====== Foia Foia ======

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

===== Situation =====
Foia Foia (Foiafoia, Foeafoea, Foyafoya) is spoken in several small villages in at least two enclaves inland of the northwest coast of the Papuan Gulf, one between the Wawoi and Guavi rivers just east of the Mubami language in Papua New Guinea's Western province, and one along the lower reaches of the Paibuna and Omati Rivers in Gulf province, with the Kiwai languages Morigi to the south and west, Kerewo to the east and Omati of the Omati River family to the north. The Foia Foia can paddle accross most of this swampy region by canoe (Franklin 1973: 269, Petterson 2014: 1.)

The term Foia Foia [ɸoeaɸoea] means “speech” or “language,” with foia [ɸoea] meaning “speak” (Petterson 2014: 1, q.v. Carr 2006: 5.) According to Petterson (p.c.,) the term Minanibai, as found in Franklin (1973,) isn't recognized by speakers, and was probably a mistaken translation of the phrase “let's go!” Johnston's (1919-1920: 120) designation Eme-Eme is mostly likely based upon the word /emi/ meaning “people.” Pepeha is the name of a village in which Foiafoia is spoken.

===== Sources =====
Johnston (1919-1920: 120) 120 comparative terms for Eme-Eme of Korariperamesina or Pepeha village

Franklin (1973: 270-273) miscellaneous notes including pronouns for Minanibai of Pepeha

Franklin ed. (1973: 577-578,) Franklin (1975: 264-268) 100 comparative terms for Minanibai of Pepeha

Carr (1991) 120 comparative terms for Foyafoya of Bibisa village

Carr (1991) 99 comparative terms for Minanibai

Carr (2006) 164 comparative terms and 20 comparative phrases for Pepeha

Allen and Keneqa (2006) sketch phonology of Foia Foia with no glosses

Petterson (2014) 204 comparative terms and 26 comparative phrases for Foeafoea of Bibisa village

===== Phonology =====
Foia Foia has 12 or 13 consonants and at least 5 vowels as follows:

|< - 60px 60px 60px 60px >|
|  m  |  n  |    |        |
|  p  |  t  |    |   k    |
|  b  |  d  |    |   g    |
|  ɸ  |  s  |    |        |
|  w  |  ɾ  |    |  [ɣ̃]  |


|< - 60px 60px 60px >|
|  i  |     |  u  |
|  e  |     |  o  |
|     |  a  |     |

Velar nasalized non-stop /ɣ̃/ is attested only initially and in only one term, Franklin's second person singular free pronoun, which is given with intial [ŋg n]; this merges with /w/ in other varieties of (below.) Its originality is premised upon outcomparison to other Inland Gulf languages, as well as to Fly River in general.

There is no palatal non-stop /j/ because Inland Gulf initial /*j/ has been occluded to apical /ɾ/.\\
\\

Neither final consonants nor consonant clusters occur.\\
\\

**[under construction]**\\
\\

…\\
\\

Bilabial nasal /m/ is retained as such in all dialects:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|            |Foia Foia|Foeafoea       |Minanibai|Pepeha    |Eme-Eme                     |
|            |phonemic |Petterson      |Franklin |Carr      |Johnston                    |
|            |**m-**   |**m**          |**m**    |**m**     |**m**                       |
|sit         |mi       |'mɔ-mi-e       |         |          |                            |
|sand        |miɾi     |'miɾi          |miri     |          |                            |
|two         |masi     |'maˑsi         |masi     |mɑsi      |masi                        |
|pig         |maɸa     |               |         |mɑhɑ      |mah-au                      |
|mouth       |mamoto   |mɒ'mɒˑtɒ       |momout   |'mamoto   |momoto                      |
|fire        |maɸi     |mɑˑ'ɸi ~ mɒɑ'ɸi|mafi     |mɑ'ɸi     |mafi                        |
|seed        |momoko   |mo'moko        |         |          |                            |
|            |**-m-**  |**m**          |**m**    |**m**     |**m**                       |
|person (pl.)|[e]mi    |emi            |         |          |                            |
|sing        |ami      |'mɔː ˌʔami-e   |         |          |                            |
|singular    |-ame     |-'aˑme         |-ame     |          |                            |
|person      |ama      |(ʔ)a'ma        |ama      |ama       |ama                         |
|baby (m.)   |omone    |o'mone         |         |          |                            |
|baby (f.)   |om[u]nu  |               |         |'omunu    |                            |
|know        |umoɾo    |ˌumɔ'ɾɒ-e      |         |umo'ro-rio|                            |
|mouth       |mamoto   |mɒ'mɒˑtɒ       |momout   |'mamoto   |momoto                      |
|seed        |momoko   |mo'moko        |         |          |                            |
|all         |botakumi |bo'taˑku'mi    |botakumi |          |                            |
|y. sib (m.) |name     |'naˑme         |         |          |                            |
|y. sib (f.) |numu     |'numu          |         |          |                            |
|sago        |dama     |               |         |dɑmɑ      |dam-au                      |
|house       |daɾimo   |ˌdaɾi'mɒ       |         |dɑrimo    |darimo                      |
|big (m.)    |gamise   |gɒˑ'mise       |         |gɑmise    |                            |
|big (n.)    |gamiso   |               |gamiso   |'gɑmiso   |                            |
|thumb/five  |wak[e]mu |               |         |wa'kemu   |wakumu ~\\ wakomu ~\\ wakomo|
|spear       |wasumu   |'wa'sumu       |         |wɑ'sumu   |                            |
|morning     |ɾika-mono|lika-'mɒnɒ     |         |nikɑ-mono |                            |
|drink       |ɾemi     |'mɒ-demi-e     |ɛ-demi-o |e-'remi-o |                            |

Apical nasal /n/ is retained as such in all dialects:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|            |Foia Foia|Foeafoea         |Minanibai   |Pepeha         |Eme-Eme  |
|            |phonemic |Petterson        |Franklin    |Carr           |Johnston |
|            |**n-**   |**n**            |**n**       |**n**          |**n**    |
|1 pl.       |ni       |ni               |ni          |ni             |         |
|blood       |nikana   |nika'na          |nikana      |               |nikana-au|
|skin        |nikopi   |ni'kɔpi          |nikopi      |nikopi         |nukupi-au|
|1 sg. obj.  |na-      |                 |na-         |               |         |
|y. sib (m.) |name     |'naˑme           |            |               |         |
|banana      |napeɾo   |naˑ'peɾo         |            |nɑ́pero        |napewa   |
|mosquito    |noniti   |                 |            |               |nunutia  |
|1 sg.       |no       |nɒ               |no          |no             |no-      |
|breast      |nono     |no'no            |nono        |               |nunu     |
|y. sib (f.) |numu     |'numu            |            |               |         |
|            |**-n-**  |**n**            |**n**       |**n**          |**n**    |
|fall        |inawV    |mo 'ku-iˌnaβ-ɛ   |            |mo-i'nɑw-o     |         |
|hair/feather|inutu    |'inutu ~i'nut(ˑ)u|inutu       |'inutu         |inutu    |
|leg         |idini    |                 |idini       |               |         |
|meat        |ainu     |                 |ai:nu       |               |         |
|baby (m.)   |omone    |o'mone           |            |               |         |
|baby (f.)   |om[u]nu  |                 |            |'omunu         |         |
|forearm     |pipini   |                 |pipini      |               |ipini    |
|ashes       |paneɸo   |                 |ɸaniɸo [sic]|               |         |
|shoulder    |beno     |'benɒ            |            |'beno          |beno     |
|canoe       |bonio    |bɒniɒ            |            |               |bunio    |
|blood       |nikana   |nika'na          |nikana      |               |nikana-au|
|mosquito    |noniti   |                 |            |               |nunutia  |
|breast      |nono     |no'no            |nono        |               |nunu     |
|hand        |sania    |sɒniˌɒ           |            |sɑ'nia ~ 'sɑniɑ|sonia    |
|taro        |sagani   |'sagaˌni         |            |sɑgɑni         |         |
|knee        |kiwonu   |kiβɒ'nu          |kiwonu      |               |         |
|bark        |kVpana   |keˌpana          |kiapana     |               |         |
|areca nut   |kani[o]  |                 |            |               |kanio    |
|wind        |konobo   |                 |            |ko'nobo        |konobo   |
|eye         |kuɸino   |ku'ɸi:nɒ         |kuɸino      |kuɸino         |kupina   |
|morning     |ɾika-mono|lika-'mɒnɒ       |            |nikɑ-mono      |         |

Bilabial voiceless stop /p/ is retained as such in all dialects:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|        |Foia Foia|Foeafoea       |Minanibai   |Pepeha |Eme-Eme    |
|        |phonemic |Petterson      |Franklin    |Carr   |Johnston   |
|        |**p-**   |**p**          |**p**       |**p**  |**p**      |
|forearm |pipini   |               |pipini      |       |ipini [sic]|
|chin/jaw|petu     |pe'tu          |            |pétu   |           |
|dry     |paetV    |               |petioi      |pɑ'ɑeto|           |
|hot     |papato   |pɑ'pato~pa'pato|papatoe     |papato |           |
|ashes   |paneɸo   |               |ɸaniɸo [sic]|       |           |
|leaf    |paso     |pasɔ ~ paso    |paho        |'pɑso  |pasi-paso-a|
|ashes   |pawo     |               |            |'pɑwo  |           |
|forehead|pawoto   |pawɒ'tɒ        |            |pɑwoto |pauwoto    |
|        |**-p-**  |**p**          |**p**       |**p**  |**p**      |
|lip(s)  |itupu    |               |            |       |itobo [sic]|
|hot     |papato   |pɑ'pato~pa'pato|papatoe     |papato |           |
|skin    |nikopi   |ni'kɔpi        |nikopi      |nikopi |nukupi-au  |
|banana  |napeɾo   |naˑ'peɾo       |            |nɑ́pero|napewa     |
|fish    |tope     |               |            |tope   |           |
|bark    |kVpana   |keˌpana        |kiapana     |       |           |

Apical voiceless stop /t/ is retained as such in all dialects. Initial /t/ is much less common than medial /t/ or initials /p k/:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|            |Foia Foia|Foeafoea         |Minanibai|Pepeha   |Eme-Eme |
|            |phonemic |Petterson        |Franklin |Carr     |Johnston|
|            |**t-**   |**t**            |**?**    |**t**    |**t**   |
|wallaby     |tebeɾe   |'tebere          |         |         |tebe    |
|tooth       |ta       |ta               |         |tɑ       |ta      |
|wing        |taɸu     |'taˑɸu           |         |taɸu     |        |
|fish        |tope     |                 |         |tope     |        |
|            |**-t-**  |**t**            |**t**    |**t**    |**t**   |
|hair/feather|inutu    |'inutu ~i'nut(ˑ)u|inutu    |'inutu   |inutu   |
|lip(s)      |itupu    |                 |         |         |itobo   |
|3 pl.       |eti      |itiˑ             |eti      |         |        |
|3 sg. m.    |ete      |ɛtɛ              |eti      |         |        |
|3 sg. f.    |etu      |itu              |         |         |        |
|mouth       |mamoto   |mɒ'mɒˑtɒ         |momout   |'mamoto  |momoto  |
|chin/jaw    |petu     |pe'tu            |         |pétu     |        |
|dry         |paetV    |                 |petioi   |pɑ'ɑeto  |        |
|hot         |papato   |pɑ'pato~pa'pato  |papatoe  |papato   |        |
|forehead    |pawoto   |pawɒ'tɒ          |         |pɑwoto   |pauwoto |
|chest       |bita     |                 |         |         |bita    |
|earth/ground|boti     |                 |         |bo'ti    |boti    |
|all         |botakumi |bo'taˑku'mi      |botakumi |         |        |
|mosquito    |noniti   |                 |         |         |nunutia |
|shin        |dete     |de'te            |         |         |dete    |
|smoke       |koɸuto   |                 |kofuto   |ko'βuto  |kohoto  |
|belly       |kuti     |                 |kuti     |         |        |
|who?        |wotei    |wɒ'te:           |wote:    |wotei    |        |
|dance       |ɾetV     |'mo: det-e       |         |'mo-ret-e|        |

Velar voiceless stop /k/ is retained as such in all dialects:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|              |Foia Foia|Foeafoea         |Minanibai|Pepeha |Eme-Eme                     |
|              |phonemic |Petterson        |Franklin |Carr   |Johnston                    |
|              |**k-**   |**k**            |**k**    |**k**  |**k**                       |
|woman/wife    |kiɸa     |ki'ɸɑ            |kiɸa     |kiɸa   |kifau ~ kifai               |
|cold          |kigio    |kiːgjɒˑ          |kigio    |'kigio |                            |
|knee          |kiwonu   |kiβɒ'nu          |kiwonu   |       |                            |
|bark          |kVpana   |keˌpana          |kiapana  |       |                            |
|axe           |kabi     |kaː'bi           |         |kɑbi   |                            |
|areca nut     |kani[o]  |                 |         |       |kanio                       |
|not           |koi(-ne) |'kɔi(-ne) ~koi-nɛ|         |koi-ne |                            |
|smoke         |koɸuto   |                 |kofuto   |ko'βuto|kohoto                      |
|wind          |konobo   |                 |         |ko'nobo|konobo                      |
|tongue        |koda     |ko'da            |goda     |koda   |koda                        |
|flying fox    |kubiai   |ku'biai          |         |kubiɑi |                            |
|eye           |kuɸino   |ku'ɸi:nɒ         |kuɸino   |kuɸino |kupina                      |
|belly         |kuti     |                 |kuti     |       |                            |
|              |**-k-**  |**k**            |**k**    |**k**  |**k**                       |
|star          |iki      |'iki             |         |'iki   |iki                         |
|lime          |eka      |                 |         |       |eka                         |
|light (weight)|ekako    |e'kaˑko          |         |ekɑko  |                            |
|ashes         |uk[u]    |'uku ~ 'ʔuku     |         |       |uko                         |
|seed          |momoko   |mo'moko          |         |       |                            |
|throat        |ɸoko     |                 |foko     |       |                            |
|all           |botakumi |bo'taˑku'mi      |botakumi |       |                            |
|blood         |nikana   |nika'na          |nikana   |       |nikana-au                   |
|skin          |nikopi   |ni'kɔpi          |nikopi   |nikopi |nukupi-au                   |
|heavy         |dioku    |di'ɒku           |         |       |                            |
|bamboo        |diki     |dikiˑ            |         |       |-diki                       |
|bean          |dukoɾo   |du'koɾo          |         |       |                            |
|navel         |dukumu   |                 |         |       |duku-                       |
|night         |ɾika     |li'kɑ ~ li'ka    |ri:ko    |'rika  |lik-au                      |
|thumb/five    |wak[e]mu |                 |         |wa'kemu|wakumu ~\\ wakomu ~\\ wakomo|

Bilabial voiced stop /b/ ia retained as such in all dialects:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|            |Foia Foia|Foeafoea    |Minanibai|Pepeha    |Eme-Eme |
|            |phonemic |Petterson   |Franklin |Carr      |Johnston|
|            |**b-**   |**b**       |**b**    |**b**     |**b**   |
|chest       |bita     |            |         |          |bita    |
|shoulder    |beno     |'benɒ       |         |'beno     |beno    |
|canoe       |bonio    |bɒniɒ       |         |          |bunio   |
|earth/ground|boti     |            |         |bo'ti     |boti    |
|all         |botakumi |bo'taˑku'mi |botakumi |          |        |
|moon        |bubei    |bu'bei      |bubei    |          |        |
|wet         |bubuɾV   |bu'buɾi     |         |bu'buro   |        |
|            |**-b-**  |**b**       |**b**    |**b**     |**b**   |
|fish (sg.)  |ebi-ame  |ʔebi-'aˑme  |ebi-ame  |          |        |
|moon        |bubei    |bu'bei      |bube     |          |        |
|wet         |bubuɾV   |bu'buɾi     |         |bu'buro   |        |
|wallaby     |tebeɾe   |'tebere     |         |          |tebe    |
|axe         |kabi     |kaː'bi      |         |kɑbi      |        |
|wind        |konobo   |            |         |ko'nobo   |konobo  |
|flying fox  |kubiai   |ku'biai     |         |kubiɑi    |        |
|walk/go     |[w]oba   |'moː ʔoˌba-e|e-woba-o |e-wo'bɑ-wo|        |

Apical voiced stop /d/ is retained as such in all dialects:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Foia Foia|Foeafoea          |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
|          |phonemic |Petterson         |Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
|          |**d-**   |**d**             |**d**    |**d** |**d**   |
|heavy     |dioku    |di'ɒku            |         |      |        |
|tomorrow  |diɸu     |di'ɸu             |         |di'ɸu |        |
|bamboo    |diki     |dikiˑ             |         |      |-diki   |
|path      |digei    |ˌdi'ɣeiˑ ~ˌdi'geiˑ|dige     |dige  |        |
|tree      |de       |dɛ ~ 'deˑ         |dɛ       |de    |de      |
|shin      |dete     |de'te             |         |      |dete    |
|nose      |desi     |de'si             |desi     |de'si |dese    |
|sago      |dama     |                  |         |dɑmɑ  |dam-au  |
|house     |daɾimo   |ˌdaɾi'mɒ          |         |dɑrimo|darimo  |
|good      |daɾo(e)  |da'ɾɔɛ ~ da'ɾɒ    |daroe    |      |        |
|yesterday |doso     |dɒ'sɒ             |         |'doso |        |
|bean      |dukoɾo   |du'koɾo           |         |      |        |
|navel     |dukumu   |                  |         |      |duku-   |
|          |**-d-**  |**d**             |**d**    |**d** |**d**   |
|leg       |idini    |                  |idini    |      |        |
|afternoon |adimo    |a'dimɒ            |         |ɑdimo |        |
|tongue    |koda     |ko'da             |goda     |koda  |koda    |
|fat/grease|gadi     |'gɑdi             |gadi     |gɑdi  |        |

Velar voiced stop /g/ is generally retained as such in all dialects. Ocassionally it is lenited to [ɣ] in Petterson's Foeafoea:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Foia Foia|Foeafoea          |Minanibai|Pepeha   |Eme-Eme       |
|          |phonemic |Petterson         |Franklin |Carr     |Johnston      |
|          |**g-**   |**g [g ɣ]**       |**g**    |**g**    |**g**         |
|head      |gia      |gjɑ ~ gjʌ         |gio      |gʲa      |gi-au         |
|big (m.)  |gamise   |gɒˑ'mise          |         |gɑmise   |              |
|big (n.)  |gamiso   |                  |gamiso   |'gɑmiso  |              |
|fat/grease|gadi     |'gɑdi             |gadi     |gɑdi     |              |
|dog       |gaso     |'gaˑsɒˌi~'ɣaˑsɒˌi |gahoi    |gaso     |gaso          |
|long      |goɾiwo   |'gɒɾiβo ~'gɒɾiwo  |gorivo   |go'riβo  |              |
|          |**-g-**  |**g [g ɣ]**       |**g**    |**g**    |**g**         |
|what?     |aogei    |ɑɔ'geː            |augeə    |ɑgei     |              |
|give      |ago      |                  |e-n-agu  |e-'ɑgo   |              |
|hear      |ugi      |'moˑ-ugi-ɛ        |e-ugi-o  |e-'ogiʲ-o|              |
|path      |digei    |ˌdi'ɣeiˑ ~ˌdi'geiˑ|dige     |dige     |              |
|taro      |sagani   |'sagaˌni          |         |sɑgɑni   |              |
|cold      |kigio    |kiːgjɒˑ           |kigio    |'kigio   |              |
|name      |ɾiga     |digɑh ~di(ˌ)gɑ(:) |digɔ     |-riga    |              |
|one       |ɾaigio   |'laiˌgiɔ          |raiegio  |'lɑigio  |raigi ~ raige-|

Bilabial fricative /ɸ/ is generally retained as such in all descendants. It is occasionally deoccluded to [h] in Carr's Pepeha and Johnston's Eme-Eme. Initial /ɸ/ is much less common then medial /ɸ/:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Foia Foia|Foeafoea       |Minanibai   |Pepeha       |Eme-Eme       |
|          |phonemic |Petterson      |Franklin    |Carr         |Johnston      |
|          |**ɸ-**   |**ɸ**          |**ɸ [ɸ f]** |**?**        |**?**         |
|bone      |ɸia      |'ɸiɑ ~ ɸiʌ     |ɸia         |             |              |
|throat    |ɸoko     |               |foko        |             |              |
|          |**-ɸ-**  |**ɸ**          |**ɸ [ɸ f]** |**ɸ [ɸ β h]**|**ɸ <f p h >**|
|mountain  |iɸia     |'iˑˌɸiɑ        |ifia        |             |              |
|fire      |maɸi     |mɑˑ'ɸi ~ mɒɑ'ɸi|mafi        |mɑ'ɸi        |mafi          |
|pig       |maɸa     |               |            |mɑhɑ         |mah-au        |
|ashes     |paneɸo   |               |ɸaniɸo [sic]|             |              |
|wing      |taɸu     |'taˑɸu         |            |taɸu         |              |
|tomorrow  |diɸu     |di'ɸu          |            |di'ɸu        |              |
|woman/wife|kiɸa     |ki'ɸɑ          |kiɸa        |kiɸa         |kifau ~ kifai |
|smoke     |koɸuto   |               |kofuto      |ko'βuto      |kohoto        |
|eye       |kuɸino   |ku'ɸi:nɒ       |kuɸino      |kuɸino       |kupina        |
|rain      |ɾaɾeɸo   |da'ɾeɸo        |dareɸo      |'rɑ'reɸo     |larefo        |

Fricative /s/ is generally retained as such in all dialects. It is sometimes deoccluded to [h] in Franklin's Minanibai. Initial /s/ is much less common than medial /s/:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|         |Foia Foia|Foeafoea         |Minanibai  |Pepeha         |Eme-Eme     |
|         |phonemic |Petterson        |Franklin   |Carr           |Johnston    |
|         |**s-**   |**s**            |**s**      |**s**          |**s**       |
|sun/day  |siwio    |siβjɔ            |sivio      |siβi'o         |sivi-au     |
|hand     |sania    |sɒniˌɒ           |           |sɑ'nia ~ 'sɑniɑ|sonia       |
|taro     |sagani   |'sagaˌni         |           |sɑgɑni         |            |
|         |**-s-**  |**s**            |**s [s h]**|**s**          |**s**       |
|bird     |ewesa    |ˌʔeβɛ'sɑ         |eβeso      |               |            |
|egg      |usu      |u'su             |usu        |usu            |utu-au [sic]|
|two      |masi     |'maˑsi           |masi       |mɑsi           |masi        |
|leaf     |paso     |pasɔ ~ paso      |paho       |'pɑso          |pasi-paso-a |
|nose     |desi     |de'si            |desi       |de'si          |dese        |
|yesterday|doso     |dɒ'sɒ            |           |'doso          |            |
|big (m.) |gamise   |gɒˑ'mise         |           |gɑmise         |            |
|big (n.) |gamiso   |                 |gamiso     |'gɑmiso        |            |
|dog      |gaso     |'gaˑsɒˌi~'ɣaˑsɒˌi|gahoi      |gaso           |gaso        |
|tail     |wasiɾi   |'waˑsiɾi         |wasiri     |               |            |
|spear    |wasumu   |'wa'sumu         |           |wɑ'sumu        |            |

Bilabial non-stop /w/ is retained as such in all dialects. Medially, it tends to be occluded to bilabial or labiodental [β v]:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Foia Foia|Foeafoea        |Minanibai  |Pepeha     |Eme-Eme                     |
|          |phonemic |Petterson       |Franklin   |Carr       |Johnston                    |
|          |**w-**   |**w**           |**w**      |**w**      |**w**                       |
|thumb/five|wak[e]mu |                |           |wa'kemu    |wakumu ~\\ wakomu ~\\ wakomo|
|tail      |wasiɾi   |'waˑsiɾi        |wasiri     |           |                            |
|spear     |wasumu   |'wa'sumu        |           |wɑ'sumu    |                            |
|who?      |wotei    |wɒ'te:          |wote:      |wotei      |                            |
|          |**-w-**  |**w [β w]**     |**w [v β]**|**w [β w]**|**w [v]**                   |
|fall      |inawV    |mo 'ku-iˌnaβ-ɛ  |           |mo-i'nɑw-o |                            |
|liver     |iwa      |ʔi'βɑ ~ i'βʌ    |liva       |           |iva                         |
|bird      |ewesa    |ˌʔeβɛ'sɑ        |eβeso      |           |                            |
|water     |awo      |ʔa'u ~ aˌuː     |ao         |ɑʔu        |                            |
|ashes     |pawo     |                |           |'pɑwo      |                            |
|forehead  |pawoto   |pawɒ'tɒ         |           |pɑwoto     |pauwoto                     |
|sun/day   |siwio    |siβjɔ           |sivio      |siβi'o     |sivi-au                     |
|knee      |kiwonu   |kiβɒ'nu         |kiwonu     |           |                            |
|long      |goɾiwo   |'gɒɾiβo ~'gɒɾiwo|gorivo     |go'riβo    |                            |

Initial apical non-stop /ɾ/ is historically an occlusion of Inland Gulf palatal /*j/. It may be fortited to voiced stop [d nd], realized as lateral non-stop [l] or retained as [ɾ]:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|     |Foia Foia|Foeafoea         |Minanibai     |Pepeha     |Eme-Eme       |
|     |phonemic |Petterson        |Franklin      |Carr       |Johnston      |
|     |**ɾ-**   |**ɾ [d l]**      |**ɾ [d nd ɾ]**|**ɾ [ɾ l]**|**ɾ [l ɾ]**   |
|eat  |ɾi       |'mɒ-di-ɛ         |i-di-e        |'e-ri-o    |              |
|night|ɾika     |li'kɑ ~ li'ka    |ri:ko         |'rika      |lik-au        |
|name |ɾiga     |digɑh ~di(ˌ)gɑ(:)|digɔ          |-riga      |              |
|drink|ɾemi     |'mɒ-demi-e       |ɛ-demi-o      |e-'remi-o  |              |
|dance|ɾetV     |'mo: det-e       |              |'mo-ret-e  |              |
|ear  |ɾeɾa     |de'ɾa            |dera          |rerɑ́      |              |
|one  |ɾaigio   |'laiˌgiɔ         |raiegio       |'lɑigio    |raigi ~ raige-|
|rain |ɾaɾeɸo   |da'ɾeɸo          |dareɸo        |'rɑ'reɸo   |larefo        |
|2 pl.|ɾo       |                 |ndo           |           |              |

Medial /ɾ/ is generally realized as such in all dialects. It is sometimes dropped in Johnston's Eme-Eme:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|       |Foia Foia|Foeafoea        |Minanibai|Pepeha    |Eme-Eme    |
|       |phonemic |Petterson       |Franklin |Carr      |Johnston   |
|       |**-ɾ-**  |**ɾ**           |**ɾ**    |**ɾ**     |**ɾ [ɾ ø]**|
|know   |umoɾo    |ˌumɔ'ɾɒ-e       |         |umo'ro-rio|           |
|sand   |miɾi     |'miɾi           |miri     |          |           |
|wet    |bubuɾV   |bu'buɾi         |         |bu'buro   |           |
|banana |napeɾo   |naˑ'peɾo        |         |nɑ́pero   |napewa     |
|wallaby|tebeɾe   |'tebere         |         |          |tebe       |
|house  |daɾimo   |ˌdaɾi'mɒ        |         |dɑrimo    |darimo     |
|good   |daɾo(e)  |da'ɾɔɛ ~ da'ɾɒ  |daroe    |          |           |
|bean   |dukoɾo   |du'koɾo         |         |          |           |
|long   |goɾiwo   |'gɒɾiβo ~'gɒɾiwo|gorivo   |go'riβo   |           |
|tail   |wasiɾi   |'waˑsiɾi        |wasiri   |          |           |
|ear    |ɾeɾa     |de'ɾa           |dera     |rerɑ́     |           |
|rain   |ɾaɾeɸo   |da'ɾeɸo         |dareɸo   |'rɑ'reɸo  |larefo     |

There is no palatal non-stop /j/. Inland Gulf initial /*j/ has been occluded to apical /ɾ/ (above.)\\
\\

Velar nasalized non-stop /ɣ̃/ is only attested in one example, in which it appears initially. We tentatively assume Franklin's initial to be original rather than in error, because its value is supported by outcomparison to Mubami, where it is reflected as /g/, and because it is consistent with the historical origin of the Inland Gulf sound:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|     |Foia Foia|Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
|     |phonemic |Petterson|Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
|     |**ɣ̃-**  |**w**    |**ŋg**   |**w** |**?**   |
|2 sg.|ɣ̃o      |wɒ       |ŋgo      |wo    |        |


…\\
\\

High front vowel /i/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
||Foia Foia|Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
||phonemic |Petterson|Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
||**i**    |****     |****     |****  |****    |
||         |         |         |      |        |

High back vowel /u/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
||Foia Foia|Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
||phonemic |Petterson|Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
||**u**    |****     |****     |****  |****    |
||         |         |         |      |        |

Mid back vowel /e/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
||Foia Foia|Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
||phonemic |Petterson|Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
||**e**    |****     |****     |****  |****    |
||         |         |         |      |        |

Mid back vowel /o/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
||Foia Foia|Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
||phonemic |Petterson|Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
||**o**    |****     |****     |****  |****    |
||         |         |         |      |        |

Low central vowel /a/ …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
||Foia Foia|Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme |
||phonemic |Petterson|Franklin |Carr  |Johnston|
||**a**    |****     |****     |****  |****    |
||         |         |         |      |        |

…

===== Gender ablaut =====
**[under construction]**\\
\\

… with attestations drawn from Petterson's (2014) Foeafoea:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|         |masculine|feminine|plural|
|         |**e**    |**u**   |**i** |
|3 sg./pl.|ɛtɛ      |itu     |itiˑ  |
|y. sib   |'naˑme   |'numu   |      |
|3 sg./pl.|'tetɑ    |'tutɑ   |'titɑ |

===== Pronouns =====
Foia Foia free pronouns are as follows, with attestations drawn from Franklin (1973: 270-273, ed. 577-578,) Carr (2006) and Petterson (2014: 5-6):

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|        |Foia Foia|Foeafoea             |Minanibai      |Pepeha|
|        |phonemic |Petterson            |Franklin       |Carr  |
|1 sg.   |no       |no                   |no             |nɒ    |
|2 sg.   |ɣ̃o      |wɒ                   |ŋgo ~ nṍ ~ nɔ̃́|wo    |
|3 sg. m.|ete      |ɛtɛ/'tetɑ ~ 'tetʌ    |eti [sic]      |letɑ  |
|3 sg. f.|etu      |itu/'tutɑ ~ 'tutʌ    |?              |?     |
|1 pl.   |ni       |'ni ~ ni:            |ni             |?     |
|2 pl.   |ɾo       |?                    |ndo            |?     |
|3 pl.   |eti      |itiˑ/'titɑ 'diɑ ~ diʌ|eti            |?     |

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

…

===== Loans from and to neighboring languages =====
**[under construction]**\\
\\

…\\
\\

Loans from Kiwai …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Kiwai  |Foeafoea |Minanibai|Pepeha    |Eme-Eme |
|          |       |Petterson|Franklin |Carr      |Johnston|
|breast    |*amo   |         |         |ɑmo       |        |
|afternoon |*adimo |a'dimɒ   |         |ɑdimo     |        |
|know      |*umoɾo |ˌumɔ'ɾɒ-e|         |umo'ro-rio|        |
|heavy     |*mikibo|         |         |miibo     |        |
|dark cloud|*bubu  |'bubu    |bubu     |          |        |
|louse     |*nimo  |ni'mɔ    |nimo     |nimo      |        |
|belly     |*niɾo  |nirɒ     |         |niro      |        |
|house     |*daɾimo|ˌdaɾi'mɒ |         |dɑrimo    |darimo  |
|root      |*sipi  |         |         |hipi      |        |
|sun/day   |*siwio |siβjɔ    |sivio    |siβi'o    |sivi-au |
|blood     |*kaɾima|         |         |'kɑrimɑ   |        |
|back      |*gimini|         |         |gi'mini   |        |
|bandicoot |*geneɸo|genɒ'hɒ  |         |genehó    |        |
|fat/grease|*gadi  |'gɑdi    |gadi     |gɑdi      |        |
|sand      |*wio   |         |         |'βio      |        |
|tail      |*wapo  |         |         |wɑpo      |        |

Loans from Dibiyaso … with Dibiyaso attestations drawn from (CITE):

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|    |Dibyaso|Foeafoea|Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme|
|bird|meta   |        |         |'metɑ |met-au |

Loans from Motu …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|            |Motu |Foeafoea|Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme|
|cloud       |oɾi  |        |         |ori   |       |
|bean        |bini |        |         |bini  |       |
|sweet potato|kaema|'kaɛma  |         |      |       |

Loans from Mouwase … with Mouwase attestations drawn from Petterson (2014 ibid.):

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|           |Mouwase/td>|Foeafoea|Minanibai|Pepeha|Eme-Eme|
|white cloud|uru-mu     |'uɾuˌmu |         |      |       |

Loans to Omati River … with Barikewa, Kaser and Mowase attestations drawn from Carr (2006):

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|          |Foia Foia|Barikewa|Kaser  |Mowase |
|wallaby   |tebeɾe   |        |'tebeɾe|'tebeɾe|
|path      |digei    |        |'dike  |'dike  |
|good      |daɾo     |daɾo    |'daɾo  |'daɾo  |
|bean      |dukoɾo   |du'kɔ̄:̀|dukoɾ  |       |
|flying fox|kubiai   |kúbɛ̀i  |kubei  |kubei  |

Flint (1917-1918: 96) gives 94 comparative terms for the Karami people of Kikimairi and Aduahai villages, living in the forest alongside a fork of the Turama river. in Papua New Guinea's Western province, just across the border from Gulf province. …:

|< - 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px 100px >|
|            |Foia Foia|Karami|Kiwai|Bamu Kiwai|Omati River|
|water       |awo      |auwo  |---  |---       |           |
|fire        |maɸi     |mavio |---  |maɸi      |           |
|shoulder    |beno     |bina  |*bena|bena      |           |
|earth/ground|boti     |borti |---  |---       |           |
|moon        |bubei    |bube  |---  |---       |           |
|wallaby     |tebeɾe   |teberi|---  |---       |           |
|path        |digei    |ige   |---  |---       |           |
|navel       |dukumu   |dumu  |---  |---       |           |
|woman/wife  |kiɸa     |kipa  |---  |---       |           |
|dog         |gaso     |kao   |---  |---       |           |
|rain        |ɾaɾeɸo   |darepu|---  |daɾoɸo    |           |