Araki Island
Encyclopedia
Araki Island is a small rocky island with an area of 2.5 km², located 3 miles off the southern shores of Espiritu Santo
, which is the largest island
in the nation of Vanuatu
. It belongs to the archipelago
of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia
. It is in the Sanma Province
of Vanuatu.
The Arakian community is divided into 5 hamlets or villages. From west to east, these are: Pelinta, Parili, Parili-Aru, Vinapahura, and Sope. These are essentially extended family clans; these clans can be referred to as 'vapa' (literally 'cave'). In addition, there is a common area close to Sope, called the Mission. This is where the church, meeting house, cooperative, aid post, the Chief's house, the Pastor's house, and the women's club house are located.
For many Arakians, inland activities do not generate sufficient income. Therefore, they prefer to cultivate larger slots in the mainland Santo, or even choose to live in the local capital Luganville.
after the island. The language is growing extinct, as a result of contact of its speakers with neighbouring languages. Today, there are about 5 native speakers of Araki language.
At encounters on the mainland, Arakians are exposed to languages other than their own - especially to Tangoa language
and to the pidgin
Bislama. The influence of Tangoa language is increased through inter-island marriages and through missionary and church influence, as church services are usually carried out in Bislama or Tangoa, and only occasionally in Araki language.
The public school system is also another cause for the decreasing use of Araki language. First, because secondary school is officially held in French or English. Second, because the teachers usually come from different places of Vanuatu, and therefore speak Bislama. Third, because Araki Island only has a kindergarten and a primary school, in such a way that children are forced to continue their schooling on the mainland.
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
, which is the largest island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the nation of Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. It belongs to the archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
. It is in the Sanma Province
Sanma Province
Sanma is a province located in the Northern part of the nation of Vanuatu, occupying the nation's largest island, Espiritu Santo, which is located approximately 2,500 km northeast of Sydney, Australia. The name Sanma is derived from the initial letters of the main islands of Santo and Malo...
of Vanuatu.
Population
Given its small dimensions, it is not surprising that Araki Island has always had a low population. Census records as early as 1897 give 103 islanders, while there were 112 in 1989, and 121 in 1999. However, this number does not accurately reflect the number of persons, who really live permanently on Araki Island: because of sustenance difficulties, many Arakians are forced to seek work on the main island of Espiritu Santo. As a result, several men, or even whole families, divide their time between the island and the mainland.The Arakian community is divided into 5 hamlets or villages. From west to east, these are: Pelinta, Parili, Parili-Aru, Vinapahura, and Sope. These are essentially extended family clans; these clans can be referred to as 'vapa' (literally 'cave'). In addition, there is a common area close to Sope, called the Mission. This is where the church, meeting house, cooperative, aid post, the Chief's house, the Pastor's house, and the women's club house are located.
Income sources
As is often the case in rural areas of Vanuatu, most of the inhabitants of Araki Island are subsistence farmers, exploiting the resources of land and sea for their own consumption; they also breed pigs and poultry. At the same time, many Arakians have developed various trade activities as sources of income:- culture of copra and especially cocoa
- local stores and bakery
- selling crabs, coconut crabs, fish, and fruit, to the local market of LuganvilleLuganvilleLuganville, called "Santo" by people from Vanuatu's northern islands who use Luganville as their big city, and called "Kanal" by rural residents of the large island of Espiritu Santo, is the second largest city in Vanuatu. The population is .Luganville is one of Vanuatu's busiest ports,...
.
For many Arakians, inland activities do not generate sufficient income. Therefore, they prefer to cultivate larger slots in the mainland Santo, or even choose to live in the local capital Luganville.
Language
The native inhabitants of Araki Island speak a unique language, called ArakiAraki language
Araki is a nearly extinct language spoken in the small island of Araki , south of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu. Araki is gradually being replaced by Tangoa, a language from a neighbouring island.-The language:...
after the island. The language is growing extinct, as a result of contact of its speakers with neighbouring languages. Today, there are about 5 native speakers of Araki language.
At encounters on the mainland, Arakians are exposed to languages other than their own - especially to Tangoa language
Tangoa language
Tangoa is an Oceanic language spoken on Tangoa Island, south of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.-Characteristics:Tangoa is one of the few languages of Vanuatu, and indeed of the world, possessing a set of linguolabial consonants.-External links:*...
and to the pidgin
Pidgin
A pidgin , or pidgin language, is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the...
Bislama. The influence of Tangoa language is increased through inter-island marriages and through missionary and church influence, as church services are usually carried out in Bislama or Tangoa, and only occasionally in Araki language.
The public school system is also another cause for the decreasing use of Araki language. First, because secondary school is officially held in French or English. Second, because the teachers usually come from different places of Vanuatu, and therefore speak Bislama. Third, because Araki Island only has a kindergarten and a primary school, in such a way that children are forced to continue their schooling on the mainland.
External links
- Ethnologue page
- Homepage of the linguist A. François, providing some documentation on Araki language (includes an Araki lexicon, and links to bilingual stories that can be read and listened to).
- Araki Wordlist at the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database