Avava language
| Avava | |
|---|---|
| Katbol | |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Central Malekula |
Native speakers | 700 (2001) |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | tmb |
| Glottolog | katb1237 |
| ELP | Avava |
Avava is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Avava (Navava), also known as Katbol, Tembimbe-Katbol, or Bangsa’ is an Oceanic language of central Malekula, Vanuatu. It has nasalized fricatives and a bilabial trill.
The four Avava-speaking villages speak or spoke, distinct dialects. Timbembe and Nevaar (Nɨviar) are still spoken. The Nivat (Nevat) and Bangasa (Umbrul) dialects are extinct. Bangasa/Bangsa', or more correctly Bangasak, was known as Numbuwul by its neighbors to the north; the endonym is Umbbuul [(u)ᵐʙuːl].