru. Ratru dini karu bwet kulkul. Nuju aji ah mwe sadok ne mamaplel i kaa non jibin.

Te sadok ngamwa ne mamaplel ba baade kaa ah. Nuju aji ah nuuru jibin ramru dongvi kaa ah. Ramru dongvi bi ne dongvi ba te bulong, mwo dopmanaa lelen jibin ah mwe gakat bi mwo soro mabin nuhu ne mwa van dini. Nuju aji nong mwisip le teh bi mwe rewa non aga sisi. Mwisip le teh, bi ban.

Source: Stories in Apma language (PDF)

Sample video in Apma

Information about Apma | Numbers in Apma

Links

Information about Apma
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apma_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/app/
http://www.pentecostisland.net/languages/apma/
http://www.pentecostisland.net/languages/apma/bongmehee.pdf

Oceanic languages

Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, ’Auhelawa, Avava, Babatana, Bariai, Bola, Big Numbas, Buhutu, Bwaidoka, Caac, Cheke Holo, Dorig, Hiri Motu, Hiw, Hoava, Kakabai, Kaninuwa, Kokota, Kove, Kurti, Lakon, Lehali, Lenakel, Lewo, Lote, Lo-Toga, Löyöp, Manam, Marovo, Maskelynes, Mato, Mavea, Mono-Alu, Motu, Mussau-Emira, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Nahavaq, Namakura, Nanggu, Nduke, Neve‘ei, Neverver, Ninde, North Efate, Nume, Paamese, Papapana, Raga, Rotuman, Roviana, Sa, Sakao, Saliba, Siar, Sio, Ske, Sobei, Sursurunga, Tamambo, Tami, Teanu, Tigak, Tirax, Tolai, Touo, Ubir, Ughele, Uneapa, Vatlongos, Vitu, Vurës, Western Fijian, Yabem, Yapese

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 31.10.22

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