Ama language (New Guinea)

Last updated
Ama
Sawiyanu
Native to Papua New Guinea
Region East Sepik Province
Native speakers
490 (2000) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 amm
Glottolog amap1240
ELP Ama
Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap

Ama (Sawiyanu) is a Left May language of Papua New Guinea, in East Sepik Province. Former dialects have merged.

Contents

Ethnologue reports that it is spoken in Ama (Wopolu I) ( 4°06′12″S141°39′54″E / 4.103263°S 141.665012°E / -4.103263; 141.665012 (Ama) ), Kauvia (Kawiya) ( 4°07′24″S141°39′47″E / 4.123436°S 141.662939°E / -4.123436; 141.662939 (Kavia) ), Waniap creek ( 4°12′57″S141°43′44″E / 4.215844°S 141.728851°E / -4.215844; 141.728851 (Waniap) ), Wopolu II (Nokonufa) ( 4°04′23″S141°42′22″E / 4.072957°S 141.706211°E / -4.072957; 141.706211 (Waburu 1&2) ), and Yonuwai ( 4°11′37″S141°36′14″E / 4.193624°S 141.603848°E / -4.193624; 141.603848 (Yenuai) ) villages of Tunap/Hunstein Rural LLG, East Sepik Province. [1] [2]

Phonology

Ama has 12 consonants, which are: [3] :344

ptk
ɸsh
mn
wɻj

Ama has 7 vowels, which are: [3] :344

iu
eo
ɔ
aɒ

Pronouns

Pronouns are: [3] :345

sgdupl
1inclmotimoi
1exclyo/yakotikoi
2nono/namotimoi
3to/tatotitoi

Grammar

Ama has four tenses, which are marked by suffixes.

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References

  1. 1 2 Ama at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  2. United Nations in Papua New Guinea (2018). "Papua New Guinea Village Coordinates Lookup". Humanitarian Data Exchange. 1.31.9.
  3. 1 2 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.