Lower Sepik languages

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Lower Sepik
Nor–Pondo
Geographic
distribution
East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Linguistic classificationa primary language family
Subdivisions
  • Nor
  • Pondo?
Language codes
Glottologlowe1423

The Lower Sepik a.k.a. Nor–Pondo languages are a small language family of East Sepik Province in northern Papua New Guinea. They were identified as a family by K Laumann in 1951 under the name Nor–Pondo, and included in Donald Laycock's now-defunct 1973 Sepik–Ramu family.

Classification

[edit]

The original conception of the family, under the name Nor–Pondo, is as follows:

Nor–Pondo
Nor family
Pondo family

Chambri

Karawari (Tabriak), Yimas

Angoram (Pondo)

Malcolm Ross (2005) broke up the Nor branch (and thus renamed the family Lower Sepik) because Murik does not share the characteristic /p/s of the first- and second-person pronouns of Kopar and the Pondo languages, so the latter may form a group: Murik vs Kopar–Pondo. Ross classified Lower Sepik as one branch of a Ramu–Lower Sepik language family.

Foley (2005) tentatively proposes that Chambri and Angoram may be primary branches: Nor, Chambari, Karawari–Yimas, Angoram. Usher, following Foley, keeps Nor together and breaks up Pondo.[1] Neither accept the connection to Ramu.

Foley (2018) and Usher (2020)

[edit]

Foley (2018) and Usher (2020) agree on the following classification.[2][3]

Lower Sepik family

Foley notes that Angoram appears to be closer to Murik–Kopar, and Chambri to Karawari–Yimas, but Foley (2018: 213) leaves them as separate branches pending further evidence.

Phonology

[edit]

Except for Yimas-Karawari, Lower Sepik languages typically have the following six-vowel system.[4]

iu
eəo
a

Yimas-Karawari has only four vowels.[4]

iu
ə
a

Proto-language

[edit]
Proto-Lower Sepik
Reconstruction ofLower Sepik languages

Pronouns

[edit]

The pronouns reconstructed for the proto-language are,

Proto–Lower Sepik (Ross)
I*amawe two*ka-i, *ka-piawe few*(p)a-ŋk-i-twe all*a-i, *a-pia, *i-pi
thou*nɨmiyou two*ka-u, *ka-puayou few*(p)a-ŋk-u-tyou all*a-u, *a-pu, *i-pu(a)
s/he*mɨnthey two*mɨnɨmp ? (M),
*mpɨ ? (F)
they few*mɨŋkɨ-tthey all*mump (M),
*pum (F)
Proto-Nor–Pondo (Foley)
I*amawe two*ka-i, *ka-pa-iwe few*(pa)ŋk-itwe all*a-i, *a-pa-i, *(y)i-i, *(y)i-pa-i
thou*miyou two*ka-u, *ka-pa-uyou few*(pa)ŋk-utyou all*a-u, *a-pa-u, *(y)i-u, *(y)i-pa-u
s/he*mənthey two?they few*mɨŋkɨthey all*mump ?

Lexicon

[edit]

A phonological reconstruction of proto-Lower Sepik has been proposed by Foley (2005).[4] Foley's (2005) lexical reconstructions are provided below.

Proto-Lower Sepik reconstructions by Foley (2005)
glossproto-Lower SepikYimasKarawiChambriAngrmMurikKopar
one*mb(w)ia-mpa-mba-mbwia-mbia-abembatep
two*ri-pa--rpalripay-ri-(lɨ)parkobokombari
three*-ram-ramnaw-rianmaw-ram-elɨmkeroŋgokeremɨŋ
person*nornar-maŋyarmasɨnarnoranannornor
male*ponpanmalpanmaripondopuin
woman*ŋayŋayasaykayenuŋorŋainana
water*arɨmarɨmarɨmarɨmalɨmarɨmarɨm
fire*awrawtawiayɨraluŋawrawr
suntɨmalsɨmarisɨnmarimbwinoakɨnakɨn
moon*m(w)il ?mɨlatuŋkwimwɨlmɨlekarewankarep
starawaksuŋkwiɲcirimsuŋgwiareɲjomoaikinaŋ
canoe*kaykaykaykekegainkain
housenamyamkurɨrnamiranindan
village*numnumimuŋkanumnumnomotnumot
breast*nɨŋgaynɨŋayɲjaynɨŋkeŋgeniŋgenniŋgin
tooth*sisiŋk ?tɨrɨŋsɨsɨŋsraŋksisiŋasarapasirap
blood*ya-yatyayyariayakoneyaranyuwaran
bone*sariŋamptanɨmtanɨmanampsalɨŋsariŋib̩sarekimp
tongue*minɨŋmɨɲɨŋmumɨɲɨŋtɨbulaniŋkmɨnɨŋmenɨŋmimiŋ
eye*tambrituŋkuruŋsampɨssɨsiŋktamblinabrinnambrin
nosetɨkayipunwambusunaŋɨmdaurimbot
leg*namuŋkpamuŋpamuŋnamaŋknamuŋnamɨŋ
hairwapwiwampiyawimbwikmaleydwarruar
ear*kwand-kwantumuŋkwandukaskukunamkwandumkarekepkundot
egg*awŋawŋyawŋawŋkawŋgaugawŋ
leaf*nɨmprampnɨmprɨmyimprɨmnɨmprampnamblumnabirɨknɨmbiraŋ
yesterday / tomorrow*ŋarɨŋŋarɨŋarɨŋnamasɨnɨŋnakɨmɨnŋarɨŋrari
oar*(mɨ)naŋmuraŋmɨnaŋnaŋkinapinaŋnaŋ
betelnut*poruŋpatnpaynmuntɨkɨnparɨŋporogpuruŋ
lime*awi(r)awiasayɨrawerairair
pig*numprannumpranimpiannumpranimbarnɨmbrennɨmbren
crocodilemanpamanpoayiwalamioramenuri
snake*wakɨnwakɨnwakɨnwanparuŋwakɨnikun
mosquito*naŋgunnaŋkunyaŋkunnaŋgunwawarɨnnauknangɨt
ground*andiantiantinɨŋkrumpandiaginandin
feces*mɨndimɨlɨmmɨntimuɲjarmɨndimɨndɨnmɨndɨ
hear*and-andɨanduandɨandɨdɨnnda
hit*ditupulkurardɨɨtidinɨŋ
eat*am(b)am(b)am(b)am(b)am(b)mɨnma
go*wawakuriakalwaonwa
come*yayakurapiayayayaya
sit*sataysandasanda
big*kupakɨpakupawupakupaapokapu
cold*sarV-tarɨksarɨksarukpopantsarapakin

For comparisons with the language isolate Tayap, see Tayap language#Classification.

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ NewGuineaWorld - Lower Sepik River
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Lower Sepik River, New Guinea World
  4. ^ a b c Foley, William A. (2005). "Linguistic prehistory in the Sepik-Ramu basin". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 109–144. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Proto-Lower-Sepik. TransNewGuinea.org. From (1) Foley, W.A. 1986. The Papuan languages of New Guinea, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ; (2) Foley, W.A. 1986. The Papuan languages of New Guinea, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Abbott, S. "Nor-Pondo lexicostatistical survey". In Adams, K., Lauck, L., Miedema, J., Welling, F., Stokhof, W., Flassy, D., Oguri, H., Collier, K., Gregerson, K., Phinnemore, T., Scorza, D., Davies, J., Comrie, B. and Abbott, S. editors, Papers in New Guinea Linguistics No. 22. A-63:313-338. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1985. doi:10.15144/PL-A63.313

References

[edit]
  • Ross, Malcolm (2005). "Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 15–66. doi:10.15144/PL-572. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.
    Lower Sepik
    Nor–Pondo
    Geographic
    distribution
    East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
    Linguistic classificationa primary language family
    Subdivisions
    • Nor
    • Pondo?
    Language codes
    Glottologlowe1423

    The Lower Sepik a.k.a. Nor–Pondo languages are a small language family of East Sepik Province in northern Papua New Guinea. They were identified as a family by K Laumann in 1951 under the name Nor–Pondo, and included in Donald Laycock's now-defunct 1973 Sepik–Ramu family.

    Classification

    The original conception of the family, under the name Nor–Pondo, is as follows:

    Nor–Pondo
    Nor family
    Pondo family

    Chambri

    Karawari (Tabriak), Yimas

    Angoram (Pondo)

    Malcolm Ross (2005) broke up the Nor branch (and thus renamed the family Lower Sepik) because Murik does not share the characteristic /p/s of the first- and second-person pronouns of Kopar and the Pondo languages, so the latter may form a group: Murik vs Kopar–Pondo. Ross classified Lower Sepik as one branch of a Ramu–Lower Sepik language family.

    Foley (2005) tentatively proposes that Chambri and Angoram may be primary branches: Nor, Chambari, Karawari–Yimas, Angoram. Usher, following Foley, keeps Nor together and breaks up Pondo.[1] Neither accept the connection to Ramu.

    Foley (2018) and Usher (2020)

    Foley (2018) and Usher (2020) agree on the following classification.[2][3]

    Lower Sepik family

    Foley notes that Angoram appears to be closer to Murik–Kopar, and Chambri to Karawari–Yimas, but Foley (2018: 213) leaves them as separate branches pending further evidence.

    Phonology

    Except for Yimas-Karawari, Lower Sepik languages typically have the following six-vowel system.[4]

    iu
    eəo
    a

    Yimas-Karawari has only four vowels.[4]

    iu
    ə
    a

    Proto-language

    Proto-Lower Sepik
    Reconstruction ofLower Sepik languages

    Pronouns

    The pronouns reconstructed for the proto-language are,

    Proto–Lower Sepik (Ross)
    I*amawe two*ka-i, *ka-piawe few*(p)a-ŋk-i-twe all*a-i, *a-pia, *i-pi
    thou*nɨmiyou two*ka-u, *ka-puayou few*(p)a-ŋk-u-tyou all*a-u, *a-pu, *i-pu(a)
    s/he*mɨnthey two*mɨnɨmp ? (M),
    *mpɨ ? (F)
    they few*mɨŋkɨ-tthey all*mump (M),
    *pum (F)
    Proto-Nor–Pondo (Foley)
    I*amawe two*ka-i, *ka-pa-iwe few*(pa)ŋk-itwe all*a-i, *a-pa-i, *(y)i-i, *(y)i-pa-i
    thou*miyou two*ka-u, *ka-pa-uyou few*(pa)ŋk-utyou all*a-u, *a-pa-u, *(y)i-u, *(y)i-pa-u
    s/he*mənthey two?they few*mɨŋkɨthey all*mump ?

    Lexicon

    A phonological reconstruction of proto-Lower Sepik has been proposed by Foley (2005).[4] Foley's (2005) lexical reconstructions are provided below.

    Proto-Lower Sepik reconstructions by Foley (2005)
    glossproto-Lower SepikYimasKarawiChambriAngrmMurikKopar
    one*mb(w)ia-mpa-mba-mbwia-mbia-abembatep
    two*ri-pa--rpalripay-ri-(lɨ)parkobokombari
    three*-ram-ramnaw-rianmaw-ram-elɨmkeroŋgokeremɨŋ
    person*nornar-maŋyarmasɨnarnoranannornor
    male*ponpanmalpanmaripondopuin
    woman*ŋayŋayasaykayenuŋorŋainana
    water*arɨmarɨmarɨmarɨmalɨmarɨmarɨm
    fire*awrawtawiayɨraluŋawrawr
    suntɨmalsɨmarisɨnmarimbwinoakɨnakɨn
    moon*m(w)il ?mɨlatuŋkwimwɨlmɨlekarewankarep
    starawaksuŋkwiɲcirimsuŋgwiareɲjomoaikinaŋ
    canoe*kaykaykaykekegainkain
    housenamyamkurɨrnamiranindan
    village*numnumimuŋkanumnumnomotnumot
    breast*nɨŋgaynɨŋayɲjaynɨŋkeŋgeniŋgenniŋgin
    tooth*sisiŋk ?tɨrɨŋsɨsɨŋsraŋksisiŋasarapasirap
    blood*ya-yatyayyariayakoneyaranyuwaran
    bone*sariŋamptanɨmtanɨmanampsalɨŋsariŋib̩sarekimp
    tongue*minɨŋmɨɲɨŋmumɨɲɨŋtɨbulaniŋkmɨnɨŋmenɨŋmimiŋ
    eye*tambrituŋkuruŋsampɨssɨsiŋktamblinabrinnambrin
    nosetɨkayipunwambusunaŋɨmdaurimbot
    leg*namuŋkpamuŋpamuŋnamaŋknamuŋnamɨŋ
    hairwapwiwampiyawimbwikmaleydwarruar
    ear*kwand-kwantumuŋkwandukaskukunamkwandumkarekepkundot
    egg*awŋawŋyawŋawŋkawŋgaugawŋ
    leaf*nɨmprampnɨmprɨmyimprɨmnɨmprampnamblumnabirɨknɨmbiraŋ
    yesterday / tomorrow*ŋarɨŋŋarɨŋarɨŋnamasɨnɨŋnakɨmɨnŋarɨŋrari
    oar*(mɨ)naŋmuraŋmɨnaŋnaŋkinapinaŋnaŋ
    betelnut*poruŋpatnpaynmuntɨkɨnparɨŋporogpuruŋ
    lime*awi(r)awiasayɨrawerairair
    pig*numprannumpranimpiannumpranimbarnɨmbrennɨmbren
    crocodilemanpamanpoayiwalamioramenuri
    snake*wakɨnwakɨnwakɨnwanparuŋwakɨnikun
    mosquito*naŋgunnaŋkunyaŋkunnaŋgunwawarɨnnauknangɨt
    ground*andiantiantinɨŋkrumpandiaginandin
    feces*mɨndimɨlɨmmɨntimuɲjarmɨndimɨndɨnmɨndɨ
    hear*and-andɨanduandɨandɨdɨnnda
    hit*ditupulkurardɨɨtidinɨŋ
    eat*am(b)am(b)am(b)am(b)am(b)mɨnma
    go*wawakuriakalwaonwa
    come*yayakurapiayayayaya
    sit*sataysandasanda
    big*kupakɨpakupawupakupaapokapu
    cold*sarV-tarɨksarɨksarukpopantsarapakin

    For comparisons with the language isolate Tayap, see Tayap language#Classification.

    Footnotes

    1. ^ NewGuineaWorld - Lower Sepik River
    2. ^ 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.
    3. ^ Lower Sepik River, New Guinea World
    4. ^ a b c Foley, William A. (2005). "Linguistic prehistory in the Sepik-Ramu basin". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 109–144. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.

    Further reading

    • Proto-Lower-Sepik. TransNewGuinea.org. From (1) Foley, W.A. 1986. The Papuan languages of New Guinea, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ; (2) Foley, W.A. 1986. The Papuan languages of New Guinea, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    • Abbott, S. "Nor-Pondo lexicostatistical survey". In Adams, K., Lauck, L., Miedema, J., Welling, F., Stokhof, W., Flassy, D., Oguri, H., Collier, K., Gregerson, K., Phinnemore, T., Scorza, D., Davies, J., Comrie, B. and Abbott, S. editors, Papers in New Guinea Linguistics No. 22. A-63:313-338. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1985. doi:10.15144/PL-A63.313

    References

    • Ross, Malcolm (2005). "Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 15–66. doi:10.15144/PL-572. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.
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