Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute
The Kiwai family is comprised of six or more closely-related languages spoken along the west coast of the Papuan Gulf, from Daru Island just south of the Fly River delta, and according to MacGregor (1889-1890: 124) as far west along the coast as the Mai Kussa, to Deception Bay in the northeast, in Papua New Guinea's Western and Gulf provinces. Kiwai is the name of an island in the Fly River delta in which South Kiwai is spoken, but has also been applied to the other languages of the family.
The internal classification of Kiwai is as follows:
Kiwai
South Kiwai
Domori Island
Kiwai Island
Coastal South Kiwai
Wabuda Island
Bamu River
Kerewo-Morigi
Morigi
Kerewo
Northeast Kiwai
Wurm (1973: 222) calculates lexicostatistical resemblances between 11 varieties of Kiwai as follows:
| Island K. | Wabuda | Sisiame | Pirupiru | M. Bamu | Morigi | Kerewo | Gibaio | Urama | Gope | Arigibi | |
| Island K. | — | 66 | 66 | 58 | 58 | 62 | 58 | 64 | 60 | 55 | 58 |
| Wabuda | 66 | — | 60 | 59 | 65 | 54 | 52 | 59 | 59 | 51 | 50 |
| Sisiame | 66 | 60 | — | 84 | 85 | 57 | 50 | 59 | 56 | 51 | 53 |
| Pirupiru | 58 | 59 | 84 | — | 82 | 59 | 52 | 56 | 52 | 46 | 53 |
| M. Bamu | 58 | 65 | 85 | 82 | — | 59 | 56 | 53 | 52 | 50 | 51 |
| Morigi | 62 | 54 | 57 | 59 | 59 | — | 77 | 60 | 64 | 63 | 61 |
| Kerewo | 58 | 52 | 50 | 52 | 56 | 77 | — | 62 | 75 | 70 | 63 |
| Gibaio | 64 | 59 | 59 | 56 | 53 | 60 | 62 | — | 85 | 81 | 72 |
| Urama | 60 | 59 | 56 | 52 | 52 | 64 | 75 | 85 | — | 83 | 77 |
| Gope | 55 | 51 | 51 | 46 | 50 | 63 | 70 | 81 | 83 | — | 75 |
| Arigibi | 58 | 50 | 53 | 53 | 51 | 61 | 63 | 72 | 77 | 75 | — |
[under construction]
D'Albertis (1880) Mawata (unobtained)
MacGregor (1889-1890) vocabulary of Kiwai
Zöller (1891) … (unobtained)
Anonymous (1902) vocabulary of Kiwai (unobtained)
Ray (1907) …
Ray (1907) … Mawata (Kadawa) of Saguane village and Parama (Perem, Bampton Island)
Ray (1907) … grammar of Kiwai
Ray (1913-1914) …
Ray (1923) …
Ray (1931) grammar of Kiwai
Anonymous (1912-1913: 176-182) 1,178 terms for Kerawa Wadi (Goaribari Island)
Herbert (1914-1915: 183) 99 comparative terms for Urama of Kinomeri village
Anonymous (1914-1915: 176-182) 154 comparative terms for Goaribiri (Wadi), Urama, Turama (Owera) and Era River
Woodward (1914-1915: 186) 173 comparative terms for Dibiri of Buniki village
Woodward (1917-1918: 97) … comparative terms for Iwainu of Gigori village and Kerewa
Rentoul (1923-1924: 55) 111 comparative terms for Umaidai of Kesumubu village
Rentoul (1923-1924: 56) 107 comparative terms for Wariadai of Iosiku village
Riley (1930-1931: 175-194) 544 comparative terms for Tureture, Kiwai, Domori, Wabuda, Sisiame, Pirupiru and Oropai
Shafer (1965: 313-326) recontruction of Kiwaian
Wurm (1951) …
Wurm (1971) …
Wurm (1973) …
Franklin ed. (1973: 565-571) 100 comparative terms for Arigibi Kiwai, Bamu Kiwai, Gibaio Kiwai, Gope Kiwai, Island Kiwai, Kerewo Kiwai, Morigi Kiwai, Pirupiru Kiwai, Sisiame Kiwai, Tureture Kiwai, Urama Kiwai, Urama Kiwai and Wabuda Kiwai after Wurm, reprinted in Franklin and Z'graggen (1975: 13-118)
Clifton (1986) Kope orthography
Clifton (1990) Kope case morphology (unobtained)
Clifton (1991) sketch phonology of Kope
Clifton (1995) Kope transitives (unobtained)
Carr and Carr (2001) dictionary of Bamu
Petterson (2002) 389 term illustrated vocabulary of Kerewo
Petterson (2010) Kerewo stories
Brown (2009) grammar of Urama
Additionally, the Summer Institute of Linguistics provides sketch phonologies of Southern Kiwai, Bamu and Kerewo; however they are undated and unattributed.
[under construction]
Proto-Kiwai had 11 consonants and 5 vowels as follows:
| *m | *n | ||
| *p | *t | *s | *k |
| *b | *d | *g | |
| *w | *ɾ |
| *i | *u | |
| *e | *o | |
| *a |
…
Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ does not occur initially.
Neither final consonants nor consonant clusters occur.
…
The values given above correlate to those of Shafer's (1965: 313-326) reconstruction as follows:
Consonants correspond as follows:
Vowels correspond as follows:
These correspondences are exemplified as follows …
Bilabial nasal /*m/ … (Shafer 1965: 321):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *m | |||||||
| heavy | *mikibo | ||||||
| good | *measa | ||||||
| child | *meɾe | ||||||
| neck | *mauku | ||||||
| vomit | *mamaɾu | ||||||
| mouth | *magota | ||||||
| mother | *maɾamu | ||||||
| 1 sg. | *mo | ||||||
| house | *moto | ||||||
| right hand | *tu-modi | ||||||
| hair/feather | *mus[ua] | ||||||
| all | *imese | ||||||
| eye | *idomaɾi | ||||||
| scold | *emV-aɾogo | ||||||
| calf | *emo | ||||||
| lime | *amea | ||||||
| dance | *amaɾo | ||||||
| breast | *amo | ||||||
| wake | *amutia | ||||||
| pull | *amud… | ||||||
| evening | *adimo | ||||||
| sky | *aɾomo | ||||||
| sit | *omi[oi] | ||||||
| take | *omidai | ||||||
| know | *umoɾo | ||||||
| husband | *uɾamu | ||||||
| vomit | *mamaɾu | ||||||
| mother | *maɾamu | ||||||
| shark | *baidamo | ||||||
| pig | *boɾomo | ||||||
| 1 pl. | *nimo | ||||||
| louse | *nimo | ||||||
| older brother | *naɾamu | ||||||
| smoke | *tema | ||||||
| skin/bark | *tama | ||||||
| wing | *tamu | ||||||
| men's house | *daɾimo | ||||||
| moon | *sagomi | ||||||
| branch | *katomo | ||||||
| blood | *kaɾima | ||||||
| penis | *kaɾumo | ||||||
| short | *k₂omu | ||||||
| sea | *koɾomo | ||||||
| dog | *[k]umu | ||||||
| back | *gimini | ||||||
| white pigeon | *gimai | ||||||
| drum/song | *gama | ||||||
| sea turtle | *gamo | ||||||
| side | *gomo | ||||||
| ripe | *gumi[ni] |
Apical nasal /*n/ … (Shafer 1965: 320):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *n | |||||||
| 1 pl. | *nimo | ||||||
| louse | *nimo | ||||||
| scent/smell | *nibo | ||||||
| 2 pl. | *nigo | ||||||
| younger sib | *niɾaɾa | ||||||
| belly | *niɾo | ||||||
| 3 pl. | *nei | ||||||
| two | *netoa | ||||||
| excrement | *nek₂eɾe | ||||||
| fish | *na | ||||||
| mosquito | *na[k/g]ati | ||||||
| one | *nak[o/u] | ||||||
| older brother | *naɾamu | ||||||
| heel | *keba-nopu | ||||||
| stone | *nok₂oɾa | ||||||
| sand | *noɾi | ||||||
| tree | *nuk₂a | ||||||
| arrow sp. | *iona | ||||||
| tooth | *ibo-nVɾV | ||||||
| name | *paini | ||||||
| P. raggiana | *pana | ||||||
| shoulder | *bena | ||||||
| back | *gimini |
Bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …(Shafer 1965: 318):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *p | |||||||
| bat/flying fox | *pipite | ||||||
| steal | *piɾoito | ||||||
| canoe | *peɾe | ||||||
| left | *peɾo | ||||||
| name | *paina | ||||||
| P. raggiana | *pana | ||||||
| palm/sole | *pata | ||||||
| leaf | *pasa | ||||||
| knee/joint | *popu | ||||||
| mountain | *podo | ||||||
| not | *puai | ||||||
| gourd | *puɾu | ||||||
| base | *ipi | ||||||
| lip(s) | *ipusu | ||||||
| kill | *opia | ||||||
| woman | *upi | ||||||
| navel | *upuɾo | ||||||
| bat/flying fox | *pipite | ||||||
| knee/joint | *popu | ||||||
| heel | *(kebo-)nopu | ||||||
| sweet | *topo | ||||||
| belly/womb | *dopi | ||||||
| body | *duɾupi | ||||||
| root | *sipi | ||||||
| earlobe | *sepatV | ||||||
| armpit | *sepu | ||||||
| earth/ground | *sopu | ||||||
| egg/fruit | *kikopu | ||||||
| head | *kepuɾu | ||||||
| stone | *(nok₂oɾa-)kopi | ||||||
| tail | *wapo |
Apical voiceless stop /*t/ …(Shafer 1965: 318):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *t | |||||||
| smoke | *tema | ||||||
| arrow | *teɾe | ||||||
| skin/bark | *tama | ||||||
| wing | *tamu | ||||||
| thin | *tako-tako | ||||||
| yesterday | *duo-tou | ||||||
| sweet | *topo | ||||||
| cloud/sky | *toboɾo | ||||||
| dry coconut | *toka | ||||||
| fear | *toɾe | ||||||
|  lung(s) | *toɾu-toɾu | ||||||
| arm/hand | *tu | ||||||
| ashes | *tu[o] | ||||||
| long | *tutuɾu | ||||||
| throat | *tuɾuo-tuɾuo | ||||||
| who/what? | *etuɾa | ||||||
| fall | *eɾegetai | ||||||
| wake | *amutia | ||||||
| kidney | *ota | ||||||
| bite | *ot[a/o]kob[a/o] | ||||||
| stand | *oto(-boa) | ||||||
| tongue | *uototoɾo[p/b]e | ||||||
| lie down/sleep | *utua | ||||||
| mouth | *magota | ||||||
| house | *moto | ||||||
| bat/flying fox | *pipite | ||||||
| steal | *piɾoito | ||||||
| palm/sole | *pata | ||||||
| two | *netoa | ||||||
| mosquito | *na[k/g]ati | ||||||
| long | *tutuɾu | ||||||
| basket/bag | *sito | ||||||
| earlobe | *sepatV | ||||||
| branch | *katomo | ||||||
| tree | *kota | ||||||
| bag | *gateɾe | ||||||
| coconut | *goata |
Laminal /*s/ … (Shafer 1965: 322):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *s | |||||||
| root | *sipi | ||||||
| soft | *sibi-sibi | ||||||
| crocodile | *sibaɾo | ||||||
| basket/bag | *sito | ||||||
| many | *siɾio | ||||||
| sun/day | *si[w]io | ||||||
| earlobe | *sepatV | ||||||
| armpit | *sepu | ||||||
| village | *saboka | ||||||
| leg/foot | *sakiɾo | ||||||
| moon | *sagomi | ||||||
| blood | *sa[w]i | ||||||
| sun/day | *saɾik₂i | ||||||
| earth/ground | *sopu | ||||||
| face | *so[ɾa]soɾa | ||||||
| bone | *soɾo | ||||||
| bladder | *susu | ||||||
| star | *suɾi | ||||||
| pig | *su[w]ade | ||||||
| all | *imese | ||||||
| lip(s) | *ipusu | ||||||
| milk | *isi | ||||||
| eat (pl.) | *iɾiso | ||||||
| seek | *esoɾa | ||||||
| top/above | *osu | ||||||
| die | *oɾisiai | ||||||
| sweat | *oɾosa | ||||||
| good | *measa | ||||||
| hair/feather | *mus[ua] | ||||||
| leaf | *pasa | ||||||
| fight/war | *boso | ||||||
| girl | *buseɾe | ||||||
| face | *so[ɾa]soɾa | ||||||
| bladder | *susu | ||||||
| boy | *kosio | ||||||
| full | *koɾosu[w]V | ||||||
| rain | *wisaɾe |
… /*s/ … <*f (?)> (Shafer 1965: 323):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *s | |||||||
| wind | *susu[w]o | ||||||
| eat (sg.) | *oɾuso | ||||||
| smoke | *gasua |
Velar voiceless stop /*k/ … <*k‘> (Shafer 1965: 314, 316):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *k | |||||||
| incisors | *kiowa | ||||||
| egg/fruit | *kikopu | ||||||
| head | *kepuɾu | ||||||
| heel | *kebo-nopu | ||||||
| fire | *keɾa | ||||||
| strength/power | *keɾapo | ||||||
| branch | *katomo | ||||||
| blood | *kaɾima | ||||||
| snake | *kaɾu[w]o | ||||||
| penis | *kaɾumo | ||||||
| stone | *(nok₂oɾa-)kopi | ||||||
| water | *kobo | ||||||
| tree | *kota | ||||||
| boy | *kosio | ||||||
| new/young | *koɾio | ||||||
| sea | *koɾomo | ||||||
| full | *koɾosu[w]V | ||||||
| sleep | *kuo | ||||||
| sugarcane | *kuɾe | ||||||
| see | *ekauɾi | ||||||
| bite | *ot[a/o]kob[a/o] | ||||||
| shadow/spirit | *uɾiko | ||||||
| heavy | *mikibo[i] | ||||||
| neck | *mauku | ||||||
| thin | *tako-tako | ||||||
| one | *nak[o/u] | ||||||
| dry coconut | *toka | ||||||
| village | *saboka | ||||||
| leg/foot | *sakiɾo | ||||||
| egg/fruit | *kikopu |
… /*k₂/ … <*k’> … (Shafer 1965: 315, 316.) This most likely indicates a loan immediately into Bamu River Kiwai, either from Wabuda immediately to the south or from another language:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *k₂ | |||||||
| small | *k₂aina | ||||||
| short | *k₂omu | ||||||
| banana | *k₂obiɾa | ||||||
| excrement | *nek₂eɾe | ||||||
| stone | *nok₂oɾa | ||||||
| tree | *nuk₂a | ||||||
| sun/day | *saɾik₂i | ||||||
| dog | *sok₂a |
… invariable … /*k₃/ … <*k> … (Shafer 1965: 315, 316.) … does not cooccur with /*k/ or /*k₂/ in the same root …:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *k₃ | |||||||
| life | *k₃igiɾo | ||||||
| white | *k₃[ai]a | ||||||
| rat | *k₃aiani | ||||||
| fat/greast | *k₃asauV | ||||||
| bamboo | *k₃ak₃isa | ||||||
| fowl | *k₃ak₃aba | ||||||
| salt/bitter | *k₃aɾa-k₃aɾa | ||||||
| rope | *k₃aɾai | ||||||
| hard | *k₃aɾo-k₃aɾo | ||||||
| cup | *nuk₃u | ||||||
| bamboo | *k₃ak₃isa | ||||||
| spear | *k₃aɾak₃o | ||||||
| mat | *wak₃[o/u] |
… doublets …:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *k/*k₃ | |||||||
| blood | *kaɾima | ||||||
| red | *k₃aɾima | ||||||
| water | *kobo | ||||||
| wet | *k₃obo-k₃obo |
Bilabial voiced stop /*b/ … (Shafer 1965: 319):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *b | |||||||
| shoulder | *bena | ||||||
| what/how? | *beda | ||||||
| liver | *beɾu | ||||||
| shark | *baidamo | ||||||
| father | *baba | ||||||
| rib(s) | *baɾa | ||||||
| who? | *bo(-etuɾa) | ||||||
| stand | *oto-boa | ||||||
| chest | *bodoɾo | ||||||
| fight/war | *boso | ||||||
| pig | *boɾomo | ||||||
| cloud | *bubu | ||||||
| girl | *buseɾe | ||||||
| tooth | *ibo(-nVɾV) | ||||||
| weep/cry | *idobi | ||||||
| paddle | *aibi | ||||||
| father | *abeɾa | ||||||
| bite | *ot[a/o]kob[a/o] | ||||||
| woman | *oɾobo | ||||||
| charcoal/black | *uibu | ||||||
| bad | *uba | ||||||
| heavy | *mikibo | ||||||
| father | *baba | ||||||
| cloud | *bubu | ||||||
| scent/smell | *nibo | ||||||
| cloud/sky | *toboɾo | ||||||
| man/male | *dubu | ||||||
| banana | *dubaɾi | ||||||
| soft | *sibi-sibi | ||||||
| crocodile | *sibaɾo | ||||||
| village | *saboka | ||||||
| heel | *kebo-nopu | ||||||
| banana | *k₂obiɾa | ||||||
| water | *kobo | ||||||
| path | *gabo |
Apical voiced stop /*d/ … (Shafer 1965: 319):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *d | |||||||
| cassowary | *di[w]aɾe | ||||||
| men's house | *daɾimo | ||||||
| sago | *dou | ||||||
| belly/womb | *dopi | ||||||
| night/darkness | *duo | ||||||
| man/male | *dubu | ||||||
| banana | *dubaɾi | ||||||
| body | *duɾupi | ||||||
| hungry | *duɾugeɾe | ||||||
| eye | *idomaɾi | ||||||
| weep/cry | *idobi | ||||||
| hear | *iɾo[w]idiɾo | ||||||
| snake | *edei | ||||||
| put/place | *edea | ||||||
| pull | *amud… | ||||||
| evening | *adimo | ||||||
| take | *omidai | ||||||
| drink | *odio | ||||||
| axe | *oda | ||||||
| good | *uade | ||||||
| right hand | *tu-modi | ||||||
| mountain | *podo | ||||||
| what/how? | *beda | ||||||
| shark | *baidamo | ||||||
| chest | *bodoɾo | ||||||
| pig | *su[w]ade | ||||||
| fat/grease | *gadi | ||||||
| nose | *wodi |
Velar voiced stop /*g/ … (Shafer 1965: 316):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *g- | |||||||
| back | *gimini | ||||||
| white pigeon | *gimai | ||||||
| meat/game | *giɾo | ||||||
| heart | *giɾV-kikopu | ||||||
| drum/song | *gama | ||||||
| sea turtle | *gamo | ||||||
| path | *gabo | ||||||
| bag | *gateɾe | ||||||
| fat/grease | *gadi | ||||||
| smoke | *gasua | ||||||
| bow/bamboo | *gagaɾi | ||||||
| ear | *gaɾe | ||||||
| black | *gaɾe(-gaɾe) | ||||||
| coconut | *goata | ||||||
| side | *gomo | ||||||
| river | *gowo | ||||||
| areca nut | *goɾe | ||||||
| dew | *goɾo-goɾo | ||||||
| ripe | *gumi[ni] |
Medial /*g/ … (Shafer 1965: 316, 317):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *-g- | |||||||
| claw | *igiɾi | ||||||
| yellow | *ago-ago | ||||||
| mouth | *magota | ||||||
| hungry | *duɾugeɾe | ||||||
| moon | *sagomi | ||||||
| thigh | *wagi | ||||||
| *-g- | |||||||
| fall | *eɾegetai | ||||||
| speak | *aɾogo | ||||||
| go | *ogu | ||||||
| come | *oguɾo | ||||||
| 2 pl. | *nigo | ||||||
| life | *k₃igiɾo | ||||||
| bow/bamboo | *gagaɾi | ||||||
| *-g- | |||||||
| dew | *goɾo-goɾo | ||||||
| bird | *wowogo |
Bilabial non-stop /*w/ … (Shafer 1965: 325):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *w | |||||||
| rain | *wisaɾe | ||||||
| tail | *wapo | ||||||
| nose | *wodi | ||||||
| bird | *wowogo | ||||||
| moon | *owe |
Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ does not occur initially … (Shafer 1965: 324-325):
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| *ɾ | |||||||
| tooth | *ibo-nVɾV | ||||||
| eye | *idomaɾi | ||||||
| claw | *igiɾi | ||||||
| eat (pl.) | *iɾiso | ||||||
| who/what? | *etuɾa | ||||||
| seek | *esoɾa | ||||||
| see | *ekauɾi | ||||||
| fall | *eɾegetai | ||||||
| dance | *amaɾo | ||||||
| father | *abeɾa | ||||||
| sky | *aɾomo | ||||||
| speak | *aɾogo | ||||||
| come | *oguɾo | ||||||
| die | *oɾisiai | ||||||
| woman | *oɾobo | ||||||
| sweat | *oɾosa | ||||||
| eat (sg.) | *oɾuso | ||||||
| sing | *[ua]ɾe | ||||||
| know | *umoɾo | ||||||
| navel | *upuɾo | ||||||
| shadow/spirit | *uɾiko | ||||||
| husband | *uɾamu | ||||||
| child | *meɾe | ||||||
| vomit | *mamaɾu | ||||||
| mother | *maɾamu | ||||||
| steal | *piɾoito | ||||||
| canoe | *peɾe | ||||||
| left | *peɾo | ||||||
| gourd | *puɾu | ||||||
| liver | *beɾu | ||||||
| rib(s) | *baɾa | ||||||
| chest | *bodoɾo | ||||||
| pig | *boɾomo | ||||||
| girl | *buseɾe | ||||||
| belly | *niɾo | ||||||
| younger sib | *niɾaɾa | ||||||
| excrement | *nek₂eɾe | ||||||
| older brother | *naɾamu | ||||||
| arrow | *teɾe | ||||||
| cloud/sky | *toboɾo | ||||||
| fear | *toɾe | ||||||
|  lung(s) | *toɾu-toɾu | ||||||
| long | *tutuɾu | ||||||
| cassowary | *di[w]aɾe | ||||||
| men's house | *daɾimo | ||||||
| banana | *dubaɾi | ||||||
| body | *duɾupi | ||||||
| hungry | *duɾugeɾe | ||||||
| crocodile | *sibaɾo | ||||||
| many | *siɾio | ||||||
| leg/foot | *sakiɾo | ||||||
| sun/day | *saɾik₂i | ||||||
| bone | *soɾo | ||||||
| star | *suɾi | ||||||
| head | *kepuɾu | ||||||
| fire | *keɾa | ||||||
| strength/power | *keɾapo | ||||||
| blood | *kaɾima | ||||||
| snake | *kaɾu[w]o | ||||||
| penis | *kaɾumo | ||||||
| banana | *k₂obiɾa | ||||||
| new/young | *koɾio | ||||||
| sea | *koɾomo | ||||||
| full | *koɾosu[w]V | ||||||
| sugarcane | *kuɾe | ||||||
| meat/game | *giɾo | ||||||
| heart | *giɾV-kikopu | ||||||
| bag | *gateɾe | ||||||
| bow/bamboo | *gagaɾi | ||||||
| ear | *gaɾe | ||||||
| black | *gaɾe(-gaɾe) | ||||||
| areca nut | *goɾe | ||||||
| dew | *goɾo-gaɾo | ||||||
| rain | *wisaɾe |
…:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *ɾ₂ | ||||||
| *… |
…:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *ɾ₃ | ||||||
| *… |
…
Vowels /*i *u *e *o *a/ ….
High front vowel /*i/ …:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *i | ||||||
| *… |
High back vowel /*u/ …:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *u | ||||||
| *… |
Mid front vowel /*e/ …
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *e | ||||||
| *… |
Mid back vowel /*o/ …:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *o | ||||||
| *… |
Low central vowel /*a/ …:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *a | ||||||
| *… |
…
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai |
| *… | ||||||
| *… |
…
[under construction]
Kiwai pronouns are reconstructed as follows:
| Kiwai | South Kiwai | Wabuda | Bamu River | Morigi | Kerewo | Northeast Kiwai | |
| 1 sg. | *mo | ||||||
| 2 sg. | *oɾo | ||||||
| 3 sg. | *… | ||||||
| 1 pl. | *nimo | ||||||
| 2 pl. | *nigo | ||||||
| 3 pl. | *nei |
…
[under construction]
…
[under construction]
…
… Tabo … :
| Kiwai | ||||
| *… |
… East Trans-Fly …
| Kiwai | |||||
| know | *umoɾo | ||||
| father | *baba | ||||
| egg/fruit | *kikopu | ||||
| sea turtle | *gamo | ||||
… Aramia River … :
| Kiwai | |||
| *… |
… Lower Fly River … :
| Kiwai | ||||
| *… |
… Inland Gulf … :
| Kiwai | ||||
| *… |
… Kibiri-Porome … :
| Kiwai | ||||
| *… |