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Movono

Movono is an Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu. Glottolog rates it shifting.

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Movono · 15.6°S 167.0°E

Tangoa, or Movono, is an Oceanic language or dialect. It is spoken on Tangoa Island off the southern coast of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, as well as a few mainland villages opposite Tangoa. In 2015 it was estimated to have 370 speakers, while in 2001 it was estimated to have 800.

Tangoa may be endangered, with its status described as "shifting". Another source describes language use as vigorous, used among all ages in all domains, although with some code-switching to Bislama.

It has largely displaced the moribund Araki language spoken on Araki Island.

From Wikipedia · Tangoa language · CC BY-SA 4.0

Words in Movono

MeaningWordRomanization
persontamlohi*
namexica*
eyemata*
earpero*
noseNalusu*
toothhuru*
tonguememe*
handlima*
bloodrae*
bonesui*
skinhuri*
kneepau*
breastsusu*
livermape*
waterwai
firexapu*
sunalo*
starbitucarcara*
stonevatu*
mountainbutibuti*
treevipaxai*
leafraxai*
nightpoNi*
dogbiriu*
fishmaci*
lousehutu*
onematea*
tworuwa*
Ienau*
youeNko*

* in the simplified ASJP transcription

Most similar languages

Vocabulary

  • AleAustronesian62% alike
  • ArakiAustronesian61% alike
  • TutubaAustronesian59% alike
  • AndeAustronesian58% alike
  • AoreAustronesian55% alike
  • TamamboAustronesian52% alike

Grammar

Vocabulary compares 40 basic words (ASJP); grammar compares 195 features (Grambank). Similar is not always related.

Nearby languages

Elsewhere

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Glottolog · tang1347 · Wikipedia (English) · Ethnologue · tgp