Paama
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Fact corner
- Language: Paama
- Alternate names: Paama-Lopevi, Pauma, Paamese
- SIL-code: Ethnologue:pma
- Language family: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian,
Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, North and Central Vanuatu, Northeast Vanuatu-Banks Islands, East Vanuatu - Number of speakers: 6,000
- Script: Latin script
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Introduction
Paama is an Austronesian language spoken the following parts of Vanuatu: Paama, one village on east Epi (Lopevi), a large group in Vila.
The Verb
- Tha Paama verb is conjugated in person and number by means of short pronouns.
- Mood is shown by the use of introductory words.
- Tense is shown partly by changes in the initial of word-base, partly by prefixed particles, and partly by change in the short preceding pronoun.
Sample verb: ila
| INDICATIVE | ||
| Future | Past/Indefinite | |
| Sg.1 | ni kila | na, no kila |
| Sg.2 | ki kila | ko kila |
| Sg.3 | he kila | kei, e kila |
| Pl.1 (inclusive) | ri kila | re, ro kila |
| Pl.1 (exclusive) | me he kila | me kila |
| Pl.2 | mi he kila | mi kila |
| Pl.3 | i kila | a, o kila |
Click a Paama verb to conjugate them in the table above!
References
- Sidney H. Ray. A Comparative Study of the Melanesian Island Languages.
1975.