Robert Eklund’s Lakurumau Page

Lakurumau

The village of Lakurumau is located the east coast of New Ireland, a bit south of the Fangalawa crossing.

The Language of Lakurumau

The language of Lakurumau is situated on the very border between two language groups of New Ireland: The group Kara (to the north), and the group Nalik (to the south). Whether or not the ‘Tok Ples’ – ‘veduvai bina’, as they say in the language of Lakurumau – is a dialect of Kara or Nalik, or a language in its own right is not known. The villagers themselves claim that they can understand speakers of Nalik, but not vice versa. They also claim that Kara is totally different. This is corroborated in the literature I have studied on Kara and Nalik.

The language is referred to as ‘laxudumau’ (the ‘x’ is a velar, voiced (sic!) fricative), and is pronounced as a very soft ‘ch’ somewhat similar to Scottish ‘Loch’. The reason for this is that is that the sound /k/ is pronounced as [x] in intervocalic position. (Whether or not the [x] sound has phonemic status or not is something I do not want to make conclusive statements about at this point.)

Fortunately, there is a thesis written on Nalik. The American Professor Craig Volker, holding a position in Japan, has published a book on Nalik. I am afraid to say that we have not met yet, despite the fact that he has been in Lakurumau (and most people there know who he is), and that I have been to the Nalik village Madina to see some of his friends there.

The Nalik Language of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, by Craig Volker. ISBN 0-8204-3673-9.

Dr. Volker can be contacted at:

   Gifu Shotoku University
   2078 Takagawa, Yanaizu-cho
   Hashima-gun, Gifu-ken 501-6194
   Japan

He may also be contacted by email:
His webpage is found here: www.volker.ro

Two Songs In Laxudumau

Here follows two songs in Laxudumau, recorded on the Toliwai veranda one of these splendid nights that I’ll never forget. A big and warm Tenkyu Tru to David, Cecilia, Silames, Agnes, Kelvin, Bilam, Gawa and all the other villagers who were eager and willing to share their language with me. I’ll never forget it; rather, I am there in my mind most every day!

It is quite interesting to see what kind of spelling the native speakers use themselves to get a grasp of the phonological-phonetic awareness of the speakers. Consequently, I have used the spellings provided to me by David, although some alternatives in inconsistencies can be seen.

The Tok Pisin translations provided are based on an already existing version (Yumi mas givim preis) – indeed, David did not know that that very famous song existed in Laxudumau – as well as a Tok Pisin translation given to me by David (Mama i tok).

Recording session on David and Agnes’s veranda, Lakurumau, New Ireland, January 2000. David is helping out in getting the words right for a Laxudumau song provided by Cecilia.

Recording session on David and Agnes’s veranda, Lakurumau, New Ireland, January 2000. Both Cecilia and Silames are eager to grab the mic.

Two songs in Laxudumau can be downloaded from the table below. It is my hope that this will increase the awareness of the fact that there are literally thousands of living languages out there on the verge of becoming extinct. Laxudumau is just one of them

It is also my hope that you will take pleasure in listening to this language.

Title Tok Pisin Version Sound Files

Dira Da Visfari
Dira da visfari nam Iesu
Pana vakhatong tong pa dira
Dira da wisvari nam Iesu
Nan a roro a ya lan
Wisvari kha dira masalai
Yumi mas givim preis
Yumi mas givim preis i go long God
Long lukautim yumi olgeta taim
Yumi mas givim preis long Jisas
Em i laip na tru na rot
Hosana givim preis long God

Long version. Duration: 1:09 (1088 kb) [mp3]

Short version. Duration: 0:39 (634 kb) [mp3]

Na Nang Kha Pet
Na nang kha pet
Mege kurau
Rom dana furalik a wa luan
Tamo gha da kurau
Na nang kha da pet
Ne lik sat kavit ge langoi

Mama i tok
Em mama i tok
Mi no ken pilai
Wantaim ol mangi long nambis
Sapos bai mi pilai
Em mama i bai tok
Mi mi mangi i nogut no save harim

Long version. David et al. David providing an English version. Duration: 6:48 (6396 kb) [mp3] (10112 kb) [wav]

Short version. Excerpt, starring only Cecilia. Duration: 0:20 (918 kb) [mp3] (3582 kb) [wav]

Pictures

Here are a few pictures taken in Lakurumau or near the village.

The Toliwai residence David and Agnes Toliwai in front of their house View from the Toliwai veranda David, Silames and Bilan during an evening “story time” David, Nelson and Gawa putting dried copra into sacks

Silames (to the right) with a friend at the beach Me on the beach Evening jam session Agnes and her father Me and my informants, February 1998

Title	Tok Pisin Version	Sound Files
Dira Da Visfari Dira da visfari nam Iesu Pana vakhatong tong pa dira Dira da wisvari nam Iesu Nan a roro a ya lan Wisvari kha dira masalai	Yumi mas givim preis Yumi mas givim preis i go long God Long lukautim yumi olgeta taim Yumi mas givim preis long Jisas Em i laip na tru na rot Hosana givim preis long God	Long version. Duration: 1:09 (1088 kb) [mp3]
		Short version. Duration: 0:39 (634 kb) [mp3]
Na Nang Kha Pet Na nang kha pet Mege kurau Rom dana furalik a wa luan Tamo gha da kurau Na nang kha da pet Ne lik sat kavit ge langoi	Mama i tok Em mama i tok Mi no ken pilai Wantaim ol mangi long nambis Sapos bai mi pilai Em mama i bai tok Mi mi mangi i nogut no save harim	Long version. David et al. David providing an English version. Duration: 6:48 (6396 kb) [mp3] (10112 kb) [wav]
		Short version. Excerpt, starring only Cecilia. Duration: 0:20 (918 kb) [mp3] (3582 kb) [wav]


The Toliwai residence	David and Agnes Toliwai in front of their house	View from the Toliwai veranda	David, Silames and Bilan during an evening “story time”	David, Nelson and Gawa putting dried copra into sacks


Silames (to the right) with a friend at the beach	Me on the beach	Evening jam session	Agnes and her father	Me and my informants, February 1998