Lo-Toga is an Oceanic language spoken by about 580 people on the islands of Lo and Toga , in the Torres group of northern Vanuatu . The language has sometimes been called Loh [ sic ] or Toga , after either of its two dialects.
5-565: The language is named after the two islands where it is spoken: Lo and Toga . Its 580 speakers live mostly in Lo and Toga , the two main islands in the southern half of the Torres group. The same language is also spoken by the small populations of the two other islands of Linua and Tegua . Lo-Toga is itself divided into two very close dialects, Lo (spoken on Lo island) and Toga (spoken on Toga). The inhabitants of northern Vanuatu generally don't draw
10-478: A distinction between dialects and languages. Conversely, Lo-Toga is a distinct language from the other language of the Torres group, Hiw . The Lo dialect of Lo-Toga phonemically contrasts 16 consonants and 13 vowels. The 13 vowel phonemes of the Lo dialect include 8 monophthongs /i e ɛ a ə ɔ o ʉ/, and five diphthongs /i͡e i͡ɛ i͡a o͡ə o͡ɔ/. Stress may either fall on the penultimate or final syllable, reminiscent of
15-517: Is based on a system of geocentric ( absolute ) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages , and yet innovative. Lo island Lo [lo] (sometimes wrongly spelled Loh ) is an island in the Torres group of islands, in northern Vanuatu . The island is located 2.25 miles from the Toga Island . As of 2009, the population of the island was 210. They speak the Lo dialect of
20-577: The Lo-Toga language . The name Lo comes from the Lo-Toga language , where it is spelt Lō [lo] . It is of obscure origin. The Torres islands are served by Torres Airport , which is located on the Linua island, just off the north coast of Lo. The airport is mostly used by Lo residents. Lo is not frequently visited by outsiders. Lo has two main villages: Lun̄haregi [lʉŋˈharəɣi] (a.k.a. Lunghariki ) and Rinuhe [riˈnʉhə] ; and
25-511: The neighboring Hiw language . Lo-Toga presents various forms of verb serialization . The system of personal pronouns contrasts clusivity , and distinguishes three numbers (singular, dual , plural). Together with its neighbour Hiw , Lo-Toga has developed a rich system of verbal number , whereby certain verbs change their root depending on the number of their main participant. Lo-Toga has 18 such pairs of verbs. Spatial reference in Lo-Toga
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