Lamenu

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A language of Vanuatu

ISO 639-3
lmu
Alternate Names
Lamen, Lewo, Varmali
Population

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

Location

Shefa Province, Varmali region, Lamenu island, Epi island northwest tip; Sara village, Port Vila and Luganville.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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, Epi, Lamenu-Baki, Lamenu-Lewo
Dialects

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

Language Use

Vigorous. Kindergarten, oral and some written use in church, oral use in commerce. Positive attitudes. Bilingual in Bislama [bis], and used with Lewo [lww] speakers. Some 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.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lamenu
Writing
Latin script.
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.