Somahai language
| Momuna | |
|---|---|
| Somahai | |
| Native to | Indonesia |
| Region | Highland Papua: Yahukimo Regency South Papua: western Asmat Regency |
Native speakers | (2,200 cited 1998-2000)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:mqf - Momunammb - Momina |
| Glottolog | soma1242 |
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
[edit]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.[3]
Classification
[edit]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
[edit]| Labial | Alveolar | Velar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | b | t | k |
| Fricative | s | ||
| Nasal | m | n | |
| Approximant | w | r | j |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | u | |
| Mid-high | e | o | |
| Mid-low | e | o | |
| Low | a |
Additionally, there are at most three tones: high, low, and mid. The mid tone only occurs on monosyllabic words.[4]
Vocabulary
[edit]The following basic vocabulary words of Momuna are from Voorhoeve (1975),[5] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database:[6][7]
gloss Momuna head toko hair toko-ate eye otu tooth ija leg i jo-ku louse amega dog kwoka pig uwo egg magisaga blood jani bone toko skin ke tree kwo man mogo-mearu sun iki water ingga fire kukwa stone ki eat nowa-
References
[edit]- ^ Momuna at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Momina at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) - ^ Momuna-Mek, New Guinea World
- ^ Momuna, New Guinea World
- ^ a b c Reimer, Martha (1986). "The notion of topic in Momuna narrative discourse". Papers in New Guinea Linguistics. Pacific Linguistics: Series A. 25. Canberra: Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University: 181-204.
- ^ 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
- ^ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea". Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ Voorhoeve, C.L., 1975. Languages of Irian Jaya Checklist, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
- Ross, Malcolm (2005). "Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 15-66. doi:10.15144/PL-572. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.
External links
[edit]- Timothy Usher, New Guinea World, Proto-Momuna-Mek
- (ibid.) Momuna
- Somahai languages database at TransNewGuinea.org