Ambulas language

Jump to content
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ambulas
Ambelas
Native toPapua New Guinea
RegionSepik River basin
EthnicityAbelam
Native speakers
33,000 (2004)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3abt
Glottologambu1247
ELPAmbulas

Ambulas (or Abelam, Abulas) is a member of the Ndu languages of Sepik River region of northern Papua New Guinea.[2] Dialects are Maprik, Wingei, Wosera-Kamu, Wosera-Mamu.[1]

Phonology

[edit]
Consonants[3]
LabialAlveolarPalatalVelar
Plosive/
Affricate		plainptk
prenasalᵐbⁿdᶮdʒᵑg
Nasalmnɲŋ
Fricativeβs
Liquidlaterall
rhoticr
Semivowelwj
Vowels[4]
FrontCentralBack
High(i)[a]ɨ(u)[a]
Midə
Lowa
  1. ^ a b [i, u] may be heard as a realization of the sequences /əj/, /əw/ or resulting in syllabic forms of /j, w/.

Vocabulary

[edit]

Word-Formation

[edit]

Most words in Ambulas are roots, although some word-stems are reduplicated, compounded, or derived.[5]

Examples of Reduplication
StemCategoryMeaning
pepenoun"flying fox species"
kiyakiyanoun"fever"
kwaskwasnoun"frog species"
jékjékadjective"tough"
nyeknyekadjective"soft"

Compound Stems

[edit]

In Ambulas, compound stems occur within nouns (including temporal nouns and quantifiers) and verbs.

Examples of Noun Stems
Root 1Root 2Compound StemMeaning
méni-EYEtaama-NOSEménidama"face"
kaadé-HUNGERmu-THINGkadému"food"
séré-TOMORROWmaa-DAY.AFTERséréma"in the future"
nak-ONEwaasa-DOGnakwasa"four"
nak-ONEtaaba-HANDnaktaba"five"
Examples of Verb Stems
Root 1Root 2Compound StemMeaning
ra-SITségé-WATCHraségé"look after"
bul-TALKtégé-CLOSEbultépé"interrupt"
taaku-BREAK.SHARPLYburép-TOUCH.AGAINSTtakuburép"chip against"
taa-CARVEkény-WHITTLEtaakény"carve something small"

Derivational Stems

[edit]

Adjective stems can be formed by adding suffixes, such as -mama (meaning "possessing much"), to noun roots or noun stems.

Examples of Noun Root Suffixing (using -mama)
RootStemMeaning
apa-STRENGTHapamama"very strong"
yéwaa-MONEYyéwamama"very wealthy"
baalé-PIGbalémama"possessing many pigs"
Examples of Noun Stem Suffixing (using -mama)
RootStemMeaning
kadému-FOODkadémumama"possessing much food"
gwalmu-MONEYgwalmumama"very wealthy in possessions"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ambulas at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ OLAC resources in and about the Ambulas language
  3. ^ Foley, William A. (2018). "The Languages of the Sepik-Ramu Basin and Environs". 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. 197–432. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
  4. ^ Palmer, Bill (2017-12-04). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-029525-2.
  5. ^ Wilson, Patricia R. (1980). "Ambulas Grammar" (PDF). Workpapers in Papua New Guinea Languages. 26. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 0-7263-0702-5.
[edit]


This Papuan languages–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ambulas_language&oldid=1330595190"
    Ambulas
    Ambelas
    Native toPapua New Guinea
    RegionSepik River basin
    EthnicityAbelam
    Native speakers
    		33,000 (2004)[1]
    Language codes
    ISO 639-3abt
    Glottologambu1247
    ELPAmbulas

    Ambulas (or Abelam, Abulas) is a member of the Ndu languages of Sepik River region of northern Papua New Guinea.[2] Dialects are Maprik, Wingei, Wosera-Kamu, Wosera-Mamu.[1]

    Phonology

    Consonants[3]
    LabialAlveolarPalatalVelar
    Plosive/
    Affricate    		plainptk
    prenasalᵐbⁿdᶮdʒᵑg
    Nasalmnɲŋ
    Fricativeβs
    Liquidlaterall
    rhoticr
    Semivowelwj
    Vowels[4]
    FrontCentralBack
    High(i)[a]ɨ(u)[a]
    Midə
    Lowa
    1. ^ a b [i, u] may be heard as a realization of the sequences /əj/, /əw/ or resulting in syllabic forms of /j, w/.

    Vocabulary

    Word-Formation

    Most words in Ambulas are roots, although some word-stems are reduplicated, compounded, or derived.[5]

    Examples of Reduplication
    StemCategoryMeaning
    pepenoun"flying fox species"
    kiyakiyanoun"fever"
    kwaskwasnoun"frog species"
    jékjékadjective"tough"
    nyeknyekadjective"soft"

    Compound Stems

    In Ambulas, compound stems occur within nouns (including temporal nouns and quantifiers) and verbs.

    Examples of Noun Stems
    Root 1Root 2Compound StemMeaning
    méni-EYEtaama-NOSEménidama"face"
    kaadé-HUNGERmu-THINGkadému"food"
    séré-TOMORROWmaa-DAY.AFTERséréma"in the future"
    nak-ONEwaasa-DOGnakwasa"four"
    nak-ONEtaaba-HANDnaktaba"five"
    Examples of Verb Stems
    Root 1Root 2Compound StemMeaning
    ra-SITségé-WATCHraségé"look after"
    bul-TALKtégé-CLOSEbultépé"interrupt"
    taaku-BREAK.SHARPLYburép-TOUCH.AGAINSTtakuburép"chip against"
    taa-CARVEkény-WHITTLEtaakény"carve something small"

    Derivational Stems

    Adjective stems can be formed by adding suffixes, such as -mama (meaning "possessing much"), to noun roots or noun stems.

    Examples of Noun Root Suffixing (using -mama)
    RootStemMeaning
    apa-STRENGTHapamama"very strong"
    yéwaa-MONEYyéwamama"very wealthy"
    baalé-PIGbalémama"possessing many pigs"
    Examples of Noun Stem Suffixing (using -mama)
    RootStemMeaning
    kadému-FOODkadémumama"possessing much food"
    gwalmu-MONEYgwalmumama"very wealthy in possessions"

    References

    1. ^ a b Ambulas at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
    2. ^ OLAC resources in and about the Ambulas language
    3. ^ Foley, William A. (2018). "The Languages of the Sepik-Ramu Basin and Environs". 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. 197–432. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
    4. ^ Palmer, Bill (2017-12-04). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-029525-2.
    5. ^ Wilson, Patricia R. (1980). "Ambulas Grammar" (PDF). Workpapers in Papua New Guinea Languages. 26. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 0-7263-0702-5.
    • OLAC resources in and about the Ambulas language
    • Anthony Forge Films and Recordings From the Anthony Forge Papers. MSS 411. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
    • Ambulas Grammar (Wilson, 1980)


    This Papuan languages–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ambulas_language&oldid=1330595190"