A Comprehensive Comparison of Lexemes in the ... - SIL International

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Chapter 3. Using the multi-language lexicon
3.0 Introduction
In this chapter I explain the orthography choices for this study as well as
the abbreviations and layout of the lexicon presented in section B.
3.1 Orthography
The unique phonologies of each of the languages of Tanna and the specific
mission histories of the language groups on Tanna have affected contemporary
opinions about orthography on the island. I have taken both of these factors into
consideration in deciding on an orthography for this study.
3.1.1 Influence of mission history on orthography
In the first half of the twentieth century, missionaries in Kwamera, Lenakel,
and Whitesands produced publications with orthographies based on the English
alphabet. 13 Example (26) is a hymn from a mid-twentieth century Whitesands
hymnal, Nupume ia nafwakien (n.d.:102). The hymn is a translation of the English
hymn I need Thee every hour. It does not use and . For example, as
shown here, it uses Iesu for ‘Jesus.’ It accurately represents the stops as voiceless.
(26) Whitesands hymn with English translation
Atatig oniau,
Iesu rahak.
Pah otasiru lak
Iau isou lam?
Iuaker Iesu keikei
Ik iuaker agen;
Iatasak ua iatagien,
Asiru lak.
Abide in me,
My Jesus.
Who will help me
[Since] I am so far from You?
Nearby beloved Jesus
You are very near;
[Whether] I am sad or happy,
Help me.
The Kwamera hymnal Napuanmen nafuakien parhien, on the other hand,
represents the bilabial stop as voiced, as shown in example (27), taken from
Napuanmen (1941:25). While bilabial stops do become voiced in that
environment, it is now recognized that it is unnecessary to represent this in the
orthography. Also, occasionally the hymnal uses instead of to
represent the rounded semi-vowel.
13 For a list of materials in the vernaculars of Tanna, see Ferguson (1917–1943) and Lynch (1994).