Vemkha language

Vemkha
vəmɣa
Pronunciation	[vəmɣa], [vamx], [vəŋx]
Region	Kasiiralq
Ethnicity	6,430 Vemkha
Native speakers	c. 6,400  (2020 census)
Language family	Language isolate or one of Sahar's primary language families
Early forms:	Proto-Vemkha Vemkha
Dialects	Vemgha Vamkh Vengkh
CWS code	VMKH

Vemkha (Vemkha: Vəmɣa [vəmɣa], Wamx [wamx] or Wəŋx [wəŋx]) is a language isolate or small language family spoken by the Vemkha people of Kasiiralq.

Classification

The classification of Vemkha has been highly controversial. It has not been conclusively proven to be related to any other language family, despite numerous attempts by linguists. Most attempts have focused on geographically proximate families, such as Tulipi-Lakup, Maakpauean, Yucho, East-Mirarian or Shaelic. Other proposals have focused on more distant connections, such as the Amaian languages of eastern Vaniu, the Koizic languages of Central Miraria and even the Darkinic languages of northern Soltenna.

Phonology

Consonants

Vemkha consonants

		Labial	Dental	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Uvular	Glottal
Nasal		m		n	ɲ	ŋ
Stop	plain	p	t̪	t	c	k	q
	aspirated	pʰ	t̪ʰ	tʰ	cʰ	kʰ	qʰ
Fricative	voiceless	f	θ ~ s̪		sʲ ~ ɕ	x	χ	h
	voiced	v	ð ~ z̪		zʲ ~ ʑ	ɣ	ʁ
Approximant				l	j	w
Trill	voiceless			r̥
	voiced			r