Merig
Merig | |
---|---|
![]() Location of Merig in Banks Islands | |
Coordinates:14°19′S167°48′E/ 14.317°S 167.800°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Province | Torba Province |
Area | |
• Total | 0.5 km2(0.2 sq mi) |
[1] | |
Population (2009) | |
• Total | 12 |
• Density | 24/km2(62/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+11(VUT) |
Merigis a small island located 20 kilometres (12 miles) east ofGaua,in theBanks Islandsof northernVanuatu.
The island is about 800 metres (2,600 feet) wide, and has a circumference of 2.2 kilometres (1 mile).
Name
[edit]The nameMerig[ŋ͡mʷeriɣ]comes from theMota language.It comes from aProto-Torres-Banksform *mʷera riɣi"the small boy" via haplology to*mʷeriɣi.It contrasts withMerelava,from *mʷera-i laβa"the big boy". The native term inMwerlapisN̄wërig[ŋʷɞˈriɣ],from the same etymon.
History
[edit]The first recorded sighting of Merig Island by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition ofPedro Fernández de Quiróson 25 April 1606.[2]It was then namedÎle Sainte Claire.[3]
Population
[edit]Merig is only inhabited by one household, consisting of 12 individuals.[4]
They speakMwerlap,[5]the language of the neighbouring islandMerelava.
References
[edit]- ^"Vanuatu".Haos Blong Volkeno. Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2018.Retrieved8 August2018.
- ^Sharp, AndrewThe discovery of the Pacific IslandsOxford, 1960, p.65.
- ^Sidney Herbert Ray (29 May 2014).A Comparative Study of the Melanesian Island Languages.Cambridge University Press. pp. 427–.ISBN978-1-107-68202-3.
- ^
"2009 National Census of Population and Housing: Summary Release"(PDF).Vanuatu National Statistics Office. 2009.RetrievedOctober 11,2010.
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(help) - ^Languages of the Banks & Torres Islands.
External links
[edit]- "Merig".Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian Institution.Retrieved2021-06-28.