Yapese (Waab)

Yapese is a member of the Oceanic branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken by about 6,600 people in the State of Yap, part of the Federated States of Micronesia, an archipelago of islands in the Pacific Ocean to the northeast of Papua New Guinea. Yap is known as Waqab in Yapese, and the language is known as Waab

Yapese first appeared in writing in a work on Yapese grammar, Primer Ensayo de Gramatica de la lengua de Yap, by Fr. Ambrosio de Valencina, a Spanish missionary, which was published in Manila in 1888. The Spanish-based spelling system for Yapese used by Fr. de Valencina remained in use until 1972, when the Yapese Orthography Committee came up with a new spelling system. Not all the changes, such as the use of the letter q for glottal stops, have been universally accepted.

The Yapese language has influences from Spanish, German, Japanese and English, largely as a result of colonial occupation. There are three other languages, Ulithian, Woleaian, and Satawalese, which, along with English, have official status in Yap. Japanese is spoken by many older Yapese.

The Yapese alphabet and pronunciation

Sample text in Yapese

Gubine gidii mani gargeleg nga faileng nibapuf matt'awen nge rogon. Bay laniyan nipii e nam, ere ngauda ted matt'aawen e chaa niba chugur ngoded nimod walag dad.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Yapese

Information about Yapese | Phrases | Tower of Babel

Link

Information about Yapese language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yapese_language
http://ppo.prel.org/cs/ppo/run/zzz?x-r=ppobrowse&title_id=3733&search_type=title
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~ballanty/dissertation/dissch2.pdf (PDF) http://faroutliers.blogspot.com/2004/08/yapese-spelling-reform-that-damn-q.html

Phrases in Yapese
http://www.travelmart.net/yap/culture.html
http://kcsweb.kcstar.com/projects/micronesia/facts.htm

Information about Yap and Micronesia
http://www.prel.org/pacserv/yap.asp
http://www.visit-fsm.org
http://www.visityap.com

Oceanic languages

Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, ꞌAreꞌare, ’Auhelawa, Avava, Bola, Big Numbas, Buhutu, Bwaidoka, Caac, Cheke Holo, Dorig, Ghari, Hiri Motu, Hiw, Iaai, Kakabai, Kaninuwa, Kokota, Kove, Kurti, Kwara’ae, Lehali, Lenakel, Lewo, Lote, Lo-Toga, Löyöp, Maskelynes, Mato, Mavea, Motu, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Namakura, Neve‘ei, Neverver, North Efate, Paamese, Raga, Rotuman, Roviana, Sa, Sakao, Saliba, Siar, Sio, Ske, Tamambo, Tami, Tigak, Tirax, Tolai, Ubir, Ughele, Vitu, Vurës, Western Fijian, Yabem, Yapese

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 31.10.22

[top]

---

Why not share this page:

Learn languages for free on Duolingo

 

If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.

 

Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.

[top]