Talk:Vanuatu/Archive 2

Map of Vanuatu in the world

About the map of Vanuatu -- showing it's place in the world -- I found it's confusing. There are too many boxes-in-boxes. I think all it's needed is a map showing Australia, with an arrow pointing to that part of the south Pacific ocean which is northeast of Australia -- where Vanuatu is. Tomwsulcer (talk) 01:24, 27 July 2009 (UTC)tomwsulcer

You might want to consider using this one. It's not too good, but is easier to read. Tim Ross (talk) 10:33, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

File:Casta New hebrides-small.jpg

Thanks, Tim, I looked at the maps, and found one I could revise showing Australia in relation to Vanuatu, and changed colors, and added labels to emphasize Vanuatu in relation to Australia, hopefully better than the old map, but wondering what others think. Tomwsulcer (talk) 12:47, 4 September 2009 (UTC)Tomwsulcer

The new one looks just right. Better than either the old one or my alternative. Tim Ross (talk) 13:27, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

Thanks Tim. I tried a similar thing with Allegheny College, revising a map of Pennsylvania, but put too much purple for one of the counties I think. I'm somewhat artistically challenged I think. What's really cool about this article is that clicking on the thingie next to Vanuatu makes it pronounce "Van-oo-AH-too". I favor WP becoming more interactive -- click on this, stuff happens, moving graphics, automatic currency converters -- sooner or later this stuff is coming, and WP will be even cooler!--Tomwsulcer (talk) 15:48, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

Motto

See Talk:Vanuatu/Archive_1 for this lengthy discussion. Tim Ross (talk) 16:00, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

"In God we stand" is the form generally used in Vanuatu, and I have restored this. It's not Wikipedia's place to rewrite other countries mottos. -- 202.124.73.231 (talk) 05:10, 31 July 2011 (UTC)

Flora and Fauna

I have just edited this newly added section. No source is provided for the information, although it may be from the Peace Corps. In any case, whatever the source, the information is not entirely accurate, and the statement that Vanuatu has no poisonous snakes is dangerously incorrect. Deadly poisonous sea snakes are not at all uncommon near-shore. Many species of spiders live on the islands. Tim Ross (talk) 09:57, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

I have also deleted the parenthetical statement, that the local wild pigs and fowl "appear to be indigenous". Current science indicates otherwise. [1] [2] Tim Ross (talk) 11:03, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

Origin of Name

Does anyone know the history or the meaning of the name Vanuatu? (Is vanua land?) Koro Neil (talk) 11:12, 6 July 2010 (UTC)

I've heard that it means "our land", but I don't know if that is true or even what language that is. I, too, would be interested in knowing more about this issue. Tim Ross (talk) 19:12, 6 July 2010 (UTC)

Earthquakes

There are currently two subsections of "History" on 2009 earthquakes and 2010 earthquakes. This appears to be an example of recentism. There is an article 2009 Vanuatu earthquakes but no equivalent article of 2010. I suggest these subsections do not belong in this article at all, but that a paragraph be added to "Geography" about earthquake vulnerability in the country, written from a long-term perspective. The existing content can be merged into the 2009 article and a 2010 article created. These can be linked to from the geography section.

I have no particular expertise in this area, so I'd welcome someone else having a go at writing the paragraph for the geography section.-gadfium 19:13, 25 December 2010 (UTC)

Alternatively, the existing content (now in the Geography section) can be split off into Earthquakes in Vanuatu. There's still a need for a long-term overview.-gadfium 03:38, 21 August 2011 (UTC)

I would support that. Chipmunkdavis (talk) 05:38, 21 August 2011 (UTC)

Flag of Convenience

The listed source does not state or imply that "Vanuatu is recognized as one of the largest and most notorious" flag of convenience countries. Find another source or remove it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.30.166.50 (talk) 16:54, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Also, it does not make Flag_of_convenience's list of the top 11 FOC states, and receives only a passing mention. 211.30.166.50 (talk) 17:07, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

I agree with 211.30.166.50; I don't know much about the subject, but the cited reference certainly doesn't support the claim. I will edit the statement to a more neutral remark that Vanuatu is a nation known to offer a "Flag of Convenience" to merchant ships. El piel (talk) 20:42, 6 December 2011 (UTC)

Removed awkard part of a sentance

I removed " a name that lasted until independence" from History section. It was getting on the way of continuity. --George Spurlin (talk) 07:30, 9 April 2012 (UTC)

I agree with George Spurlin. It doesn't seem to add much. CMD (talk) 09:19, 9 April 2012 (UTC)

Ni-Vanuatu

In the second paragraph in "Demographics", there is a sentence that begins,

"The inhabitants of Vanuatu, known in English as Ni-Vanuatu,...."

I don't understand how "Ni-Vanuatu" is an English demonym. Even reading the article in the link, it is clear that it is not an English word. What are residents (or citizens) of Vanuatu known in the Vanuatan language? If the two words are different, then this sentence should read, "The inhabitants of Vanuatu, called by English speakers "Ni-Vanuatu",...", but even then, a word or phrase should be added to indicate that it is a Vanuatan word, or name (even if a new construct), or whatever it is.CorinneSD (talk) 22:01, 29 October 2013 (UTC)

I see a good recent edit to the article made to clarify "Ni-Vanuatu" and an even better edit to the short article "Ni-Vanuatu". I just wonder, regarding the edit to this article, why use "designated" instead of "called"? What's wrong with the clearer, simpler, more common, and more accurate (since it is speech) "called"? "....called by English and French speakers Ni-Vanuatu". "Designated" is vague and academic-sounding.CorinneSD (talk) 00:11, 30 October 2013 (UTC)

Thanks, I fixed this. Is it wrong to sound academic? :-) Womtelo (talk) 00:33, 30 October 2013 (UTC)

Well, I meant overly, or unnecessarily, academic so that it sounds stuffy, or pedantic. I think the language in WP should be straightforward. I'm glad you made the edit, but I don't think the word "people" is necessary after "Ni-Vanuatu".CorinneSD (talk) 02:24, 30 October 2013 (UTC)

Languages

The decision to move languages to the Culture (now Culture and society) section was a good one, and the added reference regarding the vernacular languages is good, too. I still have a question about the following sentence:

"All of these indigenous languages belong to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family."

There is some ambiguity here. Because the word "indigenous" is not the same word as "vernacular", it is not completely clear whether "All of these indigenous languages" includes, or does not include, Bislama.

• If it does not, then I suggest using "vernacular" instead of "indigenous": "All of these vernacular languages belong to the..." (or changing the first use of "vernacular" in "113 vernacular languages" to "indigenous").

• If it does, I suggest: "All of these indigenous languages, including Bislama, belong to the...".CorinneSD (talk) 02:45, 30 October 2013 (UTC)