Löyöp (formerly known as Lehalurup) is an Oceanic language spoken by about 240 people, on the east coast of Ureparapara Island in the Banks Islands of Vanuatu.List of Banks islands languages.François (2012). It is distinct from Lehali, the language spoken on the west coast of the same island.
The language was originally native to the Rowa Islands, having been brought to Ureparapara around the 1930s when a tsunami struck the Reef Islands and forced the speakers to relocate.Tryon (1972).
It is considered a vulnerable language by UNESCO.
Name The name Löyöp used since 2009François (2009). refers to the area called "Divers' Bay" in English, in the eastern part of Ureparapara. It derives from a Proto-Torres-Banks form *loroβi, with cognates in Lehali Loyēp . The now-deprecated name Lehalurup once used by certain authors (e.g. Tryon) is likely a result from a transcription error, possibly under the influence of neighboring Lehali.
Phonology Löyöp phonemically contrasts 16 consonants and 11 vowels.François (2021).
Consonants + Löyöp consonants Labiovelar Bilabial Alveolar Post-alveolar Dorsal Nasal Stop voiceless prenasalized Fricative Approximant
Vowels These are ten short monophthongs , and one diphthong .
+ Löyöp vowelsFrontBackplainround Close Near-close Open-mid Near-open Open
Grammar The system of personal pronouns in Löyöp contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, plural).François (2016).
Spatial reference in Löyöp is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, and yet innovative.François (2015:) 171-172).
References
Bibliography
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External links Audio recordings in the Löyöp language (Pangloss Collection)