Bola language (Austronesian)

Last updated
Bola
Bakovi
Native to Papua New Guinea
Native speakers
(14,000 cited 2000 census) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 bnp
Glottolog bola1250
ELP Bola

Bola, or Bakovi, is an Oceanic language of West New Britain in Papua New Guinea. The Harua (Xarua) dialect developed on a palm plantation.

Contents

Phonology

Phonology of the Bola language: [2]

Consonant sounds
Labial Alveolar Velar
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive p b t d k g
Fricative β ( s ) ɣ
Rhotic r
Lateral l

/t/ is realized as /s,ʃ/ only when occurring in front of /i/. The voiced stops /bdɡ/ can often sound prenasalized [ᵐbⁿdᵑɡ] among various speakers. /ɣ/ can be pronounced as a glottal fricative [ h ] among younger speakers.

Vowel sounds
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid ɛ ɔ
Low ɑ

/i/ before vowel sounds /ɑɛɔu/ is pronounced as a glide sound [ j ]. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Bola at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ↑ Wiebe, Brent (August 2004). "Bola (Bola-Bakovi) Language [BNP] East New Britain & West New Britain Province" (PDF). Organised Phonology Data.
  3. ↑ van den Berg & Wiebe (2019)

Further reading


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