Table of Contents

Kaser

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute, developed with Robert Petterson

Situation

Kaser, also known as Ikobi-Mena following Franklin (1973,) is spoken in at least seven villages along the Turama and Kikori rivers in Papua New Guinea's Gulf province. It is partially mutually intelligible with its nearest relatives, Mouwase along the Omati river to the southeast and Barikewa to the north. According to Petterson, there are three dialects of Kaser, the Turama River dialect spoken in Kuri, Moka Faia and Koumaio villages, the Kikori River dialect in Baina and Siaviti villages and the Dukemi dialect of Sorobo village (Petterson 2011: 4.) Franklin's Mena likely represents a fourth dialect.

Sources

Saunders (1923-1924: 57) 118 comparative terms for Dugeme (Dukemi)

Franklin ed. (1973: 573-575) 100 comparative terms for Ikobi-Kairi (Kikori River) and Mena

Carr (2006) 190 comparative terms for Kaser of Koumaiou village (Turama River)

Petterson (2011) phonology of Kaser of Koumaio village (Turama River)

Petterson (2011) dictionary of Kaser (531 terms)

Petterson (2014) Kaser verb morphology

Petterson (2014) Dukemi story

In addition to these, a survey vocabulary of Kaser was provided in spreadsheet form by Paul Whitehouse via the Summer Institute of Linguistics Ukarumpa, but it is unattributed. It is not the same as Franklin's or Carr's data.

Phonology

[under construction]

The phonology presented here is based largely upon Petterson's (2011, 2011) unpublished dictionary and phonology of Turama River Kaser, supplemented by personal communication, with other Kaser attestations provided by Saunders' (1923-1924,) Franklin's (1973,) and Carr's (2006) vocabularies, and informed by outcomparison to Mouwase, Barikewa and Rumu. As this is a phonology of archaic Kaser, it does not include the most recent loans or the phonemic contrasts that they've introduced.

Petterson (2011 ibid.) gives 11 consonants and 8 vowels for Turama River Kaser of Koumaio village as follows:

m n
t k
b d
ɸ s h
β r
i u
e ə o
ɛ
a ɒ

We present an only slightly modified system for Archaic Kaser, with 12 consonants and 7 vowels as follows:

m n
t k
b d
ɸ s h
w r j
i u
ɛ ɔ
a

Apical voiceless stop /t/, reflecting proto-Omati River /*d/, is found root-initially, with only a few examples of medial /t/.

Apical voiced stop /d/ occurs only root-initially and is found only in loans, particularly from Foiafoia of the Inland Gulf family; however it is well-established and likely predates archaic Kaser.

Unoccluded fricative /h/ is found only initially (Petterson 2011: 11,) where it reflects Omati River apical voiceless stop /*t/.

Bilabial non-stop /w/ is realized as a semivowel [w] initially and as voiced fricative or semivowel [β w] medially. Historically, medial [*β] reflects voiced stop /*b/, not /*w/, but medial [b] /b/ is well-established in loanwords, some of which may well date to the time of proto-Omati River, necessitating a phonemic reassignment of phonetic values. Petterson's system gives this combined phoneme, including what are given here as reflexes of final /b/ (below) as /β/ <v> with the stipulation that initial /β/ is realized as [w] (2011: 21-22.)

Apical non-stop /r/ does not occur initially except in recent loans. It is realized as tap [ɾ] medially and as trill [r] finally (2011. 9, 20.)

Consonant clusters occur only in across morpheme boundaries in compounds.

Only a restricted set of consonants occurs word-finally:

m n
b
ɸ s
r

Generally, any vowel can occur with any other vowel in the same root. High mid vowels /e̞ o̞/ are subject to a cooccurence restriction, such that high mid /e̞/ does not occur in the same root as other front vowels /i ɛ/, while high mid /o̞/ does not occur with other back vowels /u ɔ/.



These phonemes and their distributions are exemplified as follows, with Turama River Kaser attestations drawn from Carr (2006) and Petterson (2011, 2011, p.c.) Mena and Ikobi-Kairi from Franklin (1973: 573-575) and Dugeme from Saunders (1923-1924: 57,) with Petterson's (2014) Dukemi attestastions indicated by [rp].

For clarity, our presentation is divided into four sections, beginning with initial and medial consonants, followed by final consonants, then vowels, then vowel sequences and diphthongs.


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

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
m- m m m m m
house min mīn min mina [rp]
meat/flesh mis mis mis misi mis
speech me̞n mèn min
not/nothing məⁱ mai ≈ mə̄iməi-
fish məⁱ mə̀i mɨ̃i mãĩ mai moi
who? ma mɑ́ ma-iɛ ma-e
thumb ma -mà -mɑ
bow ma ma
head mab màβ mɑβ maβo mapʰ maue
goura pigeon mabuɔ mabuɔ̂
on/at manɛ manɛ
old man makəⁱ makə̀i mɑ'kəi
big makəᵘwu makauβu mɑ'kuβumakubʷ- makʌbu makuβu [rp]
knee maku mɑ'ku maku magu maku
branch/finger mar mar mari
yes mɔ́ mo
but -mɔ -mɔ
again mɔtɛ[ri] mɔtɛrî
cloud mo̞ -mō -mo mo ≈ -mu
water m[u] mu mu mu
-m- m m m m m
bad ɸami ɸəmí ɸɑmí
egg tamɛ tamɛ̀ tɑme tʌmɛ
theft tan tan
soft tarama taramà
navel tuma tuma
afternoon sama samá sɑmɑ
view (n.) sumin sumín
pitpit sp. sumɛn sumɛn
bandicoot suma sumá
dirt kimi kimì
wet kimin kimín ki'min
heart kam[u] kamù 'kɑmu kʌmuu kamu
small kɔse̞-me̞kɔse-me 'kos-mi kɔsi-mɛ
tongue ko̞mɛn komɛ́n ku'mén kumɛn kumen komeni
mouth ko̞-mɛr kò-mɛ́r 'ku-merko-mɛrʌ
kina shell sp.kusi-mar kusí-mar

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

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
n- n n n n n
name ne̞ne̞n nenén ninín nɛnɛne nanini
eat/drink na- nə- ≈ na-nɑ- nʌ- no-
friend/relativenaɸu nafu
sky nɔr nɔ́r noɾ nora-
-n- n n n n n
ergative -nɛ -nɛ -ne -nɛ [rp]
1 sg. ina inâ ≈ na inɑ ina ina inau; ina [rp]
another aⁱna aina aina [rp]
on/at manɛ manɛ
come be̞n- ben- bin-
when? bɛsanɛ bɛsanɛ̂ bi'sɑne
name ne̞ne̞n nenén ninín nɛnɛne nanini
cassowary sikina sikinà sigi'nɑ sigina
pinkie kɛnɔ -kɛnɔ́ -keno
knowledge kane̞ kane kɑ'ni- kani- kane-
man wane̞ βané wo'ni- wɔne ≈ wʌnewane ≈ waniwani

Apical voiceless stop /t/ is retained as such in all dialects. Root-medial /t/ is uncommon:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
t- t t t t t
enough ti- ti-
wasp tin tìn
path tɛⁱ rei (?)
wallaby tɛbɛrɛ tɛ̀bɛrɛ 'tebeɾe teberi
hit/beat/kill tɛ-ke̞- tɛ̄-kɛ- teke- ≈ teki-tɛki- teke- tɛke- [rp]
egg təᵘm -tə́um -tɔumu tʌom ≈ -tom
clothing taᵒ táo
egg tamɛ tamɛ̀ tɑme tʌmɛ
bathe taɸu taɸu
elbow taku -tɑ'ku
father tawu taβu tɑβu
soft tarama taramà
see to̞- to- tu- to- to- [rp]
excrement tu
navel tuma tuma
index finger tuɸ -tùɸ tufu ≈ tufo ≈ -tu
-t- -t- -t- -t-
older sibling at[ɛ] atè ɑte ate
again mɔtɛ[ri]mɔtɛrî
straight/correctwati βətí
goanna sp. wasitar βasitàr

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

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
k- k k k k [k kʰ] k
morning kiɔm kiɔ̀m kjom
dirt kimi kimì
wet kimin kimín ki'min
sand kiki kiki kiki
say/do ke̞- ke ke- -ke- ke- [rp]
ant ke̞ɸe̞n keɸèn
mosquito ke̞so̞n kesón kisunu
cold ke̞we̞ keβè kiβi kivi
pinkie kɛnɔ -kɛnɔ́ -keno
side kɛs[a] kɛs(a) kɛsa [rp]
tusk kɛsɛka kisⁱ'kɑ
yam kɛsab kesɑβ kesavo
turtle kɛsɔ kɛsɔ́
blood kəⁱ kə́i kəi kai kai
tooth kəⁱjɔ̃ kəiɔ̃̄ kɑiõ kãĩjɔ̃ kãĩjo keo
tail kəᵘ kə̀u kəu ku kao
back kəᵘr kəur kɑ'wur
old kaⁱ kai kɑi
rat/mouse kaⁱɸari kɑiɸa'ɾi kaifari
bird kaᵉ káɛ kɑe kaiɛ ≈ kai kae ≈ kai ka
netbag sp. kaᵉ kāɛ kɑe
stone/rock kam kām kɑm kamə kam kamu
heart kam[u] kamù 'kɑmu kʌmuu kamu
drum kab káβ
rain/snake kab kap kavu
night kaɸo̞n kaɸon ≈ kaɸúnkɑɸun kʌɸoˑn(u) kafun
belly kan kàn 'kɑmbɑɾu kamburu kan kambubu
knowledge kane̞ kane kɑ'ni- kani- kane-
dog kas kās kɑs kasə kas kase
new kasi kɑ'sí
black kasiɔ kɑ'su ≈ kɑ'siokʌsio kasio
die kase̞- kas- kɑsi- kasi- kasi-
ashes kawia kɑβiɑ́ kabia
netbag sp. kawɔs kaβɔs kɑβos kavoso
sit/stay kari- kəri kɑ'ɾi- kar-/kari-
face/front (?) karu -kɑɾu
ear kɔwi kɔβi 'koβi kovi kupi kovi
thing kɔn kɔ̄n
pig kɔn kɔ̀n kon kono
small kɔse̞(-me̞)kɔse(-me) 'kos-mi 'kuse kose ≈ kɔsi-mɛ
skin/bark kɔr kɔr koɾ kora ≈ korokʷaru ≈ koro
person k[ɔ/o̞]wɛ kɔβɛ́ ≈ koβɛ koβe ≈ kuβe koβɛ [rp]
mouth ko̞ kò- 'ku- ko- kʰo ku-
hear ko̞- ko- ku- ko- -ko-
laugh ko̞a koa- koɑ- ≈ kwɑ-
tongue ko̞mɛn komɛ́n ku'mén kumɛn kumen komeni
lung(s) ko̞sɛ 'kuse
corpse ko̞wo̞ koβo
rain ko̞re̞ kore kuɾí kore kuru
fire/firewood k[u]m kùm kum kumu ≈ kumokom ≈ kum kumu
banana k[o̞/u]n kun kunu
dry ku ku ku
top kui kui
song/dance kuin kuīn kuin-
flying fox kubɛⁱ kubei
short kuɸi ku'ɸi
kina shell kusi(-mar) kusí(-mar)
cut up kusu kusu
louse kurɔm ku'ɾom kuromə kurom kuromo
claw/nail kujɔ̃ kuiṍ
-k- k k k [k g]k [k g] k
old man makəⁱ makə̀i mɑ'kəi
big makəᵘwu makauβu mɑ'kuβu makubʷ- makʌbu makuβu [rp]
knee maku mɑ'ku maku magu maku
neck bo̞kɔ bokɔ̀ bu'ko bogʌhau buko
chest ɸaka ɸakà
hit/beat/kill tɛ-ke̞- tɛ̄-kɛ- teke- ≈ teki- tɛki- teke- tɛke- [rp]
elbow taku -tɑ'ku
path dikɛ dikɛ́ 'dike dikɛ dike; dikɛ [rp]
bean dukɔr dukɔr dukoɾ
cassowary sikina sikinà sigi'nɑ sigina
father's sistersikas[e̞] sikasè
one sakan sakán sɑ'kɑn sʌkanɛ sʌkanɛ saka
tobacco so̞ko̞ sokó suku suku suku
tusk kɛsɛka kisⁱ'kɑ
sand kiki kiki kiki

Bilabial voiced stop /b/ is retained as such in all dialects. Medial /b/ [b] occurs only in loans:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
b- b b b b b
lie down/sleep bis- bis- bìs- bis- bis-
come be̞n- ben- bin-
turn over bɛ- bɛ-
woman bɛs bɛs bes bɛse besi bese
when? bɛsanɛ bɛsanɛ̂ bi'sɑne
sap bəⁱ bəi
child bəᵘm baum ≈ bə́umbɑun- ≈ -bom bomu
palm/sole -baᵉ -bàɛ -bai
club baᵉ bàɛ -bɑi
break baᵉ- bəɛ
fly (v.) baᵒ- baɔ- ≈ bəo- bou- bo-
coconut basi basi bosi
old (thing) bari bɑɾí
hair/leaf/featherbɔr -bɔ̀r -bor ≈ -bo:ɾo-boru ≈ -boro-poro ≈ -boro-boro
ring finger bɔr -bɔ̀r boro
neck bo̞kɔ bokɔ̀ bu'ko bogʌhau buko
dove bɔrɛ bɔ́rɛ̀
-b- b b ? ? b [b v]
father aba abá ≈ abɔ̀
goura pigeon mabuɔ mabuɔ̂
wallaby tɛbɛrɛ tɛ̀bɛrɛ 'tebeɾe teberi
crocodile sibira sibirá sivira
flying fox kubɛⁱ kubei

Apical voiced stop /d/ is found only root-initially in loans. Medial [d] indicates a compound or reduplication (Petterson 2011: 9) The only example of initial /d/ in Franklin's Ikobi-Kairi vocabulary is given as non-stop [r]:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
d- d dd r d
body din dìn -dini
path dikɛ dikɛ́ 'dikedikɛ dike; dikɛ [rp]
rip/tear d[e̞]- dɛs-
pandanus sp. dəᵘ də́u
sago dam dám damu
go up dab- daβ ≈ daβɔ
heavy dawi dɑβí
good darɔ darɔ̀ 'dɑɾodaro raro
lime do
make dɔ-dɔ dɔdɔ̀
fall dɔɸi- dɔɸi
after/behind du
fireplace dum dúm dumu
bean dukɔr dukɔr dukoɾ
middle fingerduwa -duβá -dua
share duwa duβa

Bilabial fricative /ɸ/ is retained as such in all dialects:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
ɸ- ɸ ɸ ? ? ɸ [f]
taro ɸe̞r ɸér ɸiɾ firi
knife ɸe̞r-baᵉɸer-bàɛ ɸiɾ-bɑi
take ɸa- ɸa- ɸa-
day ɸaᵉ ɸàɛ
bad ɸami ɸəmí ɸɑmí
chest ɸaka ɸakà
finish ɸ[ɔ]rɔ- ɸɔrɔ́-
take ɸo̞- ɸo- ɸu- ɸo- [rp]
-ɸ- ɸ ɸ ɸ ɸ [f] ɸ [f]
light (weight) ɛɸɛ ɛɸɛ́ eɸe
friend/relativenaɸu nafu
bathe taɸu taɸu
fall dɔɸi- dɔɸi
ant ke̞ɸe̞n keɸèn
rat/mouse kaⁱɸari kɑiɸa'ɾi kaifari
night kaɸo̞n kaɸon ≈ kaɸúnkɑɸun kʌɸoˑn(u)kafun
short kuɸi ku'ɸi

Fricative /s/ is retained as such in all dialects:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
s- s s s s s
eye si si si si si
flower si -sī
star sĩ-kuin sinkwin sĩgwin
crocodile sibira sibirá sivira
smoke sin -sín ʃini -si
cassowary sikina sikinà sigi'nɑ sigina
father's sistersikas[e̞] sikasè
w. cockatoo siwa siβà siba
hand/arm se̞ si sɛ- se si- ≈ se-
three se̞r sēr siɾ siri
extinguish se̞re̞- sere-
hard sɛs sɛs
hornbill s[əᵘ] so
fat/grease sam sɑm samm̥ sam
afternoon sama samá sɑmɑ
bamboo torch sab sáβ
one sakan sakán sɑ'kɑn sʌkanɛ sʌkanɛ saka
white sawia saβia sɑβiɑ́ saβia sabiai
egret saw[aᵉ][i]ɔsaβaɛiɔ̀≈saβaio
earth/ground sawɔ saβɔ́ sɑ'βo sabo savo
pandanus sp. sɔ̄
long sɔ̀ so so
frog sɔwɛ sɔβɛ́ soβe
breast/milk sõ̞ su su
garden so̞n son
tobacco so̞ko̞ sokó suku suku suku
echidna suɔb suɔβ
view (n.) sumin sumín
pitpit sp. sumɛn sumɛn
bandicoot suma sumá
-s- s s s s s
grass asan asàn
weep/cry us- us-
lie down/sleep bis- bis- bìs- bis- bis-
when? bɛsanɛ bɛsanɛ̂ bi'sɑne
rip/tear d[e̞]- dɛs-
coconut basi basi bosi
father's sistersikas[e̞] sikasè
mosquito ke̞so̞n kesón kisunu
tusk kɛsɛka kisⁱ'kɑ
yam kɛsab kesɑβ kesavo
turtle kɛsɔ kɛsɔ́
new kasi kɑ'sí
black kasiɔ kɑ'su ≈ kɑ'siokʌsio kasio
die kase̞- kas- kɑsi- kasi- kasi-
small kɔse̞(-me̞)kɔse(-me) 'kos-mi 'kuse kose ≈ kɔsi-mɛ
lung(s) ko̞sɛ 'kuse
kina shell kusi(-mar) kusí(-mar)
cut up kusu kusu
goanna sp. wasitar βasitàr
moon wasiwa βasiβà wɑsiβa wasibia wasiba wasiwa
spear wasum wɑsum

Unoccluded fricative /h/ occurs only root-initially. It is retained as such in all dialects:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
h- h hh h h
yesterday he̞r hēɾ hiɾ
base/root hɛⁱ hɛ́i ≈ həi-heí -he -hai
canoe həᵘ həu
paddle həᵘria həuriá sauria [sic]
stand ha- ha- hɑ- ha- ha- ha- [rp]
fruit/seedhãᵉ haɛ ≈ hã́ɛ haiɛ
leg hãᵉ hâɛ hɑ̃i hãi hae hai
two hãᵉ hã̄ɛ ≈ haɛhɑ̃ẽ hãiɛ hae hai
ginger hãᵒ háɔ̃ ≈ hãõ
bone hab háβ hɑβ havo hap hapu
snake har hār hɑɾ
cook hari- həri

Bilabial non-stop /w/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
w- w [w] <β v>w w w w
shoulder w[i] wi -wi
seedling w[ə̃ⁱ] wə̃ĩ -we
areca nut wab βàβ wabu
man wane̞ βané wo'ni- wɔne ≈ wʌne wane ≈ waniwani
straight/correctwati βətí
sago hammer was βàs
goanna sp. wasitar βasitàr
spear wasum wɑsum
anger war βar war [rp]
kite sp. wariɛ βáríɛ̀
people wɔm βɔ́m wom-
moon wasiwa βasiβà wɑsiβa wasibia wasiba wasiwa
-w- w [β w] w [β] w [b β v]w [b p]w [v w]
Terminalia sp. iwi iβì
now/today iwir iβir
wind iwa iβà 'iwɑ uwa
thought o̞we̞ oβe
big makəᵘwu makauβu mɑ'kuβu makubʷ- makʌbu makuβu [rp]
father tawu taβu tɑβu
heavy dawi dɑβí
middle finger duwa -duβá -dua
share duwa duβa
w. cockatoo siwa siβà siba
white sawia saβia sɑβiɑ́ saβia sabiai
egret saw[aᵉ][i]ɔsaβaɛiɔ̀≈saβaio
earth/ground sawɔ saβɔ́ sɑ'βo sabo savo
frog sɔwɛ sɔβɛ́ soβe
cold ke̞we̞ keβè kiβi kivi
ashes kawia kɑβiɑ́ kabia
netbag sp. kawɔs kaβɔs kɑβos kavoso
ear kɔwi kɔβi 'koβi kovi kupi kovi
person k[ɔ/o̞]wɛ kɔβɛ́ ≈ koβɛ koβe ≈ kuβe koβɛ [rp]
corpse ko̞wo̞ koβo
moon wasiwa βasiβà wɑsiβa wasibia wasiba wasiwa
vine jawu iɑβu

Apical non-stop /r/ does not occur initially. …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
-r-
bamboo o̞ro̞ oro uro
old (thing) bari bɑɾí
dove bɔrɛ bɔ́rɛ̀
finish ɸ[ɔ]rɔ- ɸɔrɔ́-
wallaby tɛbɛrɛ tɛ̀bɛrɛ 'tebeɾe teberi
soft tarama taramà
good darɔ darɔ̀ 'dɑɾo daro raro
crocodile sibira sibirá sivira
extinguish se̞re̞- sere-
rat/mouse kaⁱɸari kɑiɸa'ɾi kaifari
sit/stay kari- kəri kɑ'ɾi- kar-/kari-
face/front (?)karu -kɑɾu
rain ko̞re̞ kore kuɾí kore kuru
louse kurɔm ku'ɾom kuromə kurom kuromo
paddle həᵘria həuriá sauria [sic]
cook hari- həri
kite sp. wariɛ βáríɛ̀

Palatal non-stop /j/ …:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
j- jj
taboo jab jaβ
vine jawu iɑβu
yellow j[a]ja jijɑ jɛja
sugarcanejɔᵘ jou io
point ju -ju
-j- jj
tooth kəⁱjɔ̃ kəiɔ̃̄ kɑiõ kãĩjɔ̃ kãĩjo keo
claw/nailkujɔ̃ kuiṍ
yellow j[a]ja jijɑ jɛja

Only a restricted set of consonants /m n b ɸ s r/ occurs finally. Like Mouwase, the Mena and Dukemi dialects disallow final consonants, appending a vowel to them to conform with this rule. This is typically a duplication of the vowel in the preceding syllable, unless the preceding vowel is low central /a/, in which case a back vowel [u o̞ ɔ] is appended following bilabials /m b ɸ/ and a front vowel [i e̞ ɛ] following apicals /n s r/.

Bilabial nasal /m/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
-m/u_ m m mo mu m mu
fireplace dum dúm dumu
fire/firewoodk[u]m kùm kum kumu ≈ kumokom ≈ kum kumu
spear wasum wɑsum
-m/əᵘ_m m mu m mu
child bəᵘm baum ≈ bə́umbɑun- ≈ -bom bomu
egg təᵘm -tə́um -tɔumu tʌom ≈ -tom
-m/ɔ_ m m m mo
morning kiɔm kiɔ̀m kjom
louse kurɔm ku'ɾom kuromə kurom kuromo
people wɔm βɔ́m wom-
-m/a_ m m m mu
sago dam dám damu
fat/grease sam sɑm samm̥ sam
stone/rock kam kām kɑm kamə kam kamu

Apical nasal /n/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
-n/i_ n n ni n ni na
house min mīn min mina [rp]
wasp tin tìn
body din dìn -dini
smoke sin -sín ʃini -si [sic]
view (n.) sumin sumín
wet kimin kimín ki'min
-n/ui_n n n ? ?
song/dancekuin kuīn kuin-
star sĩ-kuin sinkwinsĩgwin
-n/e̞_n n ne ni ?
speech me̞n mèn min
name ne̞ne̞n nenén ninín nɛnɛne nanini
ant ke̞ɸe̞n keɸèn
-n/o̞_n n n nu n nu
garden so̞n son
mosquito ke̞so̞n kesón kisunu
night kaɸo̞n kaɸon ≈ kaɸúnkɑɸun kʌɸoˑn(u)kafun
-n/ɛ_ n n ? n ni ni
this/here ɛn ɛn en ɛn-aᵘ eni
pitpit sp.sumɛn sumɛn
tongue ko̞mɛn komɛ́n ku'mén kumɛn kumen komeni
-n/ɔ_ n n ? ? no
thing kɔn kɔ̄n
pig kɔn kɔ̀n kon kono
-n/a_ n n ?
grass asan asàn
theft tan tan
one sakan sakán sɑ'kɑn sʌkanɛ sʌkanɛ saka [sic]
belly kan kàn kan

Bilabial voiced stop /b/ … :

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemic PettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
-b/_u β ?? ? ?
liver ub ùβ
-b/e̞_β βbe [v]b [pʰ] ?
hot e̞b éβ eve epʰ
-b/o̞_β βbo [β]b [pʰ] bo [ø]
nose bo̞b boβ buβ boβo bopʰ bo
-b/uɔ_β ?? ? ?
echidna suɔb suɔβ
-b/_a β βbo [β]b [p pʰ]bu bo [v b p]
head mab màβ mɑβ maβo mapʰ maue (?)
bamboo torchsab sáβ
yam kɛsab kesɑβ kesavo
drum kab káβ
rain/snake kab kap kavu
bone hab háβ hɑβ havo hap hapu
areca nut wab βàβ wabu
taboo jab jaβ

Bilabial fricative /ɸ/ has only been found in one root where it is preceded by high back vowel /u/:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic PettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
-ɸ/u_ɸ ɸu ɸo [f ø]
index fingertuɸ -tùɸ tufu ≈ tufo ≈ -tu

Fricative /s/ …:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic PettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
-s/i_ s ssi s ?
meat/flesh mis mis mis misi mis
-s/ɛ_ s sse si se
woman bɛs bɛs bes bɛse besi bese
hard sɛs sɛs
-s/ɔ_ s s? ? so
spittle/salivaɔs ɔ̀s
netbag sp. kawɔs kaβɔs kɑβos kavoso
-s/iɔ_s ssə su s su
sun iɔs iɔs jos josə ≈ josuijos isu
-s/a_ s s s se
dog kas kās kɑs kasə kas kase
sago hammer was βàs

Apical non-stop /r/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemic PettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
-r/i_ r ? ? ? ?
now/today iwir iβir
-r/u_ r ? ? ru ?
place/time ur ùr oru-
-r/əᵘ_r r ? ? ?
back kəᵘr kəur kɑ'wur
-r/e̞_r r ? ? ri
taro ɸe̞r ɸér ɸiɾ firi
three se̞r sēr siɾ siri
yesterday he̞r hēɾ hiɾ
-r/ɛ_ r r ? ?
mouth ko̞-mɛr kò-mɛ́r 'ku-mer ko-mɛrʌ
-r/ɔ_ r r ro ra ru ro ru ro
wing ɔr ɔr
sky nɔr nɔ́r noɾ nora-
hair/leaf/featherbɔr -bɔ̀r -bor ≈ -bo:ɾo-boru ≈ -boro-poro ≈ -boro-boro
ring finger bɔr -bɔ̀r boro
bean dukɔr dukɔr dukoɾ
skin/bark kɔr kɔr koɾ kora ≈ koro kʷaru ≈ koro
-r/a_ r r ? ? r ri
branch/finger mar mar mari
kina shell sp. kusi-mar kusí-mar
snake har hār hɑɾ
goanna sp. wasitar βasitàr
anger war βar war [rp]

… vowels /i u e̞ o̞ ɛ ɔ a/ …

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

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
i i i i i i
tree i ì: i ʔi i i
enough ti- ti-
eye si si si si si
flower si -sī
star sĩ-kuin sinkwin sĩgwin
house min mīn min mina [rp]
meat/flesh mis mis mis misi mis
lie down/sleep bis- bis- bìs- bis- bis-
wasp tin tìn
body din dìn -dini
smoke sin -sín ʃini -si
Terminalia sp. iwi iβì
now/today iwir iβir
dirt kimi kimì
sand kiki kiki kiki
wet kimin kimín ki'min
path dikɛ dikɛ́ 'dike dikɛ dike; dikɛ [rp]
1 sg. ina inâ ≈ na inɑ ina ina inau; ina [rp]
wind iwa iβà 'iwɑ uwa [sic]
w. cockatoo siwa siβà siba
crocodile sibira sibirá sivira
cassowary sikina sikinà sigi'nɑ sigina
father's sister sikas[e̞] sikasè
short kuɸi ku'ɸi
kina shell kusi(-mar)kusí(-mar)
view (n.) sumin sumín
fall dɔɸi- dɔɸi
ear kɔwi kɔβi 'koβi kovi kupi kovi
coconut basi basi bosi
old (thing) bari bɑɾí
bad ɸami ɸəmí ɸɑmí
heavy dawi dɑβí
new kasi kɑ'sí
sit/stay kari- kəri kɑ'ɾi- kar-/kari-
cook hari- həri
straight/correctwati βətí
goanna sp. wasitar βasitàr
moon wasiwa βasiβà wɑsiβa wasibia wasiba wasiwa
rat/mouse kaⁱɸari kɑiɸa'ɾi kaifari

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

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
u u u u u u
walk/go u u- u- u- u-
liver ub ùβ
weep/cry us- us-
place/time ur ùr oru-
excrement tu
after/behind du
dry ku ku ku
point ju -ju
index finger tuɸ -tùɸ tufu ≈ tufo ≈ -tu
fireplace dum dúm dumu
cut up kusu kusu
short kuɸi ku'ɸi
kina shell kusi(-mar)kusí(-mar)
view (n.) sumin sumín
pitpit sp. sumɛn sumɛn
flying fox kubɛⁱ kubei
claw/nail kujɔ̃ kuiṍ
bean dukɔr dukɔr dukoɾ
louse kurɔm ku'ɾom kuromə kurom kuromo
navel tuma tuma
middle finger duwa -duβá -dua
share duwa duβa
bandicoot suma sumá
knee maku mɑ'ku maku magu maku
friend/relativenaɸu nafu
bathe taɸu taɸu
elbow taku -tɑ'ku
father tawu taβu tɑβu
face/front (?) karu -kɑɾu
vine jawu iɑβu
spear wasum wɑsum
big makəᵘwu makauβu mɑ'kuβumakubʷ- makʌbu makuβu [rp]

High mid front vowel /e̞/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemic PettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
e e [i e]e [e i ɛ]e [e i ɛ] e [e i]
hot e̞b éβ eve epʰ
hand/arm se̞ si sɛ- se si- ≈ se-
say/do ke̞- ke- ke- -ke- ke- [rp]
speech me̞n mèn min
come be̞n- ben- bin-
taro ɸe̞r ɸér ɸiɾ firi
knife ɸe̞r-baᵉ ɸer-bàɛ ɸiɾ-bɑi
three se̞r sēr siɾ siri
yesterday he̞r hēɾ hiɾ
extinguishse̞re̞- sere-
cold ke̞we̞ keβè kiβi kivi
name ne̞ne̞n nenén ninín nɛnɛne nanini
ant ke̞ɸe̞n keɸèn
mosquito ke̞so̞n kesón kisunu
thought o̞we̞ oβe
rain ko̞re̞ kore kuɾí kore kuru
small kɔse̞(-me̞)kɔse(-me)'kos-mi 'kuse kose ≈ kɔsi-mɛ
knowledge kane̞ kane kɑ'ni- kani- kane-
die kase̞- kas- kɑsi- kasi- kasi-
man wane̞ βané wo'ni- wɔne ≈ wʌne wane ≈ wani wani

High mid back vowel /o̞/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
cloud mo̞ -mō -mo mo ≈ -mu
take ɸo̞- ɸo- ɸu- ɸo- [rp]
see to̞- to- tu- to- to- [rp]
breast/milksõ̞ su su
mouth ko̞ kò- 'ku- ko- kʰo ku-
hear ko̞- ko- ku- ko- -ko-
nose bo̞b boβ buβ boβo bopʰ bo
garden so̞n son
bamboo o̞ro̞ oro uro
tobacco so̞ko̞ sokó suku suku suku
corpse ko̞wo̞ koβo
thought o̞we̞ oβe
rain ko̞re̞ kore kuɾí kore kuru
lung(s) ko̞sɛ 'kuse
tongue ko̞mɛn komɛ́n ku'ménkumɛn kumen komeni
neck bo̞kɔ bokɔ̀ bu'ko bogʌhau buko
mosquito ke̞so̞n kesón kisunu
night kaɸo̞n kaɸon ≈ kaɸúnkɑɸun kʌɸoˑn(u)kafun

Low mid front vowel /ɛ/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
ɛ
this/here ɛn ɛn en ɛn-aᵘ eni
turn over bɛ- bɛ-
ergative -nɛ -nɛ -ne -nɛ [rp]
woman bɛs bɛs bes bɛse besi bese
hard sɛs sɛs
light (weight)ɛɸɛ ɛɸɛ́ eɸe
wallaby tɛbɛrɛ tɛ̀bɛrɛ 'tebeɾe teberi
pinkie kɛnɔ -kɛnɔ́ -keno
turtle kɛsɔ kɛsɔ́
side kɛs[a] kɛs(a) kɛsa [rp]
yam kɛsab kesɑβ kesavo
tusk kɛsɛka kisⁱ'kɑ [sic]
when? bɛsanɛ bɛsanɛ̂ bi'sɑne
path dikɛ dikɛ́ 'dike dikɛ dike; dikɛ [rp]
pitpit sp. sumɛn sumɛn
lung(s) ko̞sɛ 'kuse
tongue ko̞mɛn komɛ́n ku'mén kumɛn kumen komeni
mouth ko̞-mɛr kò-mɛ́r 'ku-mer ko-mɛrʌ
person k[ɔ/o̞]wɛkɔβɛ́ ≈ koβɛkoβe ≈ kuβe koβɛ [rp]
dove bɔrɛ bɔ́rɛ̀
again mɔtɛ[ri] mɔtɛrî
frog sɔwɛ sɔβɛ́ soβe
on/at manɛ manɛ
egg tamɛ tamɛ̀ tɑme tʌmɛ

Low mid back vowel /ɔ/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
ɔ
spittle/saliva ɔs ɔ̀s
wing ɔr ɔr
yes mɔ́ mo
but -mɔ -mɔ
lime do
pandanus sp. sɔ̄
long sɔ̀ so so
hair/leaf/featherbɔr -bɔ̀r -bor ≈ -bo:ɾo-boru ≈ -boro-poro ≈ -boro -boro
ring finger bɔr -bɔ̀r boro
thing kɔn kɔ̄n
sky nɔr nɔ́r noɾ nora-
pig kɔn kɔ̀n kon kono
skin/bark kɔr kɔr koɾ kora ≈ koro kʷaru ≈ koro
people wɔm βɔ́m wom-
finish ɸɔrɔ- ɸɔrɔ́-
make dɔ-dɔ dɔdɔ̀
fall dɔɸi- dɔɸi
ear kɔwi kɔβi 'koβi kovi kupi kovi
small kɔse̞(-me̞)kɔse(-me) 'kos-mi 'kuse kose ≈ kɔsi-mɛ
dove bɔrɛ bɔ́rɛ̀
frog sɔwɛ sɔβɛ́ soβe
again mɔtɛ[ri] mɔtɛrî
claw/nail kujɔ̃ kuiṍ
bean dukɔr dukɔr dukoɾ
louse kurɔm ku'ɾom kuromə kurom kuromo
neck bo̞kɔ bokɔ̀ bu'ko bogʌhau buko
pinkie kɛnɔ -kɛnɔ́ -keno
turtle kɛsɔ kɛsɔ́
tooth kəⁱjɔ̃ kəiɔ̃̄ kɑiõ kãĩjɔ̃ kãĩjo keo
egret saw[aᵉ][i]ɔsaβaɛiɔ̀≈saβaio
good darɔ darɔ̀ 'dɑɾo daro raro
earth/ground sawɔ saβɔ́ sɑ'βo sabo savo
netbag sp. kawɔs kaβɔs kɑβos kavoso

Low central vowel /a/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemic Petterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
a
who? ma mɑ́ ma-iɛ ma-e
thumb ma -mà -mɑ
bow ma ma
take ɸa- ɸa- ɸa-
stand ha- ha- hɑ- ha- ha- ha- [rp]
head mab màβ mɑβ maβo mapʰ maue
branch/finger mar mar mari
kina shell sp. kusi-mar kusí-mar
theft tan tan
sago dam dám damu
go up dab- daβ ≈ daβɔ
sago hammer was βàs
fat/grease sam sɑm samm̥ sam
bamboo torch sab sáβ
stone/rock kam kām kɑm kamə kam kamu
drum kab káβ
rain/snake kab kap kavu
belly kan kàn 'kɑmbɑɾu kamburu kan kambubu
dog kas kās kɑs kasə kas kase
bone hab háβ hɑβ havo hap hapu
snake har hār hɑɾ
areca nut wab βàβ wabu
anger war βar war [rp]
taboo jab jaβ
grass asan asàn
chest ɸaka ɸakà
afternoon sama samá sɑmɑ
one sakan sakán sɑ'kɑn sʌkanɛ sʌkanɛ saka
soft tarama taramà
coconut basi basi bosi
old (thing) bari bɑɾí
bad ɸami ɸəmí ɸɑmí
heavy dawi dɑβí
new kasi kɑ'sí
sit/stay kari- kəri kɑ'ɾi- kar-/kari-
cook hari- həri
straight/correctwati βətí
goanna sp. wasitar βasitàr
moon wasiwa βasiβà wɑsiβa wasibia wasiba wasiwa
kite sp. wariɛ βáríɛ̀
black kasiɔ kɑ'su ≈ kɑ'siokʌsio kasio
white sawia saβia sɑβiɑ́ saβia sabiai
ashes kawia kɑβiɑ́ kabia
knee maku mɑ'ku maku magu maku
friend/relative naɸu nafu
bathe taɸu taɸu
elbow taku -tɑ'ku
father tawu taβu tɑβu
heart kam[u] kamù 'kɑmu kʌmuu kamu
face/front (?) karu -kɑɾu
vine jawu iɑβu
spear wasum wɑsum
goura pigeon mabuɔ mabuɔ̂
knowledge kane̞ kane kɑ'ni- kani- kane-
die kase̞- kas- kɑsi- kasi- kasi-
man wane̞ βané wo'ni- wɔne ≈ wʌnewane ≈ waniwani
night kaɸo̞n kaɸon ≈ kaɸún kɑɸun kʌɸoˑn(u) kafun
old man makəⁱ makə̀i mɑ'kəi
big makəᵘwu makauβu mɑ'kuβu makubʷ- makʌbu makuβu [rp]
older sibling at[ɛ] atè ɑte ate
on/at manɛ manɛ
egg tamɛ tamɛ̀ tɑme tʌmɛ
good darɔ darɔ̀ 'dɑɾo daro raro
earth/ground sawɔ saβɔ́ sɑ'βo sabo savo
netbag sp. kawɔs kaβɔs kɑβos kavoso
egret saw[aᵉ][i]ɔsaβaɛiɔ̀≈saβaio
1 sg. ina inâ ≈ na inɑ ina ina inau; ina [rp]
wind iwa iβà 'iwɑ uwa
w. cockatoo siwa siβà siba
father's sister sikas[e̞] sikasè
crocodile sibira sibirá sivira
cassowary sikina sikinà sigi'nɑ sigina
navel tuma tuma
middle finger duwa -duβá -dua
share duwa duβa
bandicoot suma sumá
yam kɛsab kesɑβ kesavo
when? bɛsanɛ bɛsanɛ̂ bi'sɑne
tusk kɛsɛka kisⁱ'kɑ [sic]
another aⁱna aina aina [rp]
rat/mouse kaⁱɸari kɑiɸa'ɾi kaifari

… diphthongs … (Petterson 2011: 18-19.)

… /əⁱ/ …

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
əⁱ
not/nothingməⁱ mai ≈ mə̄iməi-
fish məⁱ mə̀i mɨ̃i mãĩ mai moi
sap bəⁱ bəi
blood kəⁱ kə́i kəi kai kai
tooth kəⁱjɔ̃ kəiɔ̃̄ kɑiõ kãĩjɔ̃ kãĩjo keo
old man makəⁱ makə̀i mɑ'kəi

… /əᵘ/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-Kairi Dugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
əᵘ əu [əu au]əu [əu ɑu o u]əu [ɔu u]əu [ao ʌo ʌ o]əu [au o u]
pandanus sp.dəᵘ də́u
tail kəᵘ kə̀u kəu ku kao
canoe həᵘ həu
child bəᵘm baum ≈ bə́um bɑun- ≈ -bom bomu
egg təᵘm -tə́um -tɔumu tʌom ≈ -tom
back kəᵘr kəur kɑ'wur
paddle həᵘria həuriá sauria
big makəᵘwu makauβu mɑ'kuβu makubʷ- makʌbu makuβu [rp]

… /ɛⁱ/ …:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
ɛⁱ
path tɛⁱ rei
base/root hɛⁱ hɛ́i ≈ həi-heí -he -hai
flying foxkubɛⁱ kubei

… /ɔᵘ/ …:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
ɔᵘ
sugarcanejɔᵘ jou io

… /aⁱ/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
aⁱ ai ai [ɑi əi] ai
another aⁱna aina aina [rp]
old kaⁱ kai kɑi
rat/mousekaⁱɸari kɑiɸa'ɾi kaifari

… /aᵉ/ has been found only root-finally:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
aᵉ aɛ əɛ ɑi ɑeaiɛ aiae ai ai aɛ
3 sg. aᵉ ɑi-ɑ aɛ [rp]
palm/sole -baᵉ -bàɛ -bai
club baᵉ bàɛ -bɑi
break baᵉ- bəɛ
day ɸaᵉ ɸàɛ
bird kaᵉ káɛ kɑe kaiɛ ≈ kaikae ≈ kai ka
netbag sp.kaᵉ kāɛ kɑe
fruit/seedhãᵉ haɛ ≈ hã́ɛ haiɛ
leg hãᵉ hâɛ hɑ̃i hãi hae hai
two hãᵉ hã̄ɛ ≈ haɛhɑ̃ẽ hãiɛ hae hai

… /aᵒ/ has been found only root-finally:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr FranklinFranklin Saunders
aᵒ ao
clothingtaᵒ táo
aᵒ
fly (v.)baᵒ- baɔ- ≈ bəo-bou- bo-
ginger hãᵒ háɔ̃ ≈ hãõ

… vowel sequences …

… /iɛ/ …:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
kite sp.wariɛ βáríɛ̀

… /iɔ/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr Franklin Franklin Saunders
sun iɔs iɔs jos josə ≈ josuijos isu
morningkiɔm kiɔ̀m kjom
black kasiɔ kɑ'su ≈ kɑ'siokʌsio kasio

… /ia/ :

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
ia
white sawia saβia sɑβiɑ́saβia sabiai
ashes kawia kɑβiɑ́kabia
paddlehəᵘria həuriá sauria [sic]

…:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders

The sequence /ui/ has only been found following intiial /k/:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPetterson Carr Franklin Franklin Saunders
ui ui [wi]ui [ui wi]ui [wi]
top kui kui
song/dancekuin kuīn kuin-
star sĩ-kuin sinkwin sĩgwin

… /uɔ/ …:

Kaser Kaser KaserMena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
echidna suɔb suɔβ
goura pigeonmabuɔ mabuɔ̂

… /o̞a/ …:

Kaser Kaser Kaser Mena Ikobi-KairiDugeme
phonemicPettersonCarr FranklinFranklin Saunders
o̞a oa oa [oɑ uɑ]
laughko̞a koa- koɑ- ≈ kwɑ-

Pronouns

[under construction]

Kaser pronouns … with attestations drawn from Carr (2006) and Petterson (2011 ibid.):

nominativenominativepossessive possessed
Petterson Carr Petterson Petterson
1 sg.inainâ ≈ na inɑ na-n; na-me-nna-mín
2 sg.i i i-ɑ
3 sg.aᵋ ɑi-ɑ
1 pl. na-ne nɑ-nⁱ na-ne-n na-ním
2 pl. 'jɑ-nɑ
3 pl. ɑ'me-nɑ
1 dl. nə-rí nɑ-'ɾi
2 dl. jɑ-ɾi
3 dl. ɑ'me-nɑ-ɾi

In addition to these, a third person singular ergative form [ai-ne] may be seen in several of Carr's example sentences.

Verbal morphology

[under construction]

Loans from and to neighboring languages

[under construction]