| Lemerig | |
|---|---|
| Pak, Päk, Sasar | |
| Pronunciation | [lɪmɪˈriɣ] |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Vanua Lava |
Native speakers | 2 (2010)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lrz |
| Glottolog | leme1238 |
| ELP | Lemerig |
 Lemerig is classified as Critically Endangered by theUNESCOAtlas of the World's Languages in Danger. | |
Lemerig is anOceanic language spoken onVanua Lava, inVanuatu.
The language is no longer actively spoken, havingreceded in favour of its neighbors, includingVera'a and possibly alsoMwotlap orVurës.[1] The two remaining speakers live on the northern coast of the island.[2]
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The nameLemerig refers to a now abandoned village in northernVanua Lava; it is spelledLēmērig[lɪmɪˈriɣ] in the language of the same name. It reflects an earlierProto-Torres-Banks form*lemeriɣi, where the*riɣi component likely means "small".
Lemerig has sometimes been referred to using the names of its local varieties:Päk,[a]Sasar, andAlo-Teqel.
Judging from wordlists published by missionary and linguistRobert Codrington,[3] these three varieties were very close to each other. The little differences there were went extinct during the 20th century.
Lemerig has 11phonemic vowels. These are all shortmonophthongs/iɪɛæaœøɒ̝ɔʊu/.[4][5]
| Front | Back | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| plain | round | ||
| Close | i⟨i⟩ | u⟨u⟩ | |
| Near-close | ɪ⟨ē⟩ | ø⟨ö⟩ | ʊ⟨ō⟩ |
| Open-mid | ɛ⟨e⟩ | œ⟨ë⟩ | ɔ⟨o⟩ |
| Near-open | æ⟨ä⟩ | ɒ̝⟨ā⟩ | |
| Open | a⟨a⟩ | ||
The system ofpersonal pronouns in Lemerig contrastsclusivity, and distinguishes fournumbers (singular,dual,trial, and plural).[6]
Spatial reference in Lemerig is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical ofOceanic languages, in part innovative.[7]
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