Name That Language!

[Karch]

It's not spoken in Africa.

[fusijui]

I don't have a real guess, only a sinking feeling that it's another one of those Austronesian horrors ;p

[Karch]

Yes, it is indeed one of those Austronesian horrors.

[Qwynegold]

Let's try to narrow it down geographically. Is it spoken in the Philippines?

[bradrn]

Yes, it is indeed one of those Austronesian horrors.

Wow, I would never have guessed that — it doesn’t look Austronesian at all.

Now let’s try narrowing this down. Most of the Austronesian languages have pretty sane phonologies, so is it Oceanic? Furthermore, the New Caledonian languages have some pretty odd vowel inventories, so is that where it’s from?

[Karch]

It is Oceanic, but not from New Caledonia.

[bradrn]

Could it be Admiralties then?

[Karch]

No.

[bradrn]

In that case, I’d say that it’s most probably Southern Oceanic; given that New Caledonia has already been ruled out, that means it’s most probably a language of Vanuatu.

[Karch]

It is indeed a South Oceanic language spoken in Vanuatu.

[bradrn]

Central Vanuatu linkage?

[fusijui]

Ah, Vanuatu -- the Transylvania of Austronesian horrors, of course

[Karch]

Yes, it is indeed a Central Vanuatu language.

[bradrn]

I’m almost certain it’s not Shepherd–Efate (in Clark’s classification), so is it Ambrym–Paama–Epi? I’d guess Southeast Ambrym, except that doesn’t have /ɛ ɔ/.

[Moose-tache]

I feel like the first question in this game should always be "Which one is it, Oceanic or Other?"

Also, I cheated and looked up the Central Vanuatuan languages... and now I am still none the wiser.

[Karch]

It's neither Shepherd-Efate nor Ambrym-Paama-Epi.

[bradrn]

Found it (finally!), it’s Tirax. God knows how you find these obscure grammars

Next text:

Ja ǝmbaj Hubulew Ohej jo dǝ dǝla kajɛ dǝ. Nǝwmeke mo Ǝbalǝ Jakali hubajɛjkoke. Ǝbalǝ Jakali hinǝwnǝ: Ako, wa maka dǝ? Hubulew wǝwnǝ: Ano, da Ohej jo dǝ dǝla kajɛ dǝ. Ǝbalǝ Jakali Hubulew wǝwnǝ: Ako, da Buki nǝ dakǝdǝjde. Hubulew Ohej jo dǝ iwole. Ike Wajǝna bohi da oke. Nǝkǝwkoke mo dǝla ikajnǝle, ninɛ woke mǝwole.

[Qwynegold]

Is it a Bantu language?

[Karch]

Is it Sino-Tibetan?

[bradrn]

Is it a Bantu language?

No.

Is it Sino-Tibetan?

No.