Wapei languages

Summary

The Wapei languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family according to Laycock (1975) (quoted from Foley 2018). Glottolog does not accept this grouping. They are spoken in mountainous regions of eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.

Wapei
Wapeic
Geographic
distribution
eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
Linguistic classificationTorricelli
Glottologwape1250  (Wapeic)
The Torricelli languages as classified by Foley (2018). Wapei and Palei languages are yellow.

Languages edit

Languages are:[citation needed]

Gnau may also belong here.

Pronouns edit

Pronouns in Wapei languages are:[1]

Wapei pronouns
Elkei Yau Yis Au Yil Ningil
1s ki ki ki xi i yi
2s ite yi yi ti a pay
3s elel rən rən xərak an pan
1p ku kufu kufu xaiw aw you
2p yife yifi yifi yi ɨ piyou
3p elpel rəl rəl xər aral pəram

Vocabulary comparison edit

The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968),[2] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database:[3]

gloss Au Dia Elkei Ningil Olo Sinagen Yil Yis Yau
head faʔan pale palau waʔal uːru peine ariyi lülü nülü
ear nikif ma ŋipi məkər məŋkam ma mək yapot yampər
eye naʔan yampax namək lüs napaka nap kwutiyane kwuriyaf
nose yipwur maləx nəfənək minopoŋko malka nupuŋk minityu minit
tooth yaxas yaŋkən nulpo naː nelpə naːkən nak yanət yaːnət
tongue niːn yilwat yuwaŋ waːr non war yimyau
leg xət xuwə tiye yau orou walək suː kiriu kiriu
louse nəmk raləx nəmeiləm nəmaŋkar nəmom rarka namkar kwutəl kwurəl
dog napara patə palel faréː pele pata par asi piːren
bird xoura antə aulon aprei nafle nata afər yafren yafren
egg yinu yilkit yülam yuːlək yiləm puta wiːlər yilip walilip
blood amkra amkə omkol niːkri təlüs leŋka nək nawan nawe
bone xəmik lakət emiŋel ləmeʔi emio lakita nimik kəmiene kumialen
skin yilik pawült paulou faːwal topo pawulta pawar tərkwaf ternan
breast nəm mate niman maːʔ nemer mata mak nəmar numar
tree nuː lowə nipel luː nəmpe niːpa loː nifif nimpip
man mitik teralkit monol masin metene matei məsin metfaine ruːtil
woman mite yuː matal naʔ aipi moːto nusakei matei kulum wapur
sun wupli wopli wopli wufliyəx epli xahi wupli kwapli kwipli
moon wunkə ouyi auniyil onyil ane aunəxə uni noulai nuːlai
water təpar niː tipel niː tepe wɨn niː tipal təpal
fire siː yalix wul walk weli yakə walk wəti weli
stone xəte talmanəf xəroi erau kita yir kranə krapene
two wikat wiye wiŋe wilal wiŋkes fiyə wiyem wiyum wiyəm

References edit

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Laycock, Donald C. 1968. Languages of the Lumi Subdistrict (West Sepik District), New Guinea. Oceanic Linguistics, 7 (1): 36-66.
  3. ^ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea". Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  • 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.