Lakon language


Lakon is an Oceanic language, spoken on the west coast of Gaua island in Vanuatu.

Names

Lakon is named after the area where it is spoken, also known as Lakona Bay, which encompasses the west coast of Gaua.
It is sometimes referred to as Lakona. Its former dialects include Qatareu, Vure, Toglatareu, Togla.

Phonology

Lakon has 16 phonemic vowels.
These include 8 short /i ɪ ɛ æ a ɔ ʊ u/ and 8 long vowels /iː ɪː ɛː æː aː ɔː ʊː uː/.
Historically, the phonemicisation of vowel length originates in the compensatory lengthening of short vowels when the alveolar trill was lost syllable-finally.

Grammar

The system of personal pronouns in Lakon contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers.
Spatial reference in Lakon is based on a system of geocentric directionals, which is typical of Oceanic languages.