Vatlongos
[aka Southeast Ambrym]Classification: Austronesian
·threatened
- DATE OF INFO
- 2018
- DOMAINS OF USE
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- SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
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- TRANSMISSION
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- MORE ON VITALITY
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EGIDs 6b-5; Polyglossia relegates particular languages to particular domains-: Vatlongos in oral and intimate settings and in some churches, Bislama in official services and emerging technologies, English in education and religion, and codeswitching in digital communication
- SPEAKER ATTITUDE
- Despite dominance of Bislama, there is still prestige in learning indigenous languages of Vanuatu for self-identity, privacy, or integration with kin and neighboring communities. Vatlongos was ranked higher than Bislama, English, and French though there is some concern that it is less useful practically. There is also concern that Vatlongos has been too corrupted to learn now. Vatlongos is learned later in life by urban-dwellers, and maintained as an identity marker and unifier in the diaspora.
- GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
- Vanuatu Education Sector Programme
- OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
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Bislama
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English
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French
- LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS
91% of the population speak 3+ languages (VNSO 2013). Globalism, tourism, and travel for work are increasing linguistic contacts. The Endu community have connections to North Ambrym communities. A 2015 Bible translation, a 2017 primary education curriculum, and a 2018 proposed orthography being circulated via smartphone should help Vatlongos literacy efforts. Vatlongos is one of the most robust indigenous language in Vanuatu.
- More on Orthography
Relaxed choice of which orthography to use.
- PLACES
- Ambrym Island, Efate Island