The Namakura language, Makura or Namakir, is an Oceanic language of Vanuatu. The language is spoken in Shefa Province, north Efate, Tongoa, and Tongariki. It is the only North-Central Vanuatu language to have preserved the Proto-Oceanic *q, reflected as a glottal stop.
Phonology Consonants LabialCoronalVelarGlottalplainlab.Nasal Plosivevoiceless prenasal Fricativevoiceless voiced Approximant Rhotic
/v/ may also range to bilabial as , in free variation. /h/ can also range to uvular as , in free variation. /ⁿd/ can also range to a retroflex in free variation. When followed by a /r/, it is then realized as a trilled-articulated sound . /r/ can be heard as a flap in initial position and as a trill elsewhere.
Vowels FrontCentralBackClose Mid Open
Two nasal vowel sounds [ẽ õ] are also rarely heard. /i/ when preceding a vowel can be heard as a glide [j].
External links Materials on Makura are included in a number of collections held by Paradisec.
References
Notes