Lenakel (Netvaar)

Lenakel is a member of the Southern Oceanic branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken by about 12,000 people mainly on Tanna Island in Tafea Province in southern Vanuatu, particularly in the central west part of the island. There are also some Lenakel speakers in Port Vila on Efate Island, and in New Caledonia.

Lenakel is also known as West Tanna. Native speakers call it Netvaar or Nakaraan taha Lenakel. It is closely related to Whitesands / East Tanna and North Tanna, which are also spoken on Tanna Island. Lenakel is seen as a pretigious language on Tanna as it has been used as a church language for over 100 years.

Lenakel alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

When followed by h, m, m̃, n, ŋ, l and r are voiceless
r is trilled [r] in word-final position
t can be palatalized [tʲ] before i
Between vowels k is pronounced [ɡ] or [ɣ]
When followed by h, t = [tʰ], k = [kʰ], p = [ɸ] and h = [x]
At the end of a word, s many be pronounced [h]

Download an alphabet chart for Lenakel (Excel)

Sample of video in Lenakel

Links

Information about Lenakel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenakel_language
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/tnl/
https://web.archive.org/web/20201025141542/http://olac.ldc.upenn.edu/language/tnl
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306888068_A_grammar_of_Lenakel

Lenakel dictionary
https://talkingdictionary.swarthmore.edu/lenakel/

Oceanic languages

Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, ꞌAreꞌare, Arosi, ’Auhelawa, Avava, Babatana, Bola, Big Numbas, Buhutu, Bwaidoka, Caac, Cheke Holo, Dorig, Gela, Ghari, Hiri Motu, Hiw, Hoava, Kahua, Kakabai, Kaninuwa, Kokota, Kove, Kurti, Kwaio, Kwara’ae, Lau, Lehali, Lenakel, Lengo, Lewo, Longgu, Lote, Lo-Toga, Löyöp, Marovo, Maskelynes, Mato, Mavea, Mono-Alu, Motu, Mussau-Emira, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Nahavaq, Namakura, Nduke, Neve‘ei, Neverver, Ninde, North Efate, Nume, Oroha, Owa, Paamese, Raga, Rotuman, Roviana, Sa, Sakao, Saliba, Siar, Sio, Ske, Tamambo, Tami, Tigak, Tirax, Tolai, Touo, Ubir, Ughele, Vitu, Vurës, Western Fijian, Yabem, Yapese

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 09.05.23. Last modified: 09.05.23

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