Kwerba language

Last updated
Kwerba
Sasawa
Native to Indonesia
Region Sarmi Regency, Papua
Native speakers
(2,500 cited 1996) [1]
Dialects
  • Serikenam
  • Sasawa
  • Nogukwabai
Language codes
ISO 639-3 kwe
Glottolog nucl1595

Kwerba is a Papuan language of Indonesia. Alternate names are Airmati (Armati), Koassa, Mataweja, Naibedj, Segar Tor, Tekutameso.

Contents

Kwerba is spoken in Apiaweti, Aurime, Munukania, Tatsewalem, and Wamariri villages in Sarmi Regency. [2]

Phonology

Consonants [3]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Plosive p t k
Fricative s
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Approximant w r j
Vowels [3]
Front Central Back
High i u
Near-high ɪ
Mid-high e ə o
Mid-low ɛ
Low a

Stress occurs on the penultimate syllable. [3]

Pronouns

Kwerba nominative pronouns as given in Foley (2018): [4]

singulardualplural
1st personexclconano’nino
inclna’noneno
2nd personamnononom
3rd personiiniimiinembwanoiinembwa

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References

  1. Kwerba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2019). "Indonesia languages". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (22nd ed.). Dallas: SIL International.
  3. 1 2 3 Slizer, Peter J. (1976). Suharno, Ignatius; Pike, Kenneth L. (eds.). "A six-week phonemic analysis of Air Mati with a tentative orthography". From Baudi to Indonesian. Jayapura: Cenderawasih University and Summer Institute of Linguistics: 192–201.
  4. Foley, William A. (2018). "The languages of Northwest New Guinea". 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. 433–568. ISBN   978-3-11-028642-7.