In today's article we are going to talk about Lo-Toga language, a topic that has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. Lo-Toga language is a topic that generates interest and debate, since it has a great influence on various aspects of our lives. From its impact on health and well-being, to its relevance in culture and society, Lo-Toga language plays a fundamental role in people's daily lives. Throughout this article, we will explore various perspectives and aspects related to Lo-Toga language, with the aim of better understanding its importance and influence in the modern world.
| Lo-Toga | |
|---|---|
| Loh, Toga | |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Torres Islands |
Native speakers | 580 (2012) |
| Dialects | Lo, Toga |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lht |
| Glottolog | loto1240 |
| ELP | Lo-Toga |
Lo-Toga is an Oceanic language spoken by about 580 people on the islands of Lo and Toga, in the Torres group of northern Vanuatu. The language has sometimes been called Loh [sic] or Toga, after either of its two dialects.
The language is named after the two islands where it is spoken: Lo and Toga.
Its 580 speakers live mostly in Lo and Toga, the two main islands in the southern half of the Torres group. The same language is also spoken by the small populations of the two other islands of Linua and Tegua.
Lo-Toga is itself divided into two very close dialects, Lo (spoken on Lo island) and Toga (spoken on Toga). The inhabitants of northern Vanuatu generally don't draw a distinction between dialects and languages.
Conversely, Lo-Toga is a distinct language from the other language of the Torres group, Hiw.
The Lo dialect of Lo-Toga phonemically contrasts 16 consonants and 13 vowels.
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Retroflex | Dorsal | Labialized velar |
Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m ⟨m⟩ | n ⟨n⟩ | ŋ ⟨n̄⟩ | ŋʷ ⟨n̄w⟩ | ||
| Plosive | p ⟨p⟩ | t ⟨t⟩ | ʈ͡ʂ ⟨d⟩ | k ⟨k⟩ | kʷ ⟨q⟩ | |
| Fricative | β ⟨v⟩ | s ⟨s⟩ | ɣ ⟨g⟩ | h ⟨h⟩ | ||
| Rhotic | r ⟨r⟩ | |||||
| Lateral | l ⟨l⟩ | |||||
| Glide | w ⟨w⟩ |
The 13 vowel phonemes of the Lo dialect include 8 monophthongs /i e ɛ a ə ɔ o ʉ/, and five diphthongs /i͡e i͡ɛ i͡a o͡ə o͡ɔ/.
| Monophthongs | Diphthongs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front | Central | Back | Front | Back | ||
| Close | i ⟨i⟩ | ʉ ⟨u⟩ | ||||
| Close-mid | e ⟨ē⟩ | o ⟨ō⟩ | i͡e ⟨iē⟩ | |||
| Mid | ə ⟨e⟩ | o͡ə ⟨ōe⟩ | ||||
| Open-mid | ɛ ⟨ë⟩ | ɔ ⟨o⟩ | i͡ɛ ⟨ië⟩ | o͡ɔ ⟨ōo⟩ | ||
| Open | a ⟨a⟩ | i͡a ⟨ia⟩ | ||||
Stress may either fall on the penultimate or final syllable, reminiscent of the neighboring Hiw language.
Lo-Toga presents various forms of verb serialization.
The system of personal pronouns contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes three numbers (singular, dual, plural).
Together with its neighbour Hiw, Lo-Toga has developed a rich system of verbal number, whereby certain verbs change their root depending on the number of their main participant. Lo-Toga has 18 such pairs of verbs.
Spatial reference in Lo-Toga is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, and yet innovative.