====== Tairora ======

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

===== Situation =====
The Tairora family is comprised of at least three languages spoken by 13,000 people (2010) living south and southeast of Kainantu in the Kainantu and Obura-Wonenara districts subdistricts of Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands province (McKaughan 1973: 515, Vincent 2010: v, q.v. 2010: iv.)

===== Subclassification =====
The internal classification of Tairora is as follows:\\
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Tairora

North Tairora

Omwunra

Vinaata\\
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Vincent (2010: vi, v) conflates Omwunra and Vinaata in a single South Tairora language, defined by several grammatical and phonological features which have been lost in North Tairora. Examination of Omwunra and Vinaata materials (below) show this equivalence to be incorrect. It's possible that there are other Tairora languages or dialects yet to be identified.

===== Sources =====
Capell (1948-1949: 350-354) pronouns and 118 comparative terms for Taiora (North Tairora)

Vincent and Vincent (1961) (North) Tairora final verbs (unobtained)

Vincent and Vincent (1962) verbal morphology and syntax of (North) Tairora (unobtained)

Vincent and Vincent (1962) phonology of (North) Tairora (unobtained)

Vincent and Vincent (1964) grammar of (North) Tairora

Vincent and Vincent (1968) grammar of (North) Tairora (unobtained)

Vincent (1973: 530-546) nominal morphology of (North) Tairora of Bantura village

Vincent (1973: 561-587) verbal morphology of (North) Tairora

Vincent, compiler (1973: 625-688) (North) Tairora texts

Vincent (1994) dictionary of (North) Tairora

Vincent and Vincent (1994) sketch phonology of Northern Tairora

Vincent and Vincent (1994) sketch phonology of Obura-To'okena

Vincent and Vincent (1994) sketch phonology of Vinata

Vincent (2010) dictionary and grammar of (North) Tairora of Vaantura village, including some forms from Kuvaira (Suwaira) village

McKaughan (1964: 98-121) includes 546 comparative terms for (North) Tairora of Batainabura village, reprinted in McKaughan ed. (1973: 694-738)

McKaughan (1973: 588-597) (North) Tairora sequential clauses

Bee (1965: 1-37) 58 (North) Tairora reflexes of proto-Kainantu, reprinted in McKaughan ed. (1973: 739-768)

Kerr (1973: 598-624) verbal subjects for Obura

Kerr (1973: 769-799) 35 (North) Tairora reflexes of proto-Kainantu kin terms

Gajudsek (1980) brief ethnological description and a few words for Pinata

===== Historical phonology =====
**[under construction]**\\
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Proto-Tairora had perhaps 11 consonants and 6 vowels as follows:

|< - 60px 60px 60px 60px 60px >|
|   *m   |  *n  |  [*nʲ]  |        |      |
|  [*p]  |  *t  |   *s    |  [*k]  |  *ʔ  |
|   *w   |  *ɾ  |   *j    |        |      |


|< - 60px 60px 60px >|
|  *i   |       |  *u   |
|  *e:  |  *ɐ   |  *o:  |
|       |  *ɑ:  |       |

In addition to the simple vowels above, four diphthongs occur:

|< - 60px 60px >|
|  *iᵄ  |  *uᵄ  |
|  *ɐⁱ  |  *ɐᵘ  |

Besides long vowels and diphthongs, sequential vowels do not occur in roots.\\
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Consonants do not occur word-finally.\\
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As in other Kainantu languages, medial clusters …\\
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…\\
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Simple consonants correspond as follows:

|< - 60px 60px 60px 60px >|
|  Tairora  |  Vaantura  |  Omwunra  |  Vinaata  |
|    *…     |            |           |           |
|    *…     |            |           |           |
|    *…     |            |           |           |
|    *…     |            |           |           |
|    *…     |            |           |           |
|    *…     |            |           |           |
|   [*p]    |     p      |     p     |     p     |
|    *t     |     t      |     t     |     t     |
|    *s     |     h      |     h     |     s     |
|   [*k]    |     k      |     k     |     k     |
|    *ʔ     |     ʔ      |     ʔ     |     ʔ     |
|    *w     |     β      |     β     |     β     |
|   *w/u_   |     β      |     ø     |     ø     |
|    *ɾ     |     ɾ      |     ɾ     |     ɾ     |
|    *ɾ     |     ɾ      |     ɾ     |     ø     |
|    *j     |     k      |    kʲ     |     s     |

Medial consonant clusters correspond as follows:

|< - 60px 60px 60px 60px >|
|  Tairora  |  Vaantura  |  Omwunra  |  Vinaata  |
|    *Nm    |            |           |           |
|    *Nn    |            |           |           |
|    *Np    |     mp     |           |           |
|    *Nt    |     nt     |     t     |    nt     |
|    *Ns    |     nt     |     s     |           |
|    *Nk    |     ŋk     |     k     |    ŋk     |
|    *ʔn    |     nt     |    nt     |     n     |
|    *ʔj    |     h      |    kʲ     |     s     |

Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:

|< - 60px 60px 60px 60px >|
|  Tairora  |  Vaantura  |  Omwunra  |  Vinaata  |
|    *i     |     i      |     i     |     i     |
|    *u     |     u      |     u     |     u     |
|    *ɐ     |     ɐ      |     ɐ     |     ɐ     |
|    *e:    |     e      |     e     |     e     |
|    *o:    |     o      |     o     |     o     |
|    *ɑ:    |     ɑ:     |    ɑ:     |    ɑ:     |
|    *iᵄ    |     iᵄ     |    iᵄ     |    iᵄ     |
|    *uᵄ    |     uᵄ     |    uᵄ     |    uᵄ     |
|    *ɐⁱ    |     ɐⁱ     |    ɐⁱ     |    ɐⁱ     |
|    *ɐᵘ    |     ɐᵘ     |    ɐᵘ     |    ɐᵘ     |

These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with North Tairora of Vaantura drawn from Vincent (2010 ibid.,) Omwunra (Obura-To'okena) from Vincent and Vincent (1994) and Vinaata from Vincent and Vincent (1994.) Vincent's (2010) Kuvaira village forms are indicated with the abbreviation [Kuv].

As Omwunra and Vinaata data is limited to these sketch phonologies, gaps in attestation are not necessarily meaningful and aren't reliable guides for cognate frequencies. East Kainantu roots attested only in North Tairora aren't presented here, because they are very numerous and don't illustrate the differences between Tairora languages.\\
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Bilabial nasal /*m/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Tairora   |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|          |***…**    |**m**   |**m**  |**m**  |
|kite sp.  |*me:mo:nɐ |memoɾɐ  |memoɐ  |memo   |
|leaves sp.|*mɐᵘnɐ    |mɐᵘɾɐ   |mɐᵘɐ   |       |
|owl sp.   |*mɐno:mɐni|mɐɾomɐɾi|mɐomɐi |mɐɾomɐi|

… /*m/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|         |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|         |***m**   |**β**   |**ᵯ**  |**β**  |
|3 sg.    |*mi      |βi-     |ᵯi     |       |
|maggot   |*mimi    |        |ᵯiᵯi   |       |
|arrow sp.|*mɐt[ɐ]ɾu|        |       |βɐtɐu  |

… /*m/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|         |Tairora|Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|         |***…** |**β**   |**m**  |****   |
|now/today|*mɐte: |βɐte    |mɐte   |       |

… /*m/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|      |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|      |***…**   |**β**   |**ᵯ**  |**ᵯ**  |
|maggot|*mimi    |        |ᵯiᵯi   |       |
|leech |*tumo[ʔ]ɐ|tuβoʔɐ  |       |tuᵯokɐ |
|rat   |*tumunɐ  |tuβuɾɐ  |tuᵯuɐ  |       |

Apical nasal /*n/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora   |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|           |***n**    |**n**   |****   |****   |
|bush/forest|*nɐʔnɐ    |nɐntɐ   |       |ɐnɐ    |
|woman      |*nɑ:je:   |nɑ:ke   |       |ɑ:se   |
|mother     |*no:      |no-     |o-     |no-    |
|owl sp.    |*no:Nko:ɾɐ|noŋkoɾɐ |nokoɾɐ |       |

… /*n/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora   |Vaantura|Omwunra |Vinaata|
|           |***n**    |**ɾ**   |****    |**ɾ**  |
|june beetle|*ɑ:ni     |ɑ:ɾi    |ɑ:i     |ɑ:ɾi   |
|leaves sp. |*mɐᵘnɐ    |mɐᵘɾɐ   |mɐᵘɐ    |       |
|owl sp.    |*mɐno:mɐni|mɐɾomɐɾi|mɐomɐi  |mɐɾomɐi|
|           |***n**    |**ɾ**   |****    |**ø**  |
|kite sp.   |*me:mo:nɐ |memoɾɐ  |memoɐ   |memo   |
|owl sp.    |*mɐnomɐni |mɐɾomɐɾi|mɐomɐi  |mɐɾomɐi|
|rat        |*tumunɐ   |tuβuɾɐ  |tuᵯuɐ   |       |
|           |***n**    |**ɾ**   |**ɾ**   |**ɾ**  |
|dog        |*wɐⁱni    |βɐⁱɾi   |βɐⁱɾi   |βɐⁱɾi  |
|           |***n**    |**ɾ**   |**ɾ**   |**ø**  |
|orchid sp. |*o:te:nɐ  |oteɾɐ   |oteɾɐ   |       |
|bark skirt |*pɐʔjɑ:nɐ |pɐhɑ:ɾɐ |pɐkʲɑ:ɾɐ|pɐsɑ:  |

Palatal nasal /*nʲ/ is merged with both initial and medial reflexes of /*n/ in North Tairora:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora   |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata  |
|             |***nʲ-**  |**n**   |**nʲ** |**nʲ**   |
|bird         |*nʲɑ:mɐ   |        |nʲɑ:ᵯɐ |         |
|women's house|*nʲɑ:munʲɐ|nɑ:muɾɐ |       |nʲɑ:βunʲɐ|
|             |***-nʲ-** |**ɾ**   |**nʲ** |**nʲ**   |
|women's house|*nʲɑ:munʲɐ|        |       |nʲɑ:βunʲɐ|
|men's house  |*wɐⁱnʲɐ   |βɐⁱɾɐ   |βɐⁱnʲɐ |         |

Bilabial stop /*p/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra |Vinaata|
|          |***p**   |**p**   |**p**   |**p**  |
|bark skirt|*pɐʔjɑ:nɐ|pɐhɑ:ɾɐ |pɐkʲɑ:ɾɐ|pɐsɑ:  |

Apical stop /*t/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|                |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata |
|                |***t**   |**t**   |**t**  |**t**   |
|headdress sp.   |*tiNtiɾɐ |tintiɾɐ |       |tintiɐ  |
|fireplace       |*tɐʔi    |tɐʔi    |tɐʔi   |        |
|bamboo          |*tɐʔu    |tɐʔu    |       |tɐʔu    |
|bird of paradise|*tɐɾiɾɐ  |tɐɾiɾɐ  |       |tɐɾiɐ   |
|knee            |*to:ɾi   |toɾi    |toɾi   |toɾi    |
|edge/boundary   |*to:jɑ:  |tokɑ:   |       |tosɐ-nʲɐ|
|leech           |*tumo[ʔ]ɐ|tuβoʔɐ  |       |tuᵯokɐ  |
|rat             |*tumunɐ  |tuβuɾɐ  |tuᵯuɐ  |        |
|orchid sp.      |*o:te:nɐ |oteɾɐ   |oteɾɐ  |        |
|plant (v.)      |*utu-    |uti     |       |utu     |
|netbag          |*ut[u]ɐ  |utɐ     |tuɐ    |tuɐ     |
|now/today       |*mɐte:   |βɐte    |mɐte   |        |
|arrow sp.       |*mɐt[ɐ]ɾu|        |       |βɐtɐu   |
|head            |*ʔiᵄtɐ   |ʔiᵄtɐ   |ʔiᵄtɐ  |ʔiᵄtɐ   |

Laminal /*s/ is deoccluded to /h/ in Omuwnra and North Tairora but retained as /s/ in Vinaata:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|             |***s**   |**h**   |**h**  |**s**  |
|cucumber     |*se:sɐ   |        |       |sesɐ   |
|greens sp.   |*so:Nni  |        |       |soni   |
|blackpalm/bow|*suɾu    |huɾu    |huɾu   |suɾu   |
|sweat        |*ʔɐᵘsɐ   |        |       |ɐᵘsɐ   |
|frog sp.     |*wisɐᵘʔnɐ|βihɐᵘntɐ|       |βisɐᵘnɐ|
|cuscus sp.   |*wɐsi    |βɐhi    |βɐhi   |       |

Velar stop /*k/ is retained as such in all descendants. Infrequency and semantic range suggest that it is found only in loans:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|           |***k**  |**k**   |**k**  |**k**  |
|shield     |*kɐⁱNke:|kɐⁱŋke  |kɐⁱke  |       |
|Job's tears|*kuNkuɾɐ|kuŋkuɾɐ |kukuɾɐ |kuŋkuɾɐ|

Glottal stop /*ʔ/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata |
|             |***ʔ**  |**ʔ**   |**ʔ**  |**ʔ**   |
|head         |*ʔiᵄtɐ  |ʔiᵄtɐ   |ʔiᵄtɐ  |ʔiᵄtɐ   |
|bandicoot sp.|*ʔiɾo:jɐ|ʔiɾokɐ  |iɾokʲɐ |        |
|fireplace    |*tɐʔi   |tɐʔi    |tɐʔi   |        |
|bamboo       |*tɐʔu   |tɐʔu    |       |tɐʔu    |
|hand         |*jɐᵘʔu  |kɐᵘʔu   |       |n-tʲɐᵘʔu|

Bilabial non-stop /*w/ is generally occluded to [β] in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora  |Vaantura  |Omwunra|Vinaata     |
|           |***w**   |**β**     |**β**  |**β**       |
|frog sp.   |*wisɐᵘʔnɐ|βihɐᵘntɐ  |       |βisɐᵘnɐ     |
|arrow      |*we:wɐ   |βeβɐ      |βeβɐ   |βeβɐ        |
|be/exist   |*wɐⁱ     |βɐⁱ ≈ βɐki|       |βe          |
|near       |*wɐⁱ     |βɐⁱ       |βɐⁱ-ni |            |
|dog        |*wɐⁱni   |βɐⁱɾi     |βɐⁱɾi  |βɐⁱɾi       |
|men's house|*wɐⁱnʲɐ  |βɐⁱɾɐ     |βɐⁱnʲɐ |            |
|man        |*wɐⁱ…    |βɐⁱinti   |       |βɐⁱntʲi     |
|cuscus sp. |*wɐsi    |βɐhi      |βɐhi   |            |
|eel        |*wɑ:ʔni  |βɑ:nti    |βɑ:nti |βɑ:ni       |
|arrow      |*we:wɐ   |βeβɐ      |βeβɐ   |βeβɐ        |
|cassowary  |*wuje:nɐ |βukeɾɐ    |βukʲeɾɐ|βuseɾɐ [hmk]|

Medial /*w/ is dropped in Omwunra and in Vinaata when following high back vowel /*u/:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|      |Tairora|Vaantura    |Omwunra|Vinaata|
|      |***w** |**β**       |**ø**  |**ø**  |
|fence |*uwijɐ |uβikɐ [Kuv.]|       |uisɐ   |
|speech|*[ʔ]uwɐ|uβɐ         |ʔuɐ    |       |

Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|                |Tairora   |Vaantura   |Omwunra|Vinaata|
|                |***ɾ**    |**ɾ**      |**ɾ**  |**ɾ**  |
|eel slime       |*ɾiɾi     |ɾiɾi       |ɾiɾi   |       |
|bridge          |*iɾi      |iɾi        |iɾi    |iɾi    |
|legband         |*iɾɐɾɐ    |iɾɐɾɐ      |       |iɾæ    |
|pinkie          |*e:ɾɐ     |eɾɐ        |eɾɐ    |       |
|many            |*ɐⁱɾi     |ɐⁱɾi [Kuv.]|ɐⁱɾi   |       |
|stone           |*o:ɾi     |oɾi        |oɾi    |oɾi    |
|owl sp.         |*no:Nko:ɾɐ|noŋkoɾɐ    |nokoɾɐ |       |
|bird of paradise|*tɐɾiɾɐ   |tɐɾiɾɐ     |       |tɐɾiɐ  |
|knee            |*to:ɾi    |toɾi       |toɾi   |toɾi   |
|blackpalm/bow   |*suɾu     |huɾu       |huɾu   |suɾu   |
|Job's tears     |*kuNkuɾɐ  |kuŋkuɾɐ    |kukuɾɐ |kuŋkuɾɐ|

… /*ɾ/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|                |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|                |***ɾ**   |**ɾ**   |****   |**ø**  |
|legband         |*iɾɐɾɐ   |iɾɐɾɐ   |       |iɾæ    |
|arrow sp.       |*mɐt[ɐ]ɾu|        |       |βɐtɐu  |
|headdress sp.   |*tiNtiɾɐ |tintiɾɐ |       |tintiɐ |
|bird of paradise|*tɐɾiɾɐ  |tɐɾiɾɐ  |       |tɐɾiɐ  |

Palatal non-stop /*j/ is occluded to /kʲ/ in Omwunra and to /k/ in North Tairora, a change shared with Kambaira to the northeast. In Vinaata, it is fricated to /s/ [s ts], a change shared with Awa of the South Kainantu family to the southwest:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora |Vaantura    |Omwunra |Vinaata     |
|             |***j**  |**k**       |**kʲ**  |**s**       |
|taro         |*jɐnɐ   |kɐɾɐ        |kʲɐɾɐ   |            |
|sun          |*juᵄni  |kuᵄɾi       |        |suᵄi        |
|all          |*e:jɑ:  |ekɑ:        |ekʲɑ:   |            |
|song sp.     |*ɐⁱjo:nɐ|ɐⁱkoɾɐ      |        |ɐⁱsoɾɐ      |
|fence        |*uwijɐ  |uβikɐ [Kuv.]|        |uisɐ        |
|woman        |*nɑ:je: |nɑ:ke       |        |ɑ:se        |
|edge/boundary|*to:jɑ: |tokɑ:       |        |tosɐ-nʲɐ    |
|fish sp.     |*…      |hɐβukɐ      |hɐmpukʲɐ|tɐβusɐ      |
|bandicoot sp.|*ʔiɾo:jɐ|ʔiɾokɐ      |iɾokʲɐ  |            |
|older brother|*wɐjɑ:  |βɐkɑ:-      |        |m-pɐsɑ:-    |
|cassowary    |*wuje:nɐ|βukeɾɐ      |βukʲeɾɐ |βuseɾɐ [hmk]|


….\\
\\

… /*Nt/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora |Vaantura|Kuvaira|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|             |***Nt** |**nt**  |**t**  |****   |**nt** |
|headdress sp.|*tiNtiɾɐ|tintiɾɐ |titiɾɐ |       |tintiɐ |

… /*Ns/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|      |Tairora|Vaantura|Kuvaira|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|      |***Ns**|**nt**  |**t**  |**s**  |**ntʲ**|
|animal|*ɑ:Nsɐᵘ|ɑ:ntɐᵘ  |       |ɑ:sɐᵘ  |       |
|man   |*wɐⁱ…  |βɐⁱinti |βɐⁱiti |       |βɐⁱntʲi|

… /*Nk/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora   |Vaantura|Kuvaira|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|           |***Nk**   |**ŋk**  |**k**  |**k**  |**ŋk** |
|owl sp.    |*no:Nko:ɾɐ|noŋkoɾɐ |nokoɾɐ |nokoɾɐ |       |
|shield     |*kɐⁱNke:  |kɐⁱŋke  |kɐⁱke  |kɐⁱke  |       |
|Job's tears|*kuNkuɾɐ  |kuŋkuɾɐ |kukuɾɐ |kukuɾɐ |kuŋkuɾɐ|

… /*ʔn/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora  |Vaantura|Kuvaira|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|           |***ʔn**  |**nt**  |****   |**nt** |**n**  |
|neck/throat|*uʔnɐ    |untɐ    |       |       |unɐ    |
|bush/forest|*nɐʔnɐ   |nɐntɐ   |       |       |ɐnɐ    |
|frog sp.   |*wisɐᵘʔnɐ|βihɐᵘntɐ|       |       |βisɐᵘnɐ|
|eel        |*wɑ:ʔni  |βɑ:nti  |       |βɑ:nti |βɑ:ni  |

… :

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|      |Tairora|Vaantura|Kuvaira|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|      |*****  |**h**   |****   |****   |**tʲ** |
|enough|*t[i]o:|ho      |       |       |tʲo    |
|fire  |*it[i]ɐ|ihɐ     |       |       |itʲɐ   |

… /*ʔj/ … The Kuvaira forms are doublets, but it's not clear if one is from Vaantura or the other from Omwunra:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Tairora  |Vaantura|Kuvaira            |Omwunra |Vinaata|
|          |***ʔj**  |**h**   |**h k**            |**kʲ**  |**s**  |
|bark skirt|*pɐʔjɑ:nɐ|pɐhɑ:ɾɐ |pɐhɑ:ɾɐ\\ ≈ pɐkɑ:ɾɐ|pɐkʲɑ:ɾɐ|pɐsɑ:  |


…:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora   |Vaantura|Vinaata |
|             |***w/N-_**|**β**   |**mp**  |
|older brother|*wɐjɑ:    |βɐkɑ:-  |m-pɐsɑ:-|
|             |***j/N-_**|**k**   |**ntʲ** |
|hand         |*jɐᵘʔu    |kɐᵘʔu   |n-tʲɐᵘʔu|


…\\
\\

High front vowel /*i/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|                |Tairora   |Vaantura    |Omwunra|Vinaata|
|                |***i**    |**i**       |**i**  |**i**  |
|fire            |*it[i]ɐ   |ihɐ         |       |itʲɐ   |
|bridge          |*iɾi      |iɾi         |iɾi    |iɾi    |
|legband         |*iɾɐɾɐ    |iɾɐɾɐ       |       |iɾæ    |
|june beetle     |*ɑ:ni     |ɑ:ɾi        |ɑ:i    |ɑ:ɾi   |
|stone           |*o:ɾi     |oɾi         |oɾi    |oɾi    |
|fence           |*uwijɐ    |uβikɐ [Kuv.]|       |uisɐ   |
|3 sg.           |*mi       |βi-         |ᵯi     |       |
|maggot          |*mimi     |            |ᵯiᵯi   |       |
|owl sp.         |*mɐno:mɐni|mɐɾomɐɾi    |mɐomɐi |mɐɾomɐi|
|headdress sp.   |*tiNtiɾɐ  |tintiɾɐ     |       |tintiɐ |
|bird of paradise|*tɐɾiɾɐ   |tɐɾiɾɐ      |       |tɐɾiɐ  |
|knee            |*to:ɾi    |toɾi        |toɾi   |toɾi   |
|fireplace       |*tɐʔi     |tɐʔi        |tɐʔi   |       |
|greens sp.      |*so:Nni   |            |       |soni   |
|bandicoot sp.   |*ʔiɾo:jɐ  |ʔiɾokɐ      |iɾokʲɐ |       |
|frog sp.        |*wisɐᵘʔnɐ |βihɐᵘntɐ    |       |βisɐᵘnɐ|
|dog             |*wɐⁱni    |βɐⁱɾi       |βɐⁱɾi  |βɐⁱɾi  |
|man             |*wɐⁱ…     |βɐⁱinti     |       |βɐⁱntʲi|
|cuscus sp.      |*wɐsi     |βɐhi        |βɐhi   |       |
|eel             |*wɑ:ʔni   |βɑ:nti      |βɑ:nti |βɑ:ni  |
|sun             |*juᵄni    |kuᵄɾi       |       |suᵄi   |
|eel slime       |*ɾiɾi     |ɾiɾi        |ɾiɾi   |       |

High back vowel /*u/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora   |Vaantura    |Omwunra |Vinaata     |
|             |***u**    |**u**       |**u**   |**u**       |
|neck/throat  |*uʔnɐ     |untɐ        |        |unɐ         |
|plant (v.)   |*utu-     |uti         |        |utu         |
|netbag       |*ut[u]ɐ   |utɐ         |tuɐ     |tuɐ         |
|fence        |*uwijɐ    |uβikɐ [Kuv.]|        |uisɐ        |
|arrow sp.    |*mɐt[ɐ]ɾu |            |        |βɐtɐu       |
|bamboo       |*tɐʔu     |tɐʔu        |        |tɐʔu        |
|leech        |*tumo[ʔ]ɐ |tuβoʔɐ      |        |tuᵯokɐ      |
|rat          |*tumunɐ   |tuβuɾɐ      |tuᵯuɐ   |            |
|fish sp.     |*…        |hɐβukɐ      |hɐmpukʲɐ|tɐβusɐ      |
|women's house|*nʲɑ:munʲɐ|nɑ:muɾɐ     |        |nʲɑ:βunʲɐ   |
|blackpalm/bow|*suɾu     |huɾu        |huɾu    |suɾu        |
|Job's tears  |*kuNkuɾɐ  |kuŋkuɾɐ     |kukuɾɐ  |kuŋkuɾɐ     |
|speech       |*[ʔ]uwɐ   |uβɐ         |ʔuɐ     |            |
|cassowary    |*wuje:nɐ  |βukeɾɐ      |βukʲeɾɐ |βuseɾɐ [hmk]|
|hand         |*jɐᵘʔu    |kɐᵘʔu       |        |n-tʲɐᵘʔu    |

Mid central vowel /*ɐ/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|                |Tairora   |Vaantura    |Omwunra |Vinaata     |
|                |***ɐ**    |**ɐ**       |**ɐ**   |**ɐ**       |
|fire            |*it[i]ɐ   |ihɐ         |        |itʲɐ        |
|legband         |*iɾɐɾɐ    |iɾɐɾɐ       |        |iɾæ         |
|pinkie          |*e:ɾɐ     |eɾɐ         |eɾɐ     |            |
|song sp.        |*ɐⁱjo:nɐ  |ɐⁱkoɾɐ      |        |ɐⁱsoɾɐ      |
|orchid sp.      |*o:te:nɐ  |oteɾɐ       |oteɾɐ   |            |
|neck/throat     |*uʔnɐ     |untɐ        |        |unɐ         |
|fence           |*uwijɐ    |uβikɐ [Kuv.]|        |uisɐ        |
|kite sp.        |*me:mo:nɐ |memoɾɐ      |memoɐ   |memo        |
|leaves sp.      |*mɐᵘnɐ    |mɐᵘɾɐ       |mɐᵘɐ    |            |
|owl sp.         |*mɐno:mɐni|mɐɾomɐɾi    |mɐomɐi  |mɐɾomɐi     |
|now/today       |*mɐte:    |βɐte        |mɐte    |            |
|arrow sp.       |*mɐt[ɐ]ɾu |            |        |βɐtɐu       |
|bark skirt      |*pɐʔjɑ:nɐ |pɐhɑ:ɾɐ     |pɐkʲɑ:ɾɐ|pɐsɑ:       |
|bush/forest     |*nɐʔnɐ    |nɐntɐ       |        |ɐnɐ         |
|owl sp.         |*no:Nko:ɾɐ|noŋkoɾɐ     |nokoɾɐ  |            |
|headdress sp.   |*tiNtiɾɐ  |tintiɾɐ     |        |tintiɐ      |
|fireplace       |*tɐʔi     |tɐʔi        |tɐʔi    |            |
|bamboo          |*tɐʔu     |tɐʔu        |        |tɐʔu        |
|bird of paradise|*tɐɾiɾɐ   |tɐɾiɾɐ      |        |tɐɾiɐ       |
|leech           |*tumo[ʔ]ɐ |tuβoʔɐ      |        |tuᵯokɐ      |
|rat             |*tumunɐ   |tuβuɾɐ      |tuᵯuɐ   |            |
|bird            |*nʲɑ:mɐ   |            |nʲɑ:ᵯɐ  |            |
|women's house   |*nʲɑ:munʲɐ|nɑ:muɾɐ     |        |nʲɑ:βunʲɐ   |
|cucumber        |*se:sɐ    |            |        |sesɐ        |
|Job's tears     |*kuNkuɾɐ  |kuŋkuɾɐ     |kukuɾɐ  |kuŋkuɾɐ     |
|head            |*ʔiᵄtɐ    |ʔiᵄtɐ       |ʔiᵄtɐ   |ʔiᵄtɐ       |
|bandicoot sp.   |*ʔiɾo:jɐ  |ʔiɾokɐ      |iɾokʲɐ  |            |
|sweat           |*ʔɐᵘsɐ    |            |        |ɐᵘsɐ        |
|speech          |*[ʔ]uwɐ   |uβɐ         |ʔuɐ     |            |
|frog sp.        |*wisɐᵘʔnɐ |βihɐᵘntɐ    |        |βisɐᵘnɐ     |
|arrow           |*we:wɐ    |βeβɐ        |βeβɐ    |βeβɐ        |
|men's house     |*wɐⁱnʲɐ   |βɐⁱɾɐ       |βɐⁱnʲɐ  |            |
|cuscus sp.      |*wɐsi     |βɐhi        |βɐhi    |            |
|cassowary       |*wuje:nɐ  |βukeɾɐ      |βukʲeɾɐ |βuseɾɐ [hmk]|
|taro            |*jɐnɐ     |kɐɾɐ        |kʲɐɾɐ   |            |

Long mid front vowel /*e:/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata     |
|          |***e:**  |**e**   |**e**  |**e**       |
|pinkie    |*e:ɾɐ    |eɾɐ     |eɾɐ    |            |
|all       |*e:jɑ:   |ekɑ:    |ekʲɑ:  |            |
|orchid sp.|*o:te:nɐ |oteɾɐ   |oteɾɐ  |            |
|kite sp.  |*me:mo:nɐ|memoɾɐ  |memoɐ  |memo        |
|now/today |*mɐte:   |βɐte    |mɐte   |            |
|woman     |*nɑ:je:  |nɑ:ke   |       |ɑ:se        |
|cucumber  |*se:sɐ   |        |       |sesɐ        |
|shield    |*kɐⁱNke: |kɐⁱŋke  |kɐⁱke  |            |
|arrow     |*we:wɐ   |βeβɐ    |βeβɐ   |βeβɐ        |
|cassowary |*wuje:nɐ |βukeɾɐ  |βukʲeɾɐ|βuseɾɐ [hmk]|

Long mid back vowel /*o:/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora   |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata |
|             |***o:**   |**o**   |**o**  |**o**   |
|song sp.     |*ɐⁱjo:nɐ  |ɐⁱkoɾɐ  |       |ɐⁱsoɾɐ  |
|orchid sp.   |*o:te:nɐ  |oteɾɐ   |oteɾɐ  |        |
|stone        |*o:ɾi     |oɾi     |oɾi    |oɾi     |
|kite sp.     |*me:mo:nɐ |memoɾɐ  |memoɐ  |memo    |
|owl sp.      |*mɐno:mɐni|mɐɾomɐɾi|mɐomɐi |mɐɾomɐi |
|mother       |*no:      |no-     |o-     |no-     |
|owl sp.      |*no:Nko:ɾɐ|noŋkoɾɐ |nokoɾɐ |        |
|enough       |*t[i]o:   |ho      |       |tʲo     |
|knee         |*to:ɾi    |toɾi    |toɾi   |toɾi    |
|edge/boundary|*to:jɑ:   |tokɑ:   |       |tosɐ-nʲɐ|
|leech        |*tumo[ʔ]ɐ |tuβoʔɐ  |       |tuᵯokɐ  |
|greens sp.   |*so:Nni   |        |       |soni    |
|bandicoot sp.|*ʔiɾo:jɐ  |ʔiɾokɐ  |iɾokʲɐ |        |

Long low central vowel /*ɑ:/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|             |Tairora   |Vaantura|Omwunra |Vinaata  |
|             |***ɑ:**   |**ɑ:**  |**ɑ:**  |**ɑ:**   |
|all          |*e:jɑ:    |ekɑ:    |ekʲɑ:   |         |
|june beetle  |*ɑ:ni     |ɑ:ɾi    |ɑ:i     |ɑ:ɾi     |
|animal       |*ɑ:Nsɐᵘ   |ɑ:ntɐᵘ  |ɑ:sɐᵘ   |         |
|bark skirt   |*pɐʔjɑ:nɐ |pɐhɑ:ɾɐ |pɐkʲɑ:ɾɐ|pɐsɑ:    |
|woman        |*nɑ:je:   |nɑ:ke   |        |ɑ:se     |
|edge/boundary|*to:jɑ:   |tokɑ:   |        |tosɐ-nʲɐ |
|bird         |*nʲɑ:mɐ   |        |nʲɑ:ᵯɐ  |         |
|women's house|*nʲɑ:munʲɐ|nɑ:muɾɐ |        |nʲɑ:βunʲɐ|
|eel          |*wɑ:ʔni   |βɑ:nti  |βɑ:nti  |βɑ:ni    |
|older brother|*wɐjɑ:    |βɐkɑ:-  |        |m-pɐsɑ:- |

Diphthong /*iᵄ/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|    |Tairora|Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|    |***iᵄ**|**iᵄ**  |**iᵄ** |**iᵄ** |
|head|*ʔiᵄtɐ |ʔiᵄtɐ   |ʔiᵄtɐ  |ʔiᵄtɐ  |

Diphthong /*uᵄ/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|   |Tairora|Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata|
|   |***uᵄ**|**uᵄ**  |**uᵄ** |**uᵄ** |
|sun|*juᵄni |kuᵄɾi   |       |suᵄi   |

Diphthong /*ɐⁱ/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Tairora |Vaantura   |Omwunra|Vinaata|
|           |***ɐⁱ** |**ɐⁱ**     |**ɐⁱ** |**ɐⁱ** |
|many       |*ɐⁱɾi   |ɐⁱɾi [Kuv.]|ɐⁱɾi   |       |
|song sp.   |*ɐⁱjo:nɐ|ɐⁱkoɾɐ     |       |ɐⁱsoɾɐ |
|shield     |*kɐⁱNke:|kɐⁱŋke     |kɐⁱke  |       |
|near       |*wɐⁱ    |βɐⁱ        |βɐⁱ-ni |       |
|dog        |*wɐⁱni  |βɐⁱɾi      |βɐⁱɾi  |βɐⁱɾi  |
|man        |*wɐⁱ…   |βɐⁱinti    |       |βɐⁱntʲi|
|men's house|*wɐⁱnʲɐ |βɐⁱɾɐ      |βɐⁱnʲɐ |       |

Diphthong /*ɐᵘ/ is retained as such in all descendants:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Tairora  |Vaantura|Omwunra|Vinaata |
|          |***ɐᵘ**  |**ɐᵘ**  |**ɐᵘ** |**ɐᵘ**  |
|animal    |*ɑ:Nsɐᵘ  |ɑ:ntɐᵘ  |ɑ:sɐᵘ  |        |
|leaves sp.|*mɐᵘnɐ   |mɐᵘɾɐ   |mɐᵘɐ   |        |
|sweat     |*ʔɐᵘsɐ   |        |       |ɐᵘsɐ    |
|frog sp.  |*wisɐᵘʔnɐ|βihɐᵘntɐ|       |βisɐᵘnɐ |
|hand      |*jɐᵘʔu   |kɐᵘʔu   |       |n-tʲɐᵘʔu|

===== Pronouns =====
**[under construction]**\\
\\

…

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|     |Tairora|Vaantura     |Omwunra|Vinaata|
|1 sg.|*…     |te(-ɾe)      |nte    |       |
|2 sg.|*…     |ɐ(-ɾe)       |e      |       |
|3 sg.|*…     |βi(-βɐ)      |ᵯi(-ɐ) |       |
|1 pl.|*…     |te(-ɾe)-nɐβu |?      |       |
|2 pl.|*…     |ne(-nɐβu)    |?      |       |
|3 pl.|*…     |βi(-nɐβu)-kɐ |ŋkʲe   |       |
|1 dl.|*…     |te(-ɾe)-tɐntɐ|       |       |
|2 dl.|*…     |ne-tɐntɐ     |       |       |
|3 dl.|*…     |βi-tɐntɐ     |       |       |

…

===== Verbal morphology =====
**[under construction]**\\
\\

…\\
\\