Documentation of the grammar, lexicon and oral tradition of the Vurës language of west Vanua Lava, Vanuatu
The Endangered Language Documentation Programme (ELDP) provides grants worldwide to for the linguistic documentation of endangered language and knowledge. Grantees create multimedia collection of endangered languages. These collections are preserved and made freely available through the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) housed at the library of SOAS University of London.
This project will focus on the documentation of Vurës, an Austronesian language spoken by approximately 1,000 people on the island of Vanua Lava in northern Vanuatu. Proposed outcomes are twofold: First, to write a comprehensive descriptive grammar of Vurës, which would include a detailed analysis of the phonology, morphology, syntax and discourse structure of the language, and the production of a trilingual dictionary, giving both English and Bislama translations, so that the dictionary will be of use both to the local community and to linguists. Second, to produce literacy materials that will give speakers the opportunity to learn literacy skills in their own language.
Primary investigator: Catriona Malau
Project Details
Location: Vanuatu, Melanesia, Oceania
Organiser(s):
Endangered Languages Documentation Programme
Project partner(s): Research Centre for Linguistic Typology, La Trobe University
Funder(s):
Arcadia
Funding received: £51,399.00
Commencement Date: 01/2000
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