Kuman language (New Guinea)
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Kuman (also Chimbu or Simbu) is a language of Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea. In 1994, it was estimated that 80,000 people spoke Kuman, 10,000 of them monolinguals;[1] in the 2000 census, 115,000 were reported, with few monolinguals.[2] Ethnologue also reported 70,000 second language speakers in 2021.[2]
Phonology
Like other Chimbu languages, Kuman has rather unusual lateral consonants. Besides the typical Script error: No such module "IPA"., it has a "laterally released velar affricate" which is voiced medially and voiceless finally (and does not occur initially).[3] Based on related languages, this is presumably Script error: No such module "IPA"., allophonically Script error: No such module "IPA". (see voiceless velar lateral fricative).
Consonants
- Voiced plosives are usually prenasal, but may fluctuate in word-initial position as ordinary voiced stops Script error: No such module "IPA"..
- Voiceless stops Script error: No such module "IPA". are always aspirated Script error: No such module "IPA". in word-initial position.
- Script error: No such module "IPA". only occurs word-medially and word-finally. In word-final position it is heard as a trill Template:IPAblink.
- Script error: No such module "IPA". can be pronounced as Template:IPAblink, Template:IPAblink in word-initial position.
- Script error: No such module "IPA". can be pronounced as Template:IPAblink before front vowels Script error: No such module "IPA"..
- Script error: No such module "IPA". is heard as voiceless Template:IPAblink or fricative Template:IPAblink, when preceding a consonant. It is heard as a voiced fricative Template:IPAblink when between vowels. It is also heard as an alveolar fricative Template:IPAblink before an /s/.[4][5]
Vowels
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Template:IPAlink | Template:IPAlink | |
| Mid | Template:IPAlink | Template:IPAlink | |
| Low | Template:IPAlink | ||
- /a/ can be heard as either central Template:IPAblink or back Template:IPAblink in free variation.
- /e/ is pronounced as Template:IPAblink as a first vowel in a word.
- /o/ is pronounced in its lax form as Template:IPAblink before /ɾ/.
Syllable patterns
Syllable structure is (C)V(C). Any consonant can occur in onset position, but in coda position only /m/, /n/, /gɬ/, /l/ and /k/ can occur.[6]
Grammar
Kuman is an SOV language.
Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Vocabulary
The following basic vocabulary words are from Salisbury (1956)[7] and Trefry (1969),[6] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database:[8]
gloss Kuman head bit-na; bɩtiɩno hair iŋguno; yungo ear kina-na; kunano eye gumutino; ongomit-na nose guma-ne; gumano tooth siŋguno tongue dirambino leg kati; kat-na louse numan dog aʝg; agi; akɬ ̥ pig bogla; bugɬa bird kua egg mugɬo; muɬo blood borɔmai; bořumai; maiam bone yambiřo; yombura skin gaŋgino breast amu-na; amuno tree endi man yagl; yakɬ ̥ woman ambu sun ande; andesuŋgua moon ba water nigl; nikɬ ̥ fire baugl; doŋga stone kombuglo; kombugɬo road, path konbo; konumbo name kaŋgin; kangi-ne eat neuŋgua one suařa two suo
References
Further reading
- Hardie, Peter. 2003. Is Kuman Tonal? An account of basic segmental and tonological structure in the Papuan language Kuman. MA thesis: Australian National University
- Template:WALS
External links
- Kuman phonology and sample text
- Kaipuleohone has a Chimbu-Wahgi collection from Andrea L. Berez that includes Kuman language materials
- A number of collections in Paradisec include Kuman materials
Template:Languages of Papua New Guinea Template:Chimbu–Wahgi languages Template:Authority control
- ↑ Template:E15
- ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namede25 - ↑ Foley, 1986:63, The Papuan languages of New Guinea
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Salisbury, R.F. 1956. The Siane Language of the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea. Anthropos 51:447-480.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".