Mwotlap

A language of Vanuatu

ISO 639: mlv
Alternate Names: Motalava, Motlav
Population: 2,100 (2020 A. François), increasing.
Location:: Torba province: Banks Islands group, Mota Lava (Saddle) island.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, North and Central Vanuatu, Northeast Vanuatu-Banks Islands, East Vanuatu
Dialects: Dagmel, Valuwa, Volow. Volow dialect has 1 speaker (2020 A. François). Dagmel is reported to have 1 speaker and Valuwa has no known speakers (Crowley 2002a).
Typology: SVO; prepositions; noun head initial except for numbers; dual and trial numbers; no articles; 16 consonants and 7 vowels; stress on penultimate syllable; inclusive/exclusive pronouns; alienable/inalienable possession; verb serialization.
Language Use: Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Lemerig [lrz].
Language Development: Literature. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2005–2017.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Mwotlap
Writing: Latin script [Latn].

Location: Torba province: Banks Islands group, Mota Lava (Saddle) island.