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Koro language (Vanuatu)

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Koro
Pronunciation[kʊrʊ]
Native toVanuatu
RegionGaua
Native speakers
250 (2012)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3krf
Glottologkoro1318
ELPKoro (Vanuatu)
Koro is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Koro is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu. Its 280 speakers live in the village of Koro, on the south coast of Gaua.[2]

Koro is a distinct language from its immediate neighbours, Dorig (300 sp.) and Olrat (4 sp.).[3]

Name

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The name Koro, spelled natively as Kōrō [kʊrʊ], is an endonym referring to the village.

Phonology

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Koro has 8 phonemic vowels. These include 7 monophthongs /i ɪ ɛ a ɔ ʊ u/ and one diphthong /ɛ͡a/.[4]

  Front Back
Near-close i ⟨i⟩ u ⟨u⟩
Close-mid ɪ ⟨ē⟩ ʊ ⟨ō⟩
Open-mid ɛ ⟨e⟩ ɔ ⟨o⟩
Open a ⟨a⟩

The diphthong [ɛ͡a] is spelled as ⟨ä⟩.

Grammar

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The system of personal pronouns in Koro contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, plural).[5]

Spatial reference in Koro is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is typical of Oceanic languages.[6]

Notes and references

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References

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Bibliography

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