Lemerig language



Lemerig is an Oceanic language spoken on Vanua Lava, in Vanuatu.

Lemerig is no longer actively spoken. The 2 remaining speakers live on the northern coast of the island. The language has receded in favour of its neighbours Mwotlap and Vera'a.

Name
The name Lemerig refers to a now abandoned village in northern Vanua Lava in Mota, corresponding to the native name Lēmērig. Its name in Mwotlap is Lemyig. It comes from Proto-Torres-Banks *lemeriɣi, where the *riɣi component likely means "small".

Dialects
Lemerig has sometimes been referred to using the names of its local varieties: Päk; Sasar; Alo-Teqel.

Judging from wordlists published by missionary and linguist Robert Codrington, these three varieties were very close to each other. The little differences there were went extinct during the 20th century.

Phonology
Lemerig has 11 phonemic vowels. These are all short monophthongs.

Grammar
The system of personal pronouns in Lemerig contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, and plural).

Spatial reference in Lemerig is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, in part innovative.