Nese
RegionMatanvat area, northwest Malakula, Vanuatu
Native speakers
20 (2010)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
Glottolognese1235
ELPNese
Nese is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Nese is a moribund Oceanic language or dialect known by no more than twenty people in the Matanvat area of the northwest tip of the island of Malakula in Vanuatu. It is now rarely spoken, having been replaced as a primary mode of communication by Bislama.

Nese is one of the few languages to have linguolabial consonants.

Name

The name Nese literally means "what".

References

  1. ^ Guerin, Valerie (2010). "Nese: A diminishing speech variety of Northwest Malakula (Vanuatu) (review)". Oceanic Linguistics. 49 (2): 595–600.

Further reading