Apma

Apma, also written Abma or called Central Raga, is the Oceanic language of central Pentecost island in Vanuatu, combining features of the North and Central Vanuatu language groups. Its name is the local word for what or something, and speakers usually call it simply dalekte, the language. Its dialects include Suru Mwerani, Suru Rabwanga and the sharply distinct Suru Kavian, while Asuk and Wolwolan have died out.

Apma spread into areas once held by neighbouring languages such as Sowa and Ske. Europeans first sighted Pentecost in Pedro Fernandez de Quiros's expedition of April 1606; Louis Antoine de Bougainville named the island in 1768 when he reached it on the day of Pentecost, and James Cook followed in 1774.