Somahai language
{{Short description|Trans–New Guinea language spoken in Indonesia}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Momuna
|nativename=Somahai
|states=Indonesia
|region=Highland Papua: Yahukimo Regency
South Papua: western Asmat Regency
|speakers=2,200
|date=1998–2000
|ref=e18
|familycolor=Papuan
|fam1=Trans–New Guinea
|fam2=Central West New Guinea
|fam3=Momuna–Mek[https://newguineaworld.linguistik.uzh.ch/families/trans-new-guinea/central-west-new-guinea/momuna-mek Momuna–Mek, New Guinea World]
|dia1=Momuna
|dia2=Momina
|lc1=mqf
|ld1=Momuna
|lc2=mmb
|ld2=Momina
|glotto=soma1242
|glottorefname=Somahai
}}
Momuna (Momina), also known as Somahai (Somage, Sumohai), is a Papuan language spoken in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua and Asmat Regency, South Papua, Indonesia.
Varieties
Reimer notes two dialects, one on the Balim River and one on the Rekai. One of the differences is that when /u/ follows an /u/ or /o/ in the Balim dialect, it is /i/ in the Rekai dialect. Thus the ethnonym 'Momuna' is pronounced 'Momina' in Rekai dialect.[https://newguineaworld.linguistik.uzh.ch/families/trans-new-guinea/central-west-new-guinea/momuna-mek/momuna Momuna, New Guinea World]
Classification
The Somahai pronouns, singular *na, *ka, *mo, are typical of Trans–New Guinea languages. They were placed in the Central and South New Guinea branch of that family by Wurm. Ross could not locate enough evidence to classify them. Usher found them to be closest to the Mek languages, in the Central West New Guinea, which partially overlaps with Wurm's C&SNG.
Phonology
| class="wikitable"
! |
| Plosive
|{{IPA link|b}} |{{IPA link|t}} |{{IPA link|k}} |
|---|
| Fricative
| |{{IPA link|s}} | |
| Nasal
|{{IPA link|m}} |{{IPA link|n}} | |
| Approximant
|{{IPA link|w}} |{{IPA link|r}} |{{IPA link|j}} |
| class="wikitable"
! !Back |
| High
|{{IPA link|i}} | |{{IPA link|u}} |
|---|
| Mid-high
|{{IPA link|e}} | |{{IPA link|o}} |
| Mid-low
|{{IPA link|ɛ}} | |{{IPA link|ɔ}} |
| Low
| |{{IPA link|a}} | |
Additionally, there are at most three tones: high, low, and mid. The mid tone only occurs on monosyllabic words.
Vocabulary
The following basic vocabulary words of Momuna are from Voorhoeve (1975),Voorhoeve, C.L. Languages of Irian Jaya: Checklist. Preliminary classification, language maps, wordlists. B-31, iv + 133 pages. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1975. {{doi|10.15144/PL-B31}} as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database:{{Cite web |url=http://transnewguinea.org/language/momuna |title=TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea |last=Greenhill |first=Simon |date=2016 |access-date=2020-11-05}}Voorhoeve, C.L., 1975. Languages of Irian Jaya Checklist, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
:
| class="wikitable sortable"
! gloss !! Momuna |
| head
| toko |
|---|
| hair
| toko-ate |
| eye
| otu |
| tooth
| ija |
| leg
| i jo-ku |
| louse
| amega |
| dog
| kwoka |
| pig
| uwo |
| egg
| magisaga |
| blood
| janɨ |
| bone
| toko |
| skin
| ke |
| tree
| kwo |
| man
| mogo-mearu |
| sun
| ɨkɨ |
| water
| iŋga |
| fire
| kukwa |
| stone
| kɨ |
| eat
| nowa- |
References
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{Malcolm Ross Pronouns}}
{{refend}}
External links
- Timothy Usher, New Guinea World, [https://newguineaworld.linguistik.uzh.ch/families/trans-new-guinea/central-west-new-guinea/momuna-mek Proto–Momuna–Mek]
- (ibid.) [https://newguineaworld.linguistik.uzh.ch/families/trans-new-guinea/central-west-new-guinea/momuna-mek/momuna Momuna]
- [http://transnewguinea.org/family/somahai Somahai languages database at TransNewGuinea.org]
{{Central and South New Guinea languages}}
{{Trans–New Guinea languages}}
{{Papuan languages}}