Sepik–Ramu languages
Obsolete language family of New Guinea
The Sepik–Ramu languages are an obsolete language family of New Guinea linking the Sepik , Ramu , Nor–Pondo (Lower Sepik) , Leonhard Schultze (Walio–Papi) and Yuat families, together with the Taiap language isolate , and proposed by Donald Laycock and John Z'graggen in 1975.[1]
Sepik–Ramu would consist of a hundred languages of the Sepik and Ramu river basins of northern Papua New Guinea , but spoken by only 200,000 people in all. The languages tend to have simple phonologies, with few consonants or vowels and usually no tones.
The best known Sepik–Ramu language is Iatmül . The most populous are Iatmül's fellow Ndu languages Abelam and Boiken, with about 35,000 speakers apiece.
Malcolm Ross and William A. Foley separately re-evaluated the Sepik–Ramu hypothesis in 2005. They both found no evidence that it forms a valid family. However, all of the constituent branches, except for Yuat within Ramu, remain individually valid in his evaluation. Ross links Nor–Pondo to Ramu in a Ramu–Lower Sepik proposal, places Leonhard Schultze (tentatively broken up into Walio and Papi) within an extended Sepik family, and treats Yuat and Taiap as independent families.
Classification
Ethnologue
This list is a mirror of the classification in Ethnologue 15.
Sepik–Ramu phylum (based on Laycock 1973)
Taiap isolate
Leonhard Schultze stock
Walio family (4 languages)
Papi family (2 languages)
Nor–Pondo stock (6 languages)
Ramu subphylum (37 languages)
Ramu superstock (29 languages)
Grass stock (5 languages)
Arafundi family (2 languages)
Annaberg stock (3 languages)
Ruboni stock (8 languages)
Goam stock (11 languages)
Yuat–Langam superstock (13 languages)
Sepik subphylum (50 languages) [see subclassification at that article]
Foley (2018)
Uncontroversially coherent subgroups accepted by Foley (2018) are:[2]
Lexical comparison
Below is a comparison of proto-Ndu , proto-Lower Sepik , and proto-Ottilien reconstructed by and listed in Foley (2005).[3]
gloss
proto-Ndu
proto-Lower Sepik
proto-Ottilien
man, person
*ntɨw
*nor
*namot
water
*ŋkɨw
*arɨm
fire
*ya
*awr
*s(u)ək
sun
*ɲa
*ra(u)
moon
*mpapmɨw
*m(w)il ?
*kər(v)i
breast
*mɨwɲ
*nɨŋgay
*mɨr
tooth
*nɨmpɨy
*sisiŋk ?
*nda(r)
bone
*apə
*sariŋamp
*ɣar
tongue
*tɨkŋa
*minɨŋ
*mi(m)
eye
*mɨyR
*tambri
*rəmeak
nose
*tam(w)ə
*ŋgum
leg
*man
*namuŋk
*or ?
ear
*wan
*kwand-
name
*cɨ
*ɣi
pig
*mp(w)al
*numpran
*rəkəm
snake
*kampwəy
*wakɨn
*ndop
mosquito
*kɨvɨy
*naŋgun
*ŋgit
eat
*kɨ
*am(b)
*amb
go
*yɨ
*wa
*saŋg
come
*ya
*ya
*kɨp
sit
*rə
*sa
*mbirak
stand
*rap(m)
*-tik
one
*nək
*mb(w)ia-
*kaku
two
*ri-pa-
*mbuniŋ
three
*-ram
Due to its highly divergent lexicon, Foley does not classify Sepik with Lower Sepik and Ramu .
The lexical data below is from the Trans-New Guinea database,[4] Foley (2005),[3] and Usher (2020) (for Proto-Arafundi).[5]
Body parts
family
language
head
hair
ear
eye
nose
tooth
tongue
leg
blood
bone
skin
breast
Trans-New Guinea
Proto-Trans-New Guinea
*kobutu; *kV(mb,p)utu; *mUtUna; *mVtVna
*iti; *(nd,s)umu(n,t)[V]; *zumun
*ka(nd,t)(i,e)C; *kat(i,e)C; *tVmV(d)
*g(a,u)mu; *ŋg(a,u)mu; *(ŋg,k)iti [maŋgV]; *nVpV
*mundu; *mutu
*magata; *maŋgat[a]; *titi
*balaŋ; *mbilaŋ; *me(l,n)e; *me(n,l)e
*kani(n); *k(a,o)ond(a,o)C; *kitu
*ke(ñj,s)a; *kesa
*kondaC; *kwata(l,n)
*gatapu; *(ŋg,k)a(nd,t)apu
*amu
Yadë
Nagatiman
ʌsu
ʌsʌǏahuᵽa
ąhuǏuʔ
na:ba
yɛlu
aǏižiʔ
wi:nuʔ
ɛlɛ:b̶u
žib̶uʔ
ma:ba
Busa
Odiai
owuna
etete
dinʌ
dena
wʌti
wuti
dʌgʌrʌ
aɔ̨
ab̶uwibʌ
tati
ną
Amto-Musan
Amto
twæ
(twæ) iwɔ
ye
mo
ni
i
hæne; hʌne
nʌkei
hae
ka
ne
Amto-Musan
Siawi
nani
nanigi
eʔ
mene
Ǐimʌ
ʔi
hanɛ
hařʔ
hařʔ
ʔaoko
ne
Left May
Bo
kʌmi
kʌmsiya
kɔ
mʌǏo
ki
ki
lɛsɛ
kwo
mutuk
tʌpɔ
nɔ
Walio
Yawiyo (Wosawari dialect)
tipafu
yei
afe
nimau
tɩmʌsi
nʌfe
tanotai
teyuowa
ihuwa
toefahewa
mama
Papi
Papi
auwiyu
ařupisi
mʌgʌnaba
sunweyo
tʌnipɔku
sʋmunu
sakeyo
taneke
naikʌmio
pʌsiyæ
abiyaiɔ
Sepik , Abau
Abau
makwe
nwek
nane; nanɛ
kasan
nas
sane; sanɛ
sune; sunɛ
nyoh
ayo; i
ohi
mu
Sepik , Iwam
Iwam
mu
wun
nu
nomwos
piknu
kwane
wərku; wɨrku
ni
keew; kew
pəw
muy
Sepik , Wogamusin-Chenapian
Chenapian
toapᵒ; tuwap
taoɛnavon; taunabon
gwabuo; ugwabə
džinano; ǰinino
mɨnɨk; munɩk
diu; duɨʔ
taun; ton
soʷanaup; šonawəp
ne; nᵊe
dža; ǰa·
bɩn; bön
mu; muʔ
Sepik , Tama
Yessan-Mayo
tara
wan
la; lə
raŋkɨ; raŋki
lər; lir
tawlə
towa; warə
nap
yaha
was
mu; mukw
Sepik , Ram
Pouye
nouraka
maroalaka
nowar
wolokə
piyapa
laləmu
lalə
aywi
lakə
nəpyei
muy
Sepik , Yellow River
Namia
magu
mak
eno
nəmala; nɨmala
pinarɨ; pinarə
lar
li:; lipala
norə
lak
urarə
mu
Sepik , Ndu
Proto-Ndu [3]
*wan
*mɨyR
*tam(w)ə
*nɨmpɨy
*tɨkŋa
*man
*apə
*mɨwɲ
Sepik , Nukuma
Kwoma
masək
fu:; mabiya
mi:; miyi
sumojɨ; sumwonj
pu; tarəkwi
kwunja; tarekwoy
ya:te; yati
pi
apo; hapa
mampə
muk; muku
Sepik , Sanio
Saniyo-Hiyewe
tu; worɛ siyaʔi
mato towe; tutowe
apahɛ; apaniyɛ
nihe; nihɛ
ɛrɛme; ɛrɛmɛ
pi
sořowɛ; soruwɛ
lowe; rowɛ
fisa'i; fisaʔi
paʔaře; pa'arɛ
tahɛ
mo'u; moʔu
Sepik , Bahinemo
Bahinemo
thu
thunʌba
bʌsiya
niya
sɛkʌnɩ
pi
thɔlu
lowa
mahələ
hʌbi
thʌbi
mosu
Sepik , Alamblak
Alamblak
mʌbogath; mɛ̈ƀɨǥatʰ
tʰɨ'maʀ̌č; tʌmarts; tʰɨ'maʀ̌š
yimbɣindang; yɩmbɨǥin'daŋgɨtʰ; yɩmbʌlindangʌm
ɲinga; 'ɲiŋgaʀ̥̥̌; ningaw
'hʰušɨ ɨtʰ; khusɩmʌth; 'kʰučɨmɨtʰ; kusm
bɩ'čɛ̈tʰ; biʃə; bɩ'šɛ̈tʰ; bɩsʌm
tor; torkh; 'tʰoʀ̥̌tʰ
wʌlat; 'wɷ'řatʰ; wura
khukhupam; kɨ'kʰupʰam
thʌphim; tɨ'pɩʀ̥̌; tɨpi
tʰɨ'ǥatʰ; thʌkhath
mingam; miŋatʰ; niŋgam
Tayap
Tayap [6]
kokir
kokɨrŋgrɨt
neke
ŋgino
raw
rewi
malɨt
ndow
and
nɨŋg
toto
min
Piawi
Haruai (Wiyaw dialect)
'jeʥ̮ᵊ'mat̮ɑ
jeʥ̮ᵊˈϕan
ɾ̥ɨmɨnt̮ɕ
'momakʰ
haŋi'etʰ
andzᵊmakᵡ
alᵊ'bʌɲ
ϕa'letʰ
haɲ
jantʰ
jɩmaɤ wɨɲ
kau
Piawi
Pinai-Hagahai (Aramo dialect)
iʥ̮uə'xə
iˌʥ̮imə'da
jɛn'waϕe
mɛmɛʥ̮ə'magə
nama'gə
ˌjɛd̮ʑɩ 'magə
su'ə; syê
hə'damə'si
ga'ja
jɛ'də
wɩ'ɲi
a'hu
Arafundi
Proto-Arafundi [5]
*kopa
*tum[a]
*kund[a]
*pok
*kandz[a]
*taTumat[a]
*panamb[a]
*kombet-
*jekimb[a]
*kumb[a]-; *tut[a]
*ji[t/s]
Yuat
Biwat
fop; fopeh
fufuimaivi; fufuimaye
tuanhe; tundu
siketeh; sipta
gerekeh; ŋerek
andu; andusivahe
be; behe
gambang; geambangeh
amberaeh; ambra
amfuva; amfuvaheh
gamfuin; iaveteh
meru; meruhe
Yuat
Kyenele (Miyak dialect)
ᵽop
fusibɩľu
tandu
sɩpʰala
nʌnɛlɩŋ
ŋandu
mpe
ŋgambaŋ
ambala
amᵽuwa
nᵽɩsakʰ
miřu
Lower Sepik
Proto-Lower Sepik [3]
*kwand-; *kwandum
*tambri
*sisiŋk; *?*sisiŋk
*minɨŋ; *minɨŋk
*namuŋk
*ya-; *ya-r
*sariŋamp
*nɨŋgay; *nɨŋkay
Ramu
Ambakich (Arango dialect)
katʃi
katʃokei
kər
dun
kɨpɨ
aur
mil
brip
sin
karatʃ
okanɨk
oɾitʃ
Ramu
Proto-Watam-Awar-Gamay [3]
*kwar
*rəmeak
*ŋgum
*nda(r)
*mi(m)
*or ?
*ɣar
*mɨr
Nature
family
language
louse
dog
pig
bird
egg
tree
sun
moon
water
fire
stone
path
Trans-New Guinea
Proto-Trans-New Guinea
*niman
*n(e,i); *n(e)i; *n[e]i; *yak; *yaka[i]; *yanem
*maŋgV; *munaka; *mun(a,u)ka
*ida; *inda ~ *iñja
*kamali; *kamuli; *ketana
*kal(a,i)m; *kamali; *takVn; *takVn[V]
*nok; *(n)ok; *ok(u); *ok[V]
*inda; *k(a,e)dap; *k(a,e)(n,d)ap; *kambu; *k(a,o)nd(a,u)p
*kamb(a,u)na; *(na)muna; *[na]muna
Yadë
Nagatiman
mibaʔ
kaliʔ
gǏɛǏiʔ
pʋlɛʔ
kah
ti:
tuʔ
ahuʐiʔ
anɩziʔ
ařʌgɛʔ
Busa
Odiai
amo
inʌri
waru
wʌnʌ
mʌiyʌ
nda
ani
bitɔ
ti
Amto-Musan
Amto
nanu
hɔ
ma
ai
ai:
amɩ
wi:
maři
tipeki
mo
Amto-Musan
Siawi
nani
so:
kinʌdiʔ
ʔai
iǏɔ
ameʔ
wi
maǏi
tʌbɛki
mono
Left May
Bo
ka
naři
ᵽu
wɔ
wɔi
ka
ʔu
ta
tʌpʌki
keři; kʌři
Walio
Yawiyo (Wosawari dialect)
dibafuyei
ifau; ivau
ami ami
auma
aumufu
yanu
utlauwe
tanuwa; tiyami
tab̶iya
efʌmowa
Papi
Papi
ařupɩsɩ
agabu
tʌmaub̶o
ɔb̶ɔ; ɔ:sani
usouyo
na:b̶ʌkʌ
ařukowa
řiku
tab̶iyaio
pʌbřiyaio
Sepik , Abau
Abau
mapru
nwɔf; nwɔhɔ
fwok
ahnɛ
ne
no; nɔw
e; ey
yen; yeny
fu; hu
ya
məny
Sepik , Iwam
Iwam
ŋən; nɨn
nwa
hu
owit
yen
pae(kap); paykap
pi
pwan
op; o(p)
pay
siya
Sepik , Wogamusin-Chenapian
Chenapian
damian; dəmiaʔ
gwara; ogwara
kᵘo; ku
džɛosiʔ; ǰɛoši
noə; ṣⁱu no
məntəp; montoap
džabɨn; ǰaƀan
nu
džoʔ; ǰoʔ
un
nogɛrao; noguařo
uni
Sepik , Tama
Yessan-Mayo
nɨ; ni
wala
for
ap
yen; yɨn
me
yabəl; yampəl
lup; lɨyf
ok; okw
k-er; kər
pa
Sepik , Ram
Pouye
nipikəm
aukwə
yio
warə
tau
taliyə
yalma
you
tapo
tɨl
Sepik , Yellow River
Namia
nanpeu
ar; ara
lwae
eyu
puna
mi
wuluwa
yem
ijo; ito
ipi
lijei
Sepik , Ndu
Proto-Ndu
*r; *wac
*mp(w)al
*mɨy
*ɲa
*mpapmɨw
*ŋkɨw
*ya
Sepik , Nukuma
Kwoma
nəkə; nɨka
asa
buri; poyi
apu
apo; bey; mpei
me
ya
nowəka; nɨwɨka
uku
hi; hi:
papa
Sepik , Sanio
Saniyo-Hiyewe
nɛmɛ
yo; you
fe
iřowɛ; iruwɛ
hotɛ
me; mɛ
poɔyuɛ; poweyɛ
yamɛ; yamɛ'
sa'i; saʔi
yɛhɛ
tapiyɛ
Sepik , Bahinemo
Bahinemo
nʌmu
yo
fa
wabo
wabo mu
mi
tɩniya
yamal
hagi
ya
ba
Sepik , Alamblak
Alamblak
nəm; 'nɛ̈mɨtʰ; nʌmo
yauʀ̥̌ʸ; yawi; yawu
'ᵽɛ̈gɨʀ̥̌; fagʌr; fəɣ
nongwar; 'nugwaʀ̥̌
fɣa; fokam; ᵽo'ǥat
mᵼč; mim; mᵼš; mɨy
mar; 'mařɨʀ̥̌
yam; 'yamɨtʰ; yamʌth
bukbam; 'bupʰam; bu-pam
kaɣ; kʰaǥɨtʰ; khaxth
š; taxim
yɨ'ǥotʸoǥatʰ
Tayap
Tayap
kɨkrikɨ; pakɨnd
nje
mbor
tam
naŋa
nɨm
arawer
karep
awin
otar
moŋapat; njiŋai; ŋawmbɨ
nder
Piawi
Haruai (Wiyaw dialect)
jɩm
waɲa
han
'jaʷər
jaur mɩntɕ
bɨ
naijʌ
r̥̃ʌn
ɾ̥a'bʌ
ɾ̥ᵼn
ɾ̥ɩgɨ
ganɨmϕ
Piawi
Pinai-Hagahai (Aramo dialect)
i'mɤd̮ʑi
wɛ'ɲa
jɛ'nɤ
jau'thə
jau't͑umu'si
mɤ'na
ɽə'ma
sɔ'kɷnə
gɯ
ɲa'bɤ
ɽɩ'gə
'diədə
Arafundi
Proto-Arafundi
*emuŋg
*tawa[m/mb]
*jat
*kenet
*mund[a]
*jes
*kVjom
*kepa
*jomb
*jamb
*naŋgum
Yuat
Biwat
uta; utaeh
ken; kenhe
vereh; vre
kaok; kaokhek
momoateh; mumuat
mung; mungeh
va; vaeh
mumere; mumereh
mam; mumeh
mehen; men
ghateh; yiak
maikua; miakuahe
Yuat
Kyenele (Miyak dialect)
wututʰoma
gɛn
ƀeǏe
wanma
wanmuma
mï
ƀanma
ŋgɨŋat
maŋam
mɨn
mɨndɩm
mayt
Lower Sepik
Proto-Lower Sepik
*nam
*numpran
*awŋ; *awŋk
*y(uw)an
*sɨnmari
*?*m(w)il; *m(w)il
*arɨm
*awr; *aw-r
Ramu
Ambakich (Arango dialect)
ɛwar
ɛrɛl
ksu
gumai
mimo
ondɨr̥
ɛmɩm
bran
amɨ
an
mɨndɨr
duwan
Ramu
Proto-Watam-Awar-Gamay
*rəkəm
*ŋgwarak
*ra(u)
*kər(v)i
*s(u)ək
Miscellaneous
family
language
man
woman
name
eat
one
two
Trans-New Guinea
Proto-Trans-New Guinea
*abV; *ambi
*panV; *pan(V)
*ibi; *imbi; *wani
*na; *na-
*ta(l,t)(a,e)
Yadë
Nagatiman
mɩsɛʔ
hiɛǏɛ
žuwaʔ
teǏɛʔ
Busa
Odiai
nutu
tɔ
muniʌren
otutu
tinʌnʌ
Amto-Musan
Amto
kyu
hama
me:ne
ohu
kiyaA
Amto-Musan
Siawi
yɛnokono
ʔeǏo
pe
sʌmo
himolo
Left May
Bo
nʌkʌ
kwa
sanoʔ
sɔsɔ
tisʌ
Walio
Yawiyo (Wosawari dialect)
to; to i:wa
sauto
afaʔunařu
ařʌsʌbau
ařʌfři
Papi
Papi
sanoᵽo
su:bu
opo akepo
sunuboku
suwʌbiyaio
Sepik , Abau
Abau
lu; or; ur
sa
uru
ra
mun; rin
pris
Sepik , Iwam
Iwam
kam; yen-kam
wik
(n)ai; (nd)ai
oe; ruk; su
ŋwis
Sepik , Wogamusin-Chenapian
Chenapian
tama; tamö
tauwo; tawö
tamgu
nař; sⁱərəʔ
ǰⁱək; nɛsi; ṣiṣi
Sepik , Tama
Yessan-Mayo
tama; tamə
ta:
a(m)
wurɨ
fes
Sepik , Ram
Pouye
lamo
tʔlum
yikən
Sepik , Yellow River
Namia
lu
ere
ilei
(t)
tipia
pəli
Sepik , Ndu
Proto-Ndu
*ntiw
*cɨ
*kɨ
*nək
Sepik , Nukuma
Kwoma
ma
mi:ma
hi
a
pochi
uprus
Sepik , Sanio
Saniyo-Hiyewe
mɛni; mitaru
taunɛ; tawnɛ
yapɛ
aiyei; asiyʌ
hɛta'i; taʔi
hɛsi
Sepik , Bahinemo
Bahinemo
'ɩma
swani
wufa
diyaw
dʌbatha
husi
Sepik , Alamblak
Alamblak
yima; 'yi'maʀ̥̌
'metɨtʰ7; metum
'yuƀatʰ; yufa; yufat
fa; ka; 'kʰaɛ̈ʀ̥̌; weyanum; ye
rɛphar; rpa; řɨpʰatʰ
hutsif; xočiᵽ; 'xošɩᵽ
Tayap
Tayap
munje
noŋor
nomb
a
nambar; mbatep
sene
Piawi
Haruai (Wiyaw dialect)
'nabʌ
mʌ
hʌmpʰ
nɨm'da
waɲɩŋ'geϕ
jɩ'mag 'jɩŋgʷʌ
Piawi
Pinai-Hagahai (Aramo dialect)
na'ba
mə'gə
nabamɩ'he
ˌmomə'dɛɽə
a'gə
ˌhəgə'naβəma'ɨ
Arafundi
Proto-Arafundi
*nuŋgum
*nam
*membi[a]
*nembV-
*kamin, *kondamin
Yuat
Biwat
foakpa; fuakpahe
arepa; arepahe
vu'geh; vuŋ
ueh jiveh; u-u give
nategeh; natek
arauu; aravueh
Yuat
Kyenele (Miyak dialect)
aƀɷt
miandu
tšɛntšɛntšuƀa
ŋaykʰʌkʰ
aǏawin
Lower Sepik
Proto-Lower Sepik
*ŋay
*am-; *am(b)
*mb(w)ia-
*ri-pa-
Ramu
Ambakich (Arango dialect)
kambo
anatʃo
dʒi
mɨondɨmqam
koŋ; ondɨsɨno
nuŋgun
Ramu
Proto-Watam-Awar-Gamay
*ɣi
*amb
*kaku
*mbuniŋ
See also
References
^ Laycock, D. C. and Z'graggen, John A. 1975. The Sepik-Ramu Phylum. In Wurm, S.A. (ed.), Papuan Languages and the New Guinea Linguistic Scene, New Guinea Area Languages and Language Study 1, 729-763. Australian National University.
^ 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 .
^ a b c d e 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 .
^ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea" . Retrieved 2020-11-05 .
^ a b Usher, Timothy (2020). "New Guinea World" . Archived from the original on 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2020-12-31 .
^ Kulick, Don; Terrill, Angela (2019). A Grammar and Dictionary of Tayap: The Life and Death of a Papuan Language . Pacific Linguistics 661. Boston/Berlin: Walter de Gruyter Inc. ISBN 9781501512209 .