Language Quiz 30 August 202629 August 2026 By Simon Here’s a recording in a mystery language. http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/blog/quiz300826.mp3 Do you know, or can you guess, the language?
For some reason I seem to be stuck on the idea of the Philippines again. Either then or Indonesia. Reply
To me the “roti” around 0:06 feels South Asian (but I know many southeast Asian languages use that as a loanword as well). My first impression is something Munda – recordings I’ve heard in Mundari have a similar kind of “rolling” cadence to them. Reply
The mystery language is Lenakel (Netvaar), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Tanna Island in southern Vanuatu. Reply
For some reason I seem to be stuck on the idea of the Philippines again. Either then or Indonesia.
I also think that it is Austronesian, possibly Oceanic.
To me the “roti” around 0:06 feels South Asian (but I know many southeast Asian languages use that as a loanword as well). My first impression is something Munda – recordings I’ve heard in Mundari have a similar kind of “rolling” cadence to them.
The mystery language is Lenakel (Netvaar), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Tanna Island in southern Vanuatu.