Phonological correspondences between Raga, Apma and Mota : a historically oriented comparison of three languages from Northern Vanatu [i.e. Vanuatu]

Abstract

This study compares lexical data from three languages of northern Vanatu with the aim of producing a synohronically and distributionally based statement of the phonological correspondences between each possible language pair within the set;

The lexical data For Rage and Apma were derived from the author’s own fieldwork, and that for Mota from an extant dictionary [Codrington and Palmer 1896]. In the introduction [Section 0) the data sources are specified, the relevant genetic classification is summarised, and the phonologies and orthographies are briefly described:

Section 1 comprises a systematic collation of the data which is designed to facilitate the subsequent state— ment of phonological correspondences! This collation also includes the association with the data of relevant, or pot— entially relevant, extant reconstructions. Section 2 details the equivalence of lexical forms for each language pair and associates each equivalence with exhaustive systematic reference to the lexical data.

Section 3 presents the synohronically and dis— tributionally derived phonological correspondences For each language pair and associates each correspondence with ex— haustive systematic reference to the lexical data.

The result of these operations is a concordance For the phonological correspondences between Raga, Apma and Mota which provides a necessary foundation For any detailed evaluation of specific correspondences in diachronic terms: