Yam languages

Last updated
Yam
Morehead River
Geographic
distribution		 Morehead River watershed, New Guinea
Linguistic classification A primary language family
  • Yam
Subdivisions
Glottolog more1255
Morehead and Upper Maro River languages.svg
Map: The Yam languages of New Guinea
  Yam languages
  Trans–New Guinea languages
  Other Papuan languages
  Austronesian languages
  Australian languages
  Uninhabited
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The Yam languages, also known as the Morehead River languages, are a family of Papuan languages. They include many of the languages south and west of the Fly River in Papua New Guinea and Indonesian West Papua.

Contents

Name

The name Morehead and Upper Maro River, or Morehead–Maro, refers to the area around the Morehead and Maro rivers. Most of the languages are found between these rivers, but the Nambu subgroup are spoken east of the Morehead. Evans (2012) refers to the family instead with the more compact name Yam. This name is motivated by a number of linguistic and cultural items of significance: yam (and cognates) means "custom, tradition"; yəm (and cognates) means "is"; and yam tubers are the local staple and of central cultural importance.

External relationships

Ross (2005) tentatively includes the Yam languages in the proposed Trans-Fly – Bulaka River family. More recently (Evans 2012) has argued that this is not justified and more data has to be gathered. Evans (2018) classifies the Pahoturi River languages as an independent language family. [1]

Yam languages have also been in intensive contact with Marind and Suki speakers, who had historically expanded into Yam-speaking territories via headhunting raids and other expansionary migrations. [1]

Classification

Internal classification of the Yam languages: [2]

Wichmann (2013) did not find a connection between the branches in his automated comparison. [3]

Languages

Yam languages are spoken by up to 3,000 people on both sides of the border in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. In Papua New Guinea, Yam languages are spoken in Morehead Rural LLG, Western Province. In Papua, Indonesia, Yam languages are spoken in Merauke Regency. [1]

Yam languages and respective demographic information listed by Evans (2018) are provided below. [1] Geographical coordinates are also provided for some villages. [4]

List of Yam languages
LanguageAlternative namesSubgroupSpeakersVillages or hamlets
Anta Tokwe, Upper Morehead, Thamnga Tonda 150Ufarua ( 8°38′08″S141°38′00″E / 8.635484°S 141.633236°E / -8.635484; 141.633236 (Uparua) ), Forzitho, Thamgakar ( 8°37′34″S141°36′40″E / 8.626232°S 141.611057°E / -8.626232; 141.611057 (Damgar) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Komnzo Kamundjo, Upper Morehead, (Mema, Ranzér), Zókwasi, Farem Tonda 200Rouku ( 8°42′06″S141°35′55″E / 8.701793°S 141.598485°E / -8.701793; 141.598485 (Rouku) ), Gunana, Morehead ( 8°42′32″S141°38′05″E / 8.708915°S 141.634593°E / -8.708915; 141.634593 (Morehead Station) ), Firra, Masu, Kanathér in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Wára Tjokwe, Upper Morehead, Wära, Mät Tonda 350Yokwa ( 8°42′02″S141°31′23″E / 8.700472°S 141.523053°E / -8.700472; 141.523053 (Iokwa) ), (Mäwsa, Kwaikér, Zäzér Ménz) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Wérè Tokwe, Upper Morehead, Wórä Tonda 100Tokwa ( 8°38′36″S141°26′10″E / 8.643291°S 141.436129°E / -8.643291; 141.436129 (Tokwa) ), Kanfok in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Kémä Upper Morehead Tonda 130Wämnefér ( 8°44′29″S141°24′57″E / 8.74137°S 141.415826°E / -8.74137; 141.415826 (Wemnevere) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Kánchá Kunja, Lower Morehead, Peremka, Kénzä Tonda 350*Bondobol ( 8°55′46″S141°20′18″E / 8.929521°S 141.338469°E / -8.929521; 141.338469 (Bondobol) ), Bula ( 9°07′42″S141°20′26″E / 9.128337°S 141.340513°E / -9.128337; 141.340513 (Bula) ), Jarai ( 9°11′49″S141°35′04″E / 9.196839°S 141.584426°E / -9.196839; 141.584426 (Jarai) ) in southeast Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Ránmo Tonda, Renmo, Blafe Tonda 200*Yéndorodoro ( 8°35′31″S141°17′48″E / 8.59196°S 141.29677°E / -8.59196; 141.29677 (Indorodoro) ), Mengete ( 8°39′25″S141°17′03″E / 8.657045°S 141.284029°E / -8.657045; 141.284029 (Mengete) ) in west Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Mblafe Blafe, Blafe Wonana, Tonda Tonda 350*Weam ( 8°37′08″S141°08′05″E / 8.618919°S 141.134728°E / -8.618919; 141.134728 (Weam Village) ), Kandarisa ( 8°37′17″S141°13′10″E / 8.621418°S 141.2194°E / -8.621418; 141.2194 (Kandarisa) ), Wereaver ( 8°35′48″S141°07′25″E / 8.596603°S 141.123567°E / -8.596603; 141.123567 (Wereavere) ) (only recently in Wereaver) in west Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Warta Thuntai Guntai, Kan Tonda 430Wando ( 8°53′09″S141°15′31″E / 8.885893°S 141.258528°E / -8.885893; 141.258528 (Wando) ), Bensbach ( 8°50′57″S141°14′59″E / 8.8493°S 141.249855°E / -8.8493; 141.249855 (Bensbach Lodge) ), Balamuk, Korombo 1, Korombo 2 ( 8°45′15″S141°15′56″E / 8.754213°S 141.265672°E / -8.754213; 141.265672 (Korombo) ) in mid southwest Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Arammba None Tonda 750Fwasam, Gowi, Kiriwa ( 8°26′15″S141°30′57″E / 8.437511°S 141.515843°E / -8.437511; 141.515843 (Kiriwo) ), Meru ( 8°28′19″S141°27′59″E / 8.471963°S 141.466349°E / -8.471963; 141.466349 (Merru) ), Sedefi ( 8°30′53″S141°36′38″E / 8.514592°S 141.610694°E / -8.514592; 141.610694 (Setavi) ), Serki ( 8°15′02″S141°45′58″E / 8.250688°S 141.766022°E / -8.250688; 141.766022 (Serki) ) in north central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Nggarna Ngar, Kanum, Sota Tonda unknownVicinity of Sota in west Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Rema Tonda 10? (moribund or extinct)Wereaver ( 8°35′48″S141°07′25″E / 8.596603°S 141.123567°E / -8.596603; 141.123567 (Wereavere) ) in west Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Smerki Smärki, Kanum, Barkari Tonda 150Rawu Biru, Tomer, Tomerau, Yakiw in southeast Merauke Regency, Indonesia
Tamer Smerki, Smärki, Kanum Tonda 120 Yanggandur (recently moved there) in southeast Merauke Regency, Indonesia
Ngkontar Ngkontar, Ngkolmpu Tonda 100 Yanggandur in southeast Merauke Regency, Indonesia and into PNG
Ngkolmpu Kiki, Ngkntra Kiki, Kanum, Enkelembu, Kenume, Knwne Tonda east Merauke Regency, Indonesia and into PNG
Bedi Ngkolmpu Kanum, Enkelembu, Kenume, Knwne Tonda 5 (moribund or extinct) Onggaya in south central Merauke Regency, Indonesia
Yei Yei 1278Po, Torai, Bupul, Tanas, Kwel in east Merauke Regency, Indonesia
Nen Nambu 350Bimadeben ( 8°42′06″S141°35′55″E / 8.701793°S 141.598485°E / -8.701793; 141.598485 (Bimadeben Vill/ Comm. Sch) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Nama Nambu 1200Daraia ( 8°36′59″S141°44′01″E / 8.61637°S 141.733576°E / -8.61637; 141.733576 (Darava) ), Mata ( 8°40′28″S141°44′35″E / 8.674546°S 141.743133°E / -8.674546; 141.743133 (Mata) ), Ngaraita ( 8°35′58″S141°42′54″E / 8.599511°S 141.714869°E / -8.599511; 141.714869 (Garaita) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Namat Mibini Nambu 170*Mibini ( 8°50′20″S141°38′17″E / 8.838849°S 141.637931°E / -8.838849; 141.637931 (Mibini) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Nambo Nmbo, Keraki; Namna, Yarne Nambu 710Nambo variety: Gubam ( 8°37′10″S141°55′21″E / 8.619428°S 141.922509°E / -8.619428; 141.922509 (Gubam) ), Bebdeben ( 8°40′04″S141°55′33″E / 8.667668°S 141.925772°E / -8.667668; 141.925772 (Bebdeben) ), Arufi ( 8°45′38″S141°54′49″E / 8.760576°S 141.913707°E / -8.760576; 141.913707 (Arufi) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG; Namna variety: Pongarki ( 8°39′51″S141°49′37″E / 8.664295°S 141.827064°E / -8.664295; 141.827064 (Pongariki) ), Derideri ( 8°41′13″S141°51′22″E / 8.686837°S 141.85624°E / -8.686837; 141.85624 (Derideri) ) in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Neme Nambu 200Keru ( 8°29′02″S141°47′18″E / 8.483752°S 141.788348°E / -8.483752; 141.788348 (Keru) ), Mitere in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Dre Ndre Nambu 1Ramar in central Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Namo Nä Nambu 374*Tais ( 9°10′03″S141°54′21″E / 9.167526°S 141.905733°E / -9.167526; 141.905733 (Tais) ), Mari ( 9°11′37″S141°42′09″E / 9.193532°S 141.70247°E / -9.193532; 141.70247 (Mari) ) in south Morehead Rural LLG, PNG
Len Lä Nambu 8–10Now living in Tais ( 9°10′03″S141°54′21″E / 9.167526°S 141.905733°E / -9.167526; 141.905733 (Tais) ), original village was Yaoga in south Morehead Rural LLG, PNG

See also: Districts of Papua (Indonesian Wikipedia)

Pronouns

The pronouns Ross (2005) reconstructs for the family are,

Proto-Yam (Proto–Morehead – Upper Maro)
I/we*ni
you*bu
s/he/they*be

Typology

Many Yam languages display vowel harmony, including in Nambu and Tonda languages. [1]

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from McElhanon & Voorhoeve (1970) [5] and Voorhoeve (1975), [6] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database. [7]

The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. tor, ter for “tooth”) or not (e.g. sento, yarmaker for “bird”).

gloss Kanum Yei
headmelkilpel
hairmel-katapeab
eyesicur
toothtorter
legtegucere
louseneːmpinnim
dogkrarjeu
pigkwerbecek
birdsentoyarmaker
eggbelmekur
bloodmbelgul
bonembaːrgor
skinkeikeipaːr
treeperper
manireel-lu
sunkoŋkomir
wateratakakao
firemensbenj
stonemellemejer
nameiuore
eatanaŋcenye
onenampernampei
twoyempokayetapae

Further reading

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Evans, Nicholas (2018). "The languages of Southern 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. 641–774. ISBN   978-3-11-028642-7.
  2. ↑ Timothy Usher, New Guinea World, Morehead River
  3. ↑ Wichmann, Søren. 2013. A classification of Papuan languages. In: Hammarström, Harald and Wilco van den Heuvel (eds.), History, contact and classification of Papuan languages (Language and Linguistics in Melanesia, Special Issue 2012), 313-386. Port Moresby: Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea.
  4. ↑ United Nations in Papua New Guinea (2018). "Papua New Guinea Village Coordinates Lookup". Humanitarian Data Exchange. 1.31.9.
  5. ↑ McElhanon, K.A. and Voorhoeve, C.L. The Trans-New Guinea Phylum: Explorations in deep-level genetic relationships. B-16, vi + 112 pages. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1970. doi : 10.15144/PL-B16
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea" . Retrieved 2020-11-05.
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