Lamenu

LMU

developing

Alternate Names: Lamen, Lewo, Varmali

Dialects: Galokumali, Galoparua. Lexical similarity: borderline with Lewo ,, but strong local identification as separate language.

Genealogy:

Austronesian

Malayo-Polynesian

Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian

Eastern Malayo-Polynesian

Oceanic

Central-Eastern Oceanic

Remote Oceanic

North and Central Vanuatu

Northeast Vanuatu-Banks Islands

Epi

Lamenu-Baki

Lamenu-Lewo

Demographics: 850 (Lynch and Crowley 2001). Very few monolinguals.

Language Use: Vigorous. Kindergarten, oral and some written use in church, oral use in commerce. Positive attitudes. Bilingual in Bislama [bis]. Bislama usually used with speakers of Lewo [lww]. Also use Paama [pma].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 40%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1987–2002.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Vanuatu

Other Comments: Population of Lamenu and Epi was over 14,000, but was reduced to 800 in early 1900s due to disease and economic dependence. Christian.