Somahai language

Last updated
Momuna
Somahai
Native to Indonesia
Region Highland Papua: Yahukimo Regency
South Papua: western Asmat Regency
Native speakers
(2,200 cited 1998–2000) [1]
Dialects
  • Momuna
  • Momina
Language codes
ISO 639-3 Either:
mqf   Momuna
mmb   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.

Contents

Varieties

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

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

Consonants [4]
Labial Alveolar Velar
Plosive b t k
Fricative s
Nasal m n
Approximant w r j
Vowels [4]
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid-high e o
Mid-low ɛ ɔ
Low a

Additionally, there are at most three tones: high, low, and mid. The mid tone only occurs on monosyllabic words. [4]

Vocabulary

The following basic vocabulary words of Momuna are from Voorhoeve (1975), [5] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database: [6] [7]

glossMomuna
headtoko
hairtoko-ate
eyeotu
toothija
legi jo-ku
louseamega
dogkwoka
piguwo
eggmagisaga
bloodjanɨ
bonetoko
skinke
treekwo
manmogo-mearu
sunɨkɨ
wateriŋga
firekukwa
stone
eatnowa-

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References

  1. Momuna at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Momina at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Momuna–Mek, New Guinea World
  3. Momuna, New Guinea World
  4. 1 2 3 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.
  5. 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
  6. Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea" . Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  7. Voorhoeve, C.L., 1975. Languages of Irian Jaya Checklist, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.