| Lehali | |
|---|---|
| Loli | |
| Pronunciation | [lɔli] |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Ureparapara |
Native speakers | 200 (2010)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | tql |
| Glottolog | leha1243 |
| ELP | Lehali |
 Lehali is classified as Vulnerable by theUNESCOAtlas of the World's Languages in Danger. | |
Lehali (previously known asTeqel) is anOceanic language spoken by about 200 people, on the west coast ofUreparapara Island inVanuatu.[1] It is distinct fromLöyöp, the language spoken on the east coast of the same island.
The language is named after the village where it is spoken, natively referred to asLoli[lɔli]. The nameLehali does not have any etymological value, other than being a corruption of the native name.[citation needed]
Lehaliphonemically contrasts 16consonants and 10vowels.[3]
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Dorsal | Labialized velar | Glottal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m⟨m⟩ | n⟨n⟩ | ŋ⟨n̄⟩ | ŋʷ⟨n̄w⟩ | ||
| Stop | voiceless | p⟨p⟩ | t⟨t⟩ | k⟨k⟩ | kʷ⟨q⟩ | |
| prenasalized | ⁿd⟨d⟩ | |||||
| Fricative | β⟨v⟩ | s⟨s⟩ | ɣ⟨g⟩ | h⟨h⟩ | ||
| Approximant | l⟨l⟩ | j⟨y⟩ | w⟨w⟩ | |||
The 10 vowel phonemes are all shortmonophthongs/iɪɛæəaɒ̝ɔʊu/:[4][3]
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i⟨i⟩ | u⟨u⟩ | |
| Near-close | ɪ⟨ē⟩ | ə⟨ë⟩ | ʊ⟨ō⟩ |
| Open-mid | ɛ⟨e⟩ | ɔ⟨o⟩ | |
| Near-open | æ⟨ä⟩ | ɒ̝⟨ö⟩ | |
| Open | a⟨a⟩ | ||
The⟨y⟩ /j/ phoneme originates in a former trill *r: e.g. /-jɔ/ < POc *rua 'two'.[5] Lehali shares that particular sound change with its neighborsLöyöp,Volow, andMwotlap.
The system ofpersonal pronouns in Lehali contrastsclusivity, and distinguishes fournumbers (singular,dual,trial, plural).[6]
Spatial reference in Lehali is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical ofOceanic languages, and yet innovative.[7]