Yaqay language

Last updated
Yaqay
Region Indonesia
Native speakers
(10,000 cited 1987) [1]
Trans–New Guinea
Language codes
ISO 639-3 jaq
Glottolog yaqa1246

Yaqay (Yakhai, Yaqai, Jakai, Jaqai) is a Papuan language spoken in Indonesia by over 10,000 people. It is also called Mapi or Sohur; dialects are Oba-Miwamon, Nambiomon-Mabur, Bapai.

Contents

According to Ethnologue, Yaqay is spoken along the south coast of Mappi Regency, along the Obaa River north to the Gandaimu area.

Phonology

The following is the phonology of Yaqay, as defined in Fonologi Bahasa Yakhai. [2]

Consonants

Consonants
Labial Dental /
Alveolar
Postalveolar /
Palatal
Velar Glottal
Nasal m m n n( ŋ ngg?)
Plosive voiceless p p t k k ʔ -k
voiced b b d d͡ʒ j g ʱ gh h h
Fricative f f x kh
Approximant w w r r j y

Consonant Distribution

ConsonantBeginningCenterEnd
/m/YYY
/n/YYY
/p/YNN
/t/YYN
/k/YNN
/ʔ/NYY
/b/YYY
/d/YYY
/d͡ʒ/NYN
/gʱ/NYN
/f/YYY
/x/YNN
/h/YYY
/w/YYN
/r/YYY
/j/YYN
  • 'Y' means that the consonant on the left of the row occurs in the word position at the top of the column. For instance, this section of the table:
ConsonantBeginningCenterEnd
/t/YYN
  • means that the consonant /t/ can be found at the beginning and center of a word, but not at the end of one.

Vowels

Front Central Back
Unrounded Rounded
Close i i u u
Close mid e e( ɤ ) o o
Open mid ( ɛ )
Open a a

Vowel Distribution

VowelBeginningCenterEnd
/a/YNN
/i/YNN
/u/NNY
/e/YNN
/o/NNY
  • A pattern can be seen here wherein front vowels /a/, /i/, and /e/ can all only occur at the beginning of syllables, while the back vowels /u/ and /o/ can only occur at the ends of syllables.

Syllable Structure

The syllable structure is not explicitly stated, but it appears to be:
Maximum syllable structure: C V N C, as in the word, xobandede, meaning 'squat'.
Minimum syllable structure: C V, as in the word, xa, meaning, 'hole'.

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References

  1. Yaqay at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Kainakainu, Barth and Paidi, Yacobus and Rinantanti, Yulini and Morin, Izak. 1998. Fonologi bahasa Yakhai. Jakarta: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. 190pp. https://repositori.kemdikbud.go.id/2531/1/fonologi%20bahasa%20yakhai%20%20%20199.pdf