The inhabitants of Merelava call their own island Mwerlap, more accurately N̄wërlap IPA: [ŋʷɞrlap].
The name Merelava or M̄ere Lava reflects the way it is called in the neighbouring Mota language ‒ phonetically [ŋ͡mʷereˈlaβa]. According to Codrington,[1] the etymology of this name (in Proto-Torres-Banks) is likely to be *mʷera lava, literally “the big boy”; it contrasts with the neighbouring island M̄erig[ŋ͡mʷeˈriɣ], from *mʷera riɣi “the small boy”. These words refer metaphorically to the islands themselves.
Geography
Merelava is situated in the southeastern part of the archipelago near Mota and Merig. Merelava has also been known as Star Island. It is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Gaua.
Merelava is a nearly round volcanic island with a diameter of almost 4.5 km and an area of 18 km2. It is formed by a basaltic stratovolcano, which reaches in Mount Teu, also called Star Peak, a height of 883 m above the sea level.
The main village is Tesmet on the west coast of the island. Other villages, starting clockwise at Tesmet, are Levetmise (northwest), Lekweal (north), Lewetneak (northeast), and Aot (southeast, second largest).
History
Merelava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós, from 25 to 29 April 1606. The island's name was then charted as San Marcos.[2]
Merelava was reportedly seen smoking when it was first encountered by Quirós.[3]
Population and language
The island has about 650 inhabitants.[4] They all speak an Oceanic language known as Mwerlap.[5]
^Kelly, Celsus, O.F.M. La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo. The Journal of Fray Martín de Munilla O.F.M. and other documents relating to the Voyage of Pedro Fernández de Quirós to the South Sea (1605-1606) and the Franciscan Missionary Plan (1617-1627) Cambridge, 1966, p.39, 62.
^"Global Volcanism Program | Mere Lava". Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
^ "2009 National Census of Population and Housing: Summary Release" (PDF). Vanuatu National Statistics Office. 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Codrington, Robert H.; Palmer, Jim (1896), A Dictionary of the Language of Mota, Sugarloaf Island, Banks' Islands, with a short grammar and index, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
François, Alexandre (2005), "Unraveling the history of vowels in seventeen north Vanuatu languages" (PDF), Oceanic Linguistics, 44 (2): 443–504, doi:10.1353/ol.2005.0034, S2CID 131668754
External links
Linguistic map of north Vanuatu, showing location of Merelava.
This Vanuatu location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
merelava, mere, lava, island, banks, islands, torba, province, northern, vanuatu, native, name, mwerlaplocation, banks, islandsgeographylocationpacific, oceancoordinates14, coordinates, 05archipelagovanuatu, banks, islandsarea18, highest, pointmount, teuadmini. Merelava or Mere Lava is an island in the Banks Islands of the Torba Province of northern Vanuatu MerelavaNative name MwerlapLocation of Merelava in the Banks IslandsGeographyLocationPacific OceanCoordinates14 27 S 168 03 E 14 45 S 168 05 E 14 45 168 05 Coordinates 14 27 S 168 03 E 14 45 S 168 05 E 14 45 168 05ArchipelagoVanuatu Banks IslandsArea18 km2 6 9 sq mi Highest pointMount TeuAdministrationVanuatuProvinceTorba ProvinceDemographicsPopulation650 2009 Contents 1 Names 2 Geography 3 History 4 Population and language 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksNames EditThe inhabitants of Merelava call their own island Mwerlap more accurately N werlap IPA ŋʷɞrlap The name Merelava or M ere Lava reflects the way it is called in the neighbouring Mota language phonetically ŋ mʷereˈlaba According to Codrington 1 the etymology of this name in Proto Torres Banks is likely to be mʷera lava literally the big boy it contrasts with the neighbouring island M erig ŋ mʷeˈriɣ from mʷera riɣi the small boy These words refer metaphorically to the islands themselves Geography EditMerelava is situated in the southeastern part of the archipelago near Mota and Merig Merelava has also been known as Star Island It is located about 50 kilometres 31 miles east of Gaua Merelava is a nearly round volcanic island with a diameter of almost 4 5 km and an area of 18 km2 It is formed by a basaltic stratovolcano which reaches in Mount Teu also called Star Peak a height of 883 m above the sea level The main village is Tesmet on the west coast of the island Other villages starting clockwise at Tesmet are Levetmise northwest Lekweal north Lewetneak northeast and Aot southeast second largest History EditMerelava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros from 25 to 29 April 1606 The island s name was then charted as San Marcos 2 Merelava was reportedly seen smoking when it was first encountered by Quiros 3 Population and language EditThe island has about 650 inhabitants 4 They all speak an Oceanic language known as Mwerlap 5 References Edit Cf Codrington amp Palmer 1896 p 89 Kelly Celsus O F M La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo The Journal of Fray Martin de Munilla O F M and other documents relating to the Voyage of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros to the South Sea 1605 1606 and the Franciscan Missionary Plan 1617 1627 Cambridge 1966 p 39 62 Global Volcanism Program Mere Lava Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program Retrieved 2022 10 28 2009 National Census of Population and Housing Summary Release PDF Vanuatu National Statistics Office 2009 Retrieved October 11 2010 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Francois 2005 444 Bibliography EditCodrington Robert H Palmer Jim 1896 A Dictionary of the Language of Mota Sugarloaf Island Banks Islands with a short grammar and index London Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Francois Alexandre 2005 Unraveling the history of vowels in seventeen north Vanuatu languages PDF Oceanic Linguistics 44 2 443 504 doi 10 1353 ol 2005 0034 S2CID 131668754External links EditLinguistic map of north Vanuatu showing location of Merelava This Vanuatu location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merelava amp oldid 1118705923, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
