Rumu language

"Kairi language" redirects here. For the Australian language, see Gayiri language.
Rumu
Kairi
RegionPapua New Guinea
Native speakers
(700 cited 1990)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3klq
Glottologrumu1243

Rumu (Rumuwa), or Kairi (Kai-Iri), is a Papuan language of Papua New Guinea. Other names for it are Dumu (Tumu) and Kibiri.

Phonology

Consonants[2]
Labial Alveolar Dorsal
Plosive p t k
Fricative (s) h
Nasal m n
Approximant w r j
  • /r/ is pronounced [l] when word-initial and before /ɛ a ɔ/.
  • /w/ is [β] before /i e ɛ/.
  • /s/ only occurs in loanwords.
Vowels[2]
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid-high e ⟨ë⟩ o ⟨ö⟩
Mid-low ɛ ɔ
Low a
Diphthongs[2]
-i -e -ɛ -a -ɔ -u
i- ia iɔ
e- (ei) ea eɔ
ɛ- ɛi ɛa ɛu
a- ai ae aɔ au
o- (oi) oe oa
ɔ- ɔi ɔɛ ɔa ɔu
u- [ui] uɔ
  • /ei/ has merged to [i] for many speakers.
  • /oi/ has shifted to [ui] for many speakers.

Additionally, Rumu is tonal, distinguishing four tones: falling ⟨à⟩, rising ⟨á⟩, peaking ⟨â⟩, and level ⟨ā⟩.[2]

References

  1. ^ John Newman and Robert G. Petterson, 1990, “The Tones of Kairi'”, Oceanic Linguistics, 29:1, p. 75 n. 2.
  2. ^ a b c d Petterson, Robert (1992). Rumu Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.


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