Abelam language

Last updated
Abelam
Ambelas
Native to Papua New Guinea
Region Sepik River basin
Ethnicity Abelam
Native speakers
33,000 (2004) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 abt
Glottolog ambu1247
ELP Ambulas

Abelam (or Ambulas, Abulas) is the most prevalent of the Ndu languages of Sepik River region of northern Papua New Guinea. [2] Dialects are Maprik, Wingei, Wosera-Kamu, Wosera-Mamu. [1]

Contents

Phonology

Consonants [3]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Plosive/
Affricate
plain p t k
prenasal ᵐb ⁿd ᶮʤ ᵑg
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Fricative β s
Liquid lateral l
rhotic r
Semivowel w j
Vowels [4]
( i ) ɨ ( u )
ə
a

[i, u] may be heard as a realization of the sequences /əj/, /əw/ or resulting in syllabic forms of /j, w/.

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References

  1. 1 2 Abelam at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  2. OLAC resources in and about the Ambulas language
  3. 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.
  4. Palmer, Bill (2017-12-04). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN   978-3-11-029525-2.