Central Vanuatu Languages
Mutation of the initial consonant of verbs is a characteristic feature of many Austronesian languages spoken in central Vanuatu.
For example, in Raga language:
- nan vano "I went"
- nam bano "I go"
These patterns of mutations probably arose when a nasal prefix, used to indicate realis mood, became combined with the initial consonant of the verb. The possible ancestral pattern of mutation, and its descendants in some modern Central Vanuatu languages, are shown below:
| Proto-Central Vanuatu | *k > *ŋk | *r > *nr | *p > *mp |
| Raga (Pentecost) | x > ŋg | t > d | v / vw > b / bw |
| northern Apma (Pentecost) | k > ŋg | t > d | v / w > b / bw |
| southern Apma (Pentecost) | v / w > b / bw | ||
| Ske (Pentecost) | z > d | v / vw > b / bw | |
| Lonwolwol (Ambrym) | r > rV | ∅ > bV | |
| Southeast Ambrym | x / h / ∅ > g | t > d | v / h > b |
| northern Paama | ∅ > k | t > r | |
| central/southern Paama | k / ∅ > g / ŋ | t / r > d | |
| Nāti (Malekula) | k / ʔ > ŋk | t / r > nt / ntr | v / w > mp / mpw |
| Maii (Epi) | t > d | v > b | |
| Lewo (Epi) | v / w > p / pw | ||
| Lamenu (Epi) | ∅ > p | ||
| Bierebo (Epi) | k > ŋk | t / c > nd / nj | v / w > p / pw |
| Baki (Epi) | c > s | v > mb | |
| Bieria (Epi) | t > nd | v > mb | |
| Nakanamanga (Efaté-Shepherds) | k > ŋ | r > t | v / w > p / pw |
| Namakir (Shepherds) | k > ŋ | t / r > d | v / w > b |
Read more about this topic: Consonant Mutation
Famous quotes containing the words central and/or languages:
“The best laws cannot make a constitution work in spite of morals; morals can turn the worst laws to advantage. That is a commonplace truth, but one to which my studies are always bringing me back. It is the central point in my conception. I see it at the end of all my reflections.”
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859)
“No doubt, to a man of sense, travel offers advantages. As many languages as he has, as many friends, as many arts and trades, so many times is he a man. A foreign country is a point of comparison, wherefrom to judge his own.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)