Somahai language
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Momuna (Momina), also known as Somahai (Somage, Sumohai), is a Papuan language spoken in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua and Asmat Regency, South Papua, Indonesia.
Varieties
Reimer notes two dialects, one on the Balim River and one on the Rekai. One of the differences is that when /u/ follows an /u/ or /o/ in the Balim dialect, it is /i/ in the Rekai dialect. Thus the ethnonym 'Momuna' is pronounced 'Momina' in Rekai dialect.[1]
Classification
The Somahai pronouns, singular *na, *ka, *mo, are typical of Trans–New Guinea languages. They were placed in the Central and South New Guinea branch of that family by Wurm. Ross could not locate enough evidence to classify them. Usher found them to be closest to the Mek languages, in the Central West New Guinea, which partially overlaps with Wurm's C&SNG.
Phonology
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Template:IPA link | Template:IPA link | |
| Mid-high | Template:IPA link | Template:IPA link | |
| Mid-low | Template:IPA link | Template:IPA link | |
| Low | Template:IPA link |
Additionally, there are at most three tones: high, low, and mid. The mid tone only occurs on monosyllabic words.[2]
Vocabulary
The following basic vocabulary words of Momuna are from Voorhoeve (1975),[3] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database:[4][5]
gloss Momuna head toko hair toko-ate eye otu tooth ija leg i jo-ku louse amega dog kwoka pig uwo egg magisaga blood janɨ bone toko skin ke tree kwo man mogo-mearu sun ɨkɨ water iŋga fire kukwa stone kɨ eat nowa-
References
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- ↑ Momuna, New Guinea World
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Voorhoeve, C.L. Languages of Irian Jaya: Checklist. Preliminary classification, language maps, wordlists. B-31, iv + 133 pages. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1975. Script error: No such module "CS1 identifiers".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Voorhoeve, C.L., 1975. Languages of Irian Jaya Checklist, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
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External links
- Timothy Usher, New Guinea World, Proto–Momuna–Mek
- (ibid.) Momuna
- Somahai languages database at TransNewGuinea.org
Template:Central and South New Guinea languages Template:Trans–New Guinea languages Template:Papuan languages