Palei languages

Palei
Geographic
distribution		eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
Linguistic classificationTorricelli
Language codes
Glottolognucl1722  (Nuclear Palai)
wana1269  (Wanap)
west2788  (West Palai)
The Torricelli languages as classified by Foley (2018). Palei and Wapei languages are yellow.

The Palei languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family according to Laycock (1975) (quoted from Foley 2018). They are spoken in mountainous regions of eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.

Languages

Languages are:[citation needed]

Nambi (Nabi) = Metan may also belong here, or may be one of the Maimai languages, or separate within the Torricelli languages.

Pronouns

Pronouns in Palei languages are:[1]

Palei pronouns
Kayik Aru Aruop Aiku Nambi
1s kəmex au am wup ai
2s kiyox i yi yit yi
3s təno din tuwun
1p kupox amən mendi miyan ep
2p kinox yi yimi yip yip
3p təmo may dim ti rəm

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968),[2] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.[3] Nabi words are from Laycock (1968) and Voorhoeve (1971, 1975).[4][5]

The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. yimunə, yimukun for “louse”) or not (e.g. muᶇkwalnta, yaŋkole for “ear”).

gloss Agi Aruop Amol Nabi Wanap Yangum Mon
head paikwa wantu wotuf peləf wah
ear muᶇkwalnta yaŋkole taŋkən kik nuŋkul yiŋkuːl
eye juwol yolta nəmalal nampəkat yilp yilkŋum
nose tuwarka mup mipan minif təlom yimwar
tooth nai na owayen naf nef awak
tongue naliya aləta akaŋ wulaf kəːləp yalip
leg safiel ala aŋ tip kelfek rak
louse watokəl yimunə yimukun kakyerk yiməl yimul
dog nəmpo yimpa yimpan pat yimpa yimpak
pig bene
bird nol ali alin napet kal al
egg nəŋkoi yoltə yinalən ponorire; yufəlip yiplop yulp
blood xaməŋka səna səneimpən amk komkok yuwanip
bone kamənaŋkil pəniŋki lapən lə lekəl yiklia
skin jiwota wiye yakən wiyírk saf yikisiw
breast nəmai yimá yimawoŋ nəmap yimaŋkəf yimán
tree numwol nəmpə nimpən nip nimp nim
man kamwol makenti maikən məsəmiyen nyiŋkilpən almias
woman wukora simi asək ri kekəntə wasi
sun wota wa wan waf kentief təkŋan
moon uni anyə ayen wunɨ keːnyif mərəŋkil
water wul suku səpən sup; wer kuː sulp
fire ni yimpu niŋ nɨ; wetai nif niw
stone atauka səmpeiken et; rubukia kipru pikiyap
one eso
two piyami piya nantiyou mantio; ru poyomp piyak


References

  1. ^ Foley, William A. (2018). "The Languages of the Sepik-Ramu Basin and Environs". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 197–432. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
  2. ^ Laycock, Donald C. 1968. Languages of the Lumi Subdistrict (West Sepik District), New Guinea. Oceanic Linguistics, 7 (1): 36-66.
  3. ^ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea". Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  4. ^ 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. doi:10.15144/PL-B31
  5. ^ Voorhoeve, C.L. "Miscellaneous Notes on Languages in West Irian, New Guinea". In Dutton, T., Voorhoeve, C. and Wurm, S.A. editors, Papers in New Guinea Linguistics No. 14. A-28:47-114. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1971. doi:10.15144/PL-A28.47
  • Foley, William A. (2018). "The Languages of the Sepik-Ramu Basin and Environs". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 197–432. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.