Merei-Tiale language
Merei or Malmariv is an Oceanic language spoken in north central Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.The members of the population have a positive attitude towards the threatened language, with Merei being spoken by approximately 400 people as a mother tongue.These villages are located between the Ora and Lape rivers in the central area of Espiritu Santo Island.(as one is giving you food).Example 2 shows use of the first person plural exclusive independent pronoun gamau.Ø3SGtaREALvai-ramake-3PLmate.died.Ø ta vai-ra mate.3SG REAL make-3PL died.‘He cause them to die.’Reflexive pronouns are formed from the root nese- followed by a possessive pronominal suffix.[4] Shows get-nie a speaker hearer referenced demonstrative pronoun: Get-niethisiaART.CNsava?whatGet-nie ia sava?this ART.CN what'What is this?[4] This type of formation is normally related with body parts, familial terms, and relationships between location and part-whole connections.it operates as part of the noun phrase and functions like a descriptive normal modifier or a possessive construction.iaART.CNnou-guPOSS.INEDbongnightia nou-gu bongART.CN POSS.INED night'my night' (the day of celebration for me)iaART.CNbongnightiART.PNiaART.CNvlamonthØ3SGtaREALeseoneia bong i ia vla Ø ta eseART.CN night ART.PN ART.CN month 3SG REAL one'the first day of the month'The following examples show the difference that indirect and direct possession have on the noun 'road'.The distinction between prohibition and pleading depends on the meaning of the verbs and intonation or it may require a more specific declaration.