Learn Namakura

The main language spoken on Tongariki, Buninga, Makira, and Mataso islands is called Namakura. It is also spoken on parts of the Efate mainland, in villages where people are of Shepherds origin. It’s related to other local languages nearby, like Nakanamanga (Tongoa and Emae language), and North Efate language.

I speak really, really crummy Namakura but I understand more than I can reliably spit back out. For the first time, I understand how you have second-generation immigrants who can understand their grandparents but can’t talk to them! It’s like—you understand enough words that you can guess their context, but you don’t actually have enough grammar or the richness of vocabulary needed to make a response. So when people talk to me in Namakura, unless they’re asking a question I know the answer to, I say it in Bislama.

Mostly, the words that I understand are really common words—food words, or God words, or words that tell children what to do or where to go. Luckily for me, Namakura has many loan words from Bislama, and they’re only slightly changed. For example, with loan words that are nouns, in Namakura you add ‘na’ and then say the word from Bislama. I once heard Elsie, my old counterpart, saying ‘NaFesbuk.’ (Facebook.) And ‘Natesdei.’ (Thursday.)

Sentence of the day: Keno ningan nalong ne nahaek. I am eating laplap and fish!