Asmat is a Papuan language cluster of South Papua.
Asmat | |
---|---|
Geographic distribution | Asmat Regency and Mappi Regency, South Papua |
Ethnicity | Asmat, Citak |
Linguistic classification | Trans–New Guinea
|
Subdivisions | |
Language codes | |
Glottolog | asma1257 |
Languages
The principal varieties, distinct enough to be considered separate languages, are:[1]
- Asmat
- Kamrau Bay (Sabakor/Buruwai):[2]
- Casuarina Coast (Kaweinag), the most divergent
- North and Central Asmat
- Citak (Kaünak)
- North Asmat
- Central Asmat (dialects: Keenok, Sokoni, Keenakap, Kawenak)
Ethnically, speakers are either Asmat or Citak.
Evolution
Below are some reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea proposed by Pawley (2012):[3]
proto-Trans-New Guinea | Asmat (Flamingo Bay) |
---|---|
*maŋgat[a] ‘teeth, mouth’ | me |
*(m,mb)elak ‘light, lightning’ | mer |
*niman ‘louse’ | (Kamoro namo) |
*na- ‘eat’ | na- |
*ni, *nu ‘1PL’ | na ‘1PL.INCL’, na(r) ‘1PL.EXCL’ |
*mun(a,i,u)ka ‘egg’ | manaka |
*niman ‘louse’ | (cf. Kamoro namo) |
*kasin ‘mosquito’ | isi |
*mbena ‘arm’ | man [ban] |
*mb(i,u)t(i,u)C ‘fingernail’ | fit |
*imbi ‘name’ | yipi |
*si(mb,p)at[V] ‘saliva’ | (me)sep |
*(mb,p)ututu- ‘to fly’ | (?) pimedial |
*kV(mb,p)(i,u)t(i,u) ‘head’ | kuwus |
*inda ‘fire’ | (Central Coast Asmat isi) |
*tututu[ku] ‘straight’ | toror |
*k(i,u)tuma ‘night, morning’ | iram |
*tututu[ku] ‘straight’ | toror |
*ti, *titi ‘tooth’ | ji |
*ata ‘excrement’ | asa |
*(ŋg,k)atata ‘dry’ | soso |
*kV(mb,p)(i,u)t(i,u) ‘head’ | kuwus |
*kasin ‘mosquito’ | (Citak Asmat isi) |
*inda ‘fire’ | (Central Coast Asmat isi) |
*ke(nj,s)a ‘blood’ | es |
*maŋgV ‘compact round object’ | moko-per ‘navel’ |
*mun(a,i,u)ka ‘egg’ | manaka |
*ke(nj,s)a ‘blood’ | es |
*kasin ‘mosquito’ | (Central Asmat isi) |
*k(i,u)tuma ‘night, morning’ | yiram |
*kV(mb,p)(i,u)t(i,u) ‘head’ | kuwus |
*(m,mb)elak ‘light, lightning’ | (Flamingo Bay Asmat mer ‘lightning’) |
*ya ‘3SG’ | a |
Verbs
In Flamingo Bay Asmat, light verbs are combined with adjuncts to form predicative expressions.[4]
- e- ‘do’
- atow e- /play do/ ‘play’
- caj e- /copulate do/ ‘copulate’
- yan e- /ear do/ ‘listen’
- yi- ‘say’
- po yi- /paddle say/ ‘paddle’
- yan yi- /ear say/ ‘hear’
- mesa yi- /saliva say/ ‘spit’
- af- ‘hit’
- yaki af- /sneeze hit/ ‘sneeze’
- namir af- /death hit/ ‘die’
- omop af- /blow hit/ ‘beat’
References
External links
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