Vatlongos

Vatlongos is a Southern Oceanic language spoken by about 3,700 people mainly on Ambrym Island in Malampa Province in northern Vanuatu. In particular, it is spoken in the Maat and other villages on the southeast coast of Ambrym Island, such as Tavaek, Moru, Utas, Toak and Endu, and also in Mele Maat on Efate Island.

Vatlongos is also known as Southeast Ambrym, Taveak or lanwis ("language" in Bislama). It is closely related to Paamese, which is spoken on the nearby island of Paama.

There are several ways to write it with the Latin script. The practical orthography shown below is based on spelling systems used in the Southeast Ambrym Dictionary (1970) and the Vatlongos Bible (2015). Since 2017, Vatlongos has been taught in some schools, which has resulted in standarization of the written language [source].

Vatlongos alphabet and pronunciation

Vatlongos alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Vatlongos (Excel)

Notes

The letters f, j, w and z are used in loanwords from Bislama.

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4)

  1. Ma Iesu biteni mi xil bit, “Melele xa musis, muhiteni imak muhit, ‘Hi Tamemem, hisom be eo e momal tengan musa merereen minuk. Masis tengan mei uhe suv toto namem e ulaxat kuh xamem.
  2. Usa anien li mi xamem ipin te melengien xil vus.
  3. Onaketeh ti mun nasa mi xamem ve holesok xil xa mapol ni tamal ti. Upol ni ixoni ngan xa xamem mun di maketeh bos rilomun mi ngan xil xa di lapol misa mi xamem. E onamaen sakpisien xil te xeih ti namei e nasak ni xamem munamot e tesaen.’”

Source: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/1254/LUK.11.TVK

Translation

  1. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
  2. Give us day by day our daily bread.
  3. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Source: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Sample video

Links

Information about Vatlongos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Ambrym_language
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrym_du_Sud-Est
https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/32205/
http://www.language-archives.org/language/tvk
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3622894
https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/sout2859
https://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/channumerals/Ambrym-Southeast.htm

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 created: 03.06.24. Last modified: 03.06.24

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