Tangoa language
| Tangoa | |
|---|---|
| Movono | |
| Region | Tangoa Island, Vanuatu |
Native speakers | 370 (2015) |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | tgp |
| Glottolog | tang1347 |
| ELP | Tangoa |
Espiritu Santo; Tangoa Island, where Tangoa is primarily spoken, lies off the southern coast | |
Tangoa is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Tangoa, or Movono, is an Oceanic language or dialect. It is spoken on Tangoa Island off the southern coast of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, as well as a few mainland villages opposite Tangoa. In 2015 it was estimated to have 370 speakers, while in 2001 it was estimated to have 800.
Tangoa may be endangered, with its status described as "shifting". Another source describes language use as vigorous, used among all ages in all domains, although with some code-switching to Bislama.
It has largely displaced the moribund Araki language spoken on Araki Island.