| Central Vanuatu | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Vanuatu |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | cent2269 |
TheCentral Vanuatu languages form alinkage ofSouthern Oceanic languages spoken in centralVanuatu.
Clark (2009) provides the following classification of the Central Vanuatu languages, divided into geographic areas.[1] Outlier (aberrant) languages identified by Clark (2009) are initalics. Clark's Central Vanuatu branch is wider in scope,[clarification needed] including not only the Shepherd–Efate languages, but also theMalakula and Ambrym–Paama–Epi languages.
The following list of 19 Central Vanuatu languages (excluding theMalakula languages) is from François et al. (2015:18–21).
| No. | Language | Other names | Speakers | ISO 639-3 | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | North Ambrym | 5250 | mmg | Ambrym | |
| 108 | Orkon | Fanbak | 30 | fnb | Ambrym |
| 109 | Southeast Ambrym | 3700 | tvk | Ambrym | |
| 110 | Daakie | Port Vato | 1300 | ptv | Ambrym |
| 111 | Daakaka | South Ambrym,Baiap | 1200 | bpa | Ambrym |
| 112 | Dalkalaen | 1000 | Ambrym | ||
| 113 | Raljago | West Ambrym,Lonwolwol | <10 | crc | Ambrym |
| 114 | Paama | Paamese | 6000 | paa | Paama |
| 115 | Lamen | Lamenu,Varmali | 850 | lmu | Epi,Lamen |
| 116 | Lewo | Varsu | 2200 | lww | Epi |
| 117 | Bierebo | Bonkovia-Yevali | 900 | bnk | Epi |
| 118 | Baki | Burumba,Paki | 350 | bki | Epi |
| 119 | Mkir | Maii | 180 | mmm | Epi |
| 120 | Bieria | Bieri, Vovo,Wowo | 25 | brj | Epi |
| 121 | Namakura | Makura,Namakir | 3750 | nmk | Efate,Shepherd Islands (Tongoa,Tongariki) |
| 123 | Nakanamanga | 9500 | llp | Efate,Shepherd Islands (Nguna,Tongoa) | |
| 124 | Lelepa | Havannah Harbour | 400 | lpa | Efate,Lelepa |
| 125 | Eton | 500 | etn | Efate | |
| 126 | South Efate | Erakor | 6000 | erk | Efate |
Additionally, the extinctSowa language was formerly spoken in central Vanuatu.