Meso-Melanesian languages

"New Ireland languages" redirects here. For modern languages in Ireland, see Languages of Ireland.

The Meso-Melanesian languages are a linkage of Oceanic languages spoken in the large Melanesian islands of New Ireland and the Solomon Islands east of New Guinea. Bali is one of the most conservative languages.

Meso-Melanesian
Geographic distribution	Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Linguistic classification	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Western Oceanic Meso-Melanesian
Proto-language	Proto-Meso-Melanesian
Language codes
Glottolog	meso1253

Composition

The languages group as follows:^[1]

• Willaumez linkage: Bola, Bulu, Meramera, Nakanai
• Bali–Vitu: Bali (Uneapa), Vitu (Muduapa) [may be a single language]
• New Ireland – Northwest Solomonic linkage

The languages of New Ireland are part of the Meso-Melanesian linkage.

• • Tungag–Nalik family: Tigak, Tungag, Nalik, Laxudumau, Kara, Tiang
  • Tabar linkage: Madara (Tabar), Lihir, Notsi
  • Madak linkage: Barok, Lavatbura-Lamusong, Madak
  • Tomoip
  • St George linkage
    • Niwer Mil
    • Warwar Feni
    • Fanamaket
    • Sursurunga
    • Konomala
    • Patpatar–Tolai: Patpatar, Lungalunga (Minigir), Tolai (Kuanua)
    • Label–Bilur: Label, Bilur
    • Kandas–Ramoaaina: Kandas, Ramoaaina
    • Siar
    • Northwest Solomonic linkage

Ethnologue adds Guramalum to the St George linkage.

The Willaumez Peninsula on the north coast of New Britain was evidently the center of dispersal.

Johnston (1982) combines the Willaumez and Bali–Vitu branches into a single Kimbe branch, for which he reconstructs Proto-Kimbe.^[2]

Language contact

Lenition in Lamasong, Madak, Barok, Nalik, and Kara may have diffused via influence from Kuot, the only non-Austronesian language spoken on New Ireland (Ross 1994: 566).^[3]