Evolutionary processes in some Far Northern languages of New Caledonia: Nêlêmwa-Nixumwak and Zuanga-Yuanga

Résumé 0

Following the research led by Haudricourt, Ozanne-Rivierre and Rivierre, on paths of changes among the Kanak languages of New-Caledonia with respect to Proto-Oceanic, this article analyses facts which are specific to two languages spoken in the far north of the Mainland, Nêlêmwa-Nixumwak and Zuanga-Yuanga. In these languages, various phonemic contrasts present in Proto-Oceanic have been neutralised, thus reducing the original consonant inventory. The syllabic structure of the languages in the far north of the Mainland is generally better preserved than in the south, but syllabic erosion is also underway, especially in the Zuanga variety spoken in Gomen, which has lost all its final consonants. On the other hand, the Zuanga variety has kept the Proto-Oceanic contrast between dental and retroflex consonants, which has been lost elsewhere.