Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute
[under construction]
The East Pauwasi River family consists of three or four closely-related languages spoken …
The internal classification of East Pawuasi River is as follows:
East Pauwasi River
Zorop
Emem-Karkar
Emem
North Emem
South Emem
Karkar
While Zorop is clearly the most distinct of these languages, there are a number of meanings for which North Emem shares a root with Zorop and South Emem with Karkar, likely due to loans following the breakup of East Pauwasi River although they typically observe the expected correspondences, presenting the appearance of a chain.
[under construction]
Anceaux (Smits and Voorhoeve 1994) 104 comparative terms for Yafi/Wargarindem (Zorop) of Tokondo village after Walton, Warlef village after Mallo, Emumu/Kiamerop/Imimkal (Emem) of Fanggri village after Mallo and Yambrap village collected by Anceaux
Galis (1956: appendix 1-12, i.e. 85-97) … comparative terms for …
Voorhoeve (1971: 98-109) 102 comaprative terms for Jafi after Galis (1956)
Voorhoeve (1975: 114) 39 comparative terms for Yafi and Emumu after Galis (1956)
Price (1975) phonology of Karkar (unobtained)
Price (1978) Karkar rhetorical predicates
Price (1981) Karkar stress
Price (1987) orthography of Karkar-Yuri
Price (1987) Karkar-Yuri discourse
Price (1987) Karkar-Yuri plurals
Price and Rigden (1988) dictionary of Karkar-Yuri (unobtained)
Price (1992) phonology of Karkar-Turi
Rigden (1985) Karkar-Yuri …
Rigden (1986) Karkar-Yuri …
Rigden (1986) Karkar-Yuri …
Rigden (n.d.) grammar of Karkar-Yuri (unobtained)
Lee (2005) … comparative terms for Zorop of Warlef village
Lebold and Lee (20016: 24-31) 239 comparative terms for Emem of Yuruf, Umuaf, Yambraf Dua and Semografi villages
[under construction]
…
[under construction]
Proto-East Pauwasi River had 11 consonants and perhaps 11 vowels as follows:
| *m | *n | ||
| *p | *t | *k | |
| *mb | *nd | *ŋg | |
| *w | *ɺ | *j |
| *i | *ɨ | *u |
| *e̝ | *… | *o̝ |
| *ɛ | *ɜ | *ɔ |
| *a | *ɒ |
…
…
Velar voiceless stop /*k/ does not occur initially because Pauwasi River initial /*k/ was dropped in proto-East Pauwasi River..
…
…
Initial consonants correspond as follows:
| E. Pauwasi | Zorop | Emem | Karkar |
| *m- | m | m | m |
| *n- | n | n | n |
| *p- | f | f | f |
| *t- | t | s | s |
| *mb- | mb | p | p |
| *nd- | nd | t | t |
| *ŋg- | ŋg | k | k |
| *w- | w | w | w |
| *j- | j | j | j |
Medial consonants correspond as follows:
| E. Pauwasi | Zorop | Emem | Karkar |
| *-m- | m | m | m |
| *-n- | n | n | n |
| *-p- | p | p | p |
| *-t- | t | r | r |
| *-k- | k | k | k |
| *-mb- | mb | mb | mb |
| *-nd- | nd | nd | nd |
| *- ŋg- | ŋg | ŋg | ŋg |
| *-w- | w | w | w |
| *-ɺ- | ɺ- | l | r |
| *-j- | j | j | j |
Final consonants correspond as follows:
| E. Pauwasi | Zorop | Emem | Karkar |
| *-… |
Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:
| E. Pauwasi | Zorop | Emem | Karkar |
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *… | |||
| *a | |||
| *a/#_NC | |||
| *ɒ | |||
| *ɛⁱ | |||
| *ɔᵘ | |||
| *aⁱ | |||
| * *aᵘ |
These correspondences are exemplified as follows …
… initial consonants …
Initial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *m- | m | m | m | m | m | m | |
| in front/before | *mik | mig- | mik | mik- | mek | ||
| nose | *mɛⁱ | mei- | mɛ- | mɛ- | mɛ- | mɛi- | |
| head/hair | *mɛ | me- | me- ~ mɛ- | mæ- | mɛ | me | |
| inside | *mɛk | mɛ-mɛkʰ | mɛk | mɛk | mek | mek | |
| this | *mVmV | mama- | mama | məˈma | məˈma- | mɐmɐ | |
| kunai grass | *mVŋg | maŋk | maoŋk | ||||
| tongue | *mɜtaɺVp | mɔtaːlep | mɛtaləp | ˈmenarəp | |||
| blood | *mɜp | mopʰ | məp | mɜp | |||
| path | *mVwaⁱ | mai | mai | mai | mʷaᵉ | mwɛi | |
| red | *mɔŋgwaⁱ | moŋguwalɛ (?) | muŋgwai | moŋgai | mɔŋgai | ||
| breast | *mɵ̝m | mijam | mwam | mɔm | mɔm | mɔm | |
| over there | *muŋga | muŋ- | ˈmuŋgʷa- |
Initial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *n- | n | n | n | n | n | n | |
| know | *nɨk | nəkʰ | nik | nik | ˈnɨk | ||
| sago | *nV | nɛ́ ~ ne- ~ nɨ- | nɛi ~ nei- ~ nɨ- | ni | ni | ||
| village | *nɜmb | numpʰ | namb | némb | nəmp | nəmp | |
| house | *nap | naʙ ~ nab- | nap ~ naːp | naːp | nap | nap | |
| older sister | *nanV | nanao | ˈnana | ˈnana | |||
| tree | *naɺV | -naːɭɛ ~ -nali | -ˈnaɭi ~ -naɭɛ | ˈnaɭi | |||
| older brother | *najV | ˈnaja | ˈnaja | nɛi |
… /*n/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *… | n | n | n | n | j | j | |
| 1 pl. | *ninV | nɪn | nin | ninao | ninao | jinɔ (?) | jinɔ (?) |
Initial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is fricated to labiodental /f/ in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *p- | f | f | f | f | f | f | |
| wet | *piki | figi | fiˈgi | fiʔ | |||
| shoulder/ten | *pVɺɛ | fɭɨk | flɛ | fəˈɽe | fəre | ||
| fence | *p[e/a]ɺ< | fal | feˈɭe- | feɭ- | |||
| pig | *pVɺ | feɽ | fɛɭ | fʌɾ- | |||
| eat/drink | *pɜɺ | fɔl | fəli ~ fələ- | fəɭ | fəɭ | fɐɽ | fʌɾ |
| stand/get up | *pɜɺVp | fɔləpʰ | fɭəp | fɭəp | fɐˈɽɐmp | ||
| afraid | *pɜɺkap | fɔrgapʰ | fərˈgap | fəlˈgap | |||
| short | *paⁱ | faːɛ- | fai | ˈfai- | faᵉ | fɛi | |
| stab | *paɺVp | faːlupʰ | faɭop | faləp | fʌraɔp | ||
| garden | *pɒt | fɔtʰ | faːr | ||||
| side (?) | *pɔkap | -fɔgapʰ | -fɔgap | -fɔgap | |||
| blow | *puɺ | fulɨ | fuɭ | fuɭ | fur |
Initial apical viceless stop /*t/ is fricated to /s/ in Emem and Karkar:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *t- | t | t | s | s | s | s | |
| hit | *tVkVɺ | təgɔl | sigiɭ | sigiɭ | |||
| that | *tVma | tama- | səma | sma | |||
| 3 sg./pl. | *tVma-V | tamao | təmau | smao | smao | maɔʔ (?) | |
| give | *tVnVŋg | sənɨŋ | seneŋg | sɐŋk | sʌŋk | ||
| upper arm/nine | *tVɺVk | -lokʰ (?) | -srok | srok | |||
| speak | *te̝ɺ | tijal | seɭ | seɭ | ˈsəɽ | sər | |
| wash | *t[e̝]te̝ɺ | titijal | sreɭ | sreɭ | |||
| tree kangaroo | *tVmbV | tomβui | ˈsaːmbʷɛ | ||||
| smoke | *tVɺ[i] | -tol | -tol | sor | -sor | suriʔ | |
| die | *tumbi | sumbi | sumbi | ˈsumpʷi | sumβwi |
One example in which Zorop as well as Emem and Karkar has initial /s/ is a regional loan (below):
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *S- | s | s | s | s | s | s | |
| sweet potato | *SVp… | sɛbul | sebro [Umuaf] | sebro | sepər |
Velar voiceless stop /*k/ does not occur initially because it has been lost in proto-East Pauwasi River.
Initial bilabial prenasalized voiced stop /*mb/ is denasalized and devoiced to /p/ in Emem and Karkar:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *mb- | mb [b β ʙ] | mb [b] | p | p | p | p | |
| roof | *mbVɺi | βəli | pɭi | pɭi | |||
| stone | *mbVɺi | pəɭi | ˈpəɽi | pəri | |||
| rat | *mbVɺVɺV | -ˈpreli [Umuaf] | -ˈpreli | pəɾəɾi- | |||
| cassowary | *mbVn | pən | pɐn | pʌnʔ | |||
| leech | *mbVtaɺ | βətal | ˈpraɭ | ˈpraɭ | pʌrar | ||
| young | *mbVɺV | -bli | ple | ||||
| right (side) | *mbVɺVk | βələgə- | -pɭag- | -pɭɛk- | pʌrʌk | ||
| goanna | *mbam | ʙaːm | pam | ||||
| sago flour | *mban | pan | pán | paʔn | pan | ||
| rattan/rope | *mbVk | paːk ~ pak- | paok | ||||
| bamboo | *mbVm | βuːɔm- | pom | ||||
| leaf/hair | *mbVwaⁱ | βəwei ~ -pai | bai ~ -mbai | pai | pai | pʷaᵉ | pwɛi |
| foot/leg | *mbu | βo | fu- | pu- | pú | pu | pu |
Initial apical prenasalzed voiced stop /*nd/ is denasalized and devoiced to /t/ in Emem and Karkar. In Lee's Zorop it is usually denasalized and, like medial /*nd/ (below,) is often realized with a rhotic offglide [dr ɖr]:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *nd- | nd [d ɖ dr ɖr nɖr] | nd [d] | t | t | t | t | |
| star | *ndVɺmV | tərmɨ | teɭmei | təɾemiʔ | |||
| rattan/rope | *ndaŋg | raŋkʰ ~ ɖraŋg- (?) | taːŋk ~ taŋk- | ||||
| sit | *ndaŋg | draŋkʰ | taŋk | taŋk |  ˈ;taŋk | taŋk | |
| mouth/lip(s) | *ndɔp | drop- ~ drap- | tɔp- | tɔp- | tɔp | tɔp | |
| big/many | *ndVkaⁱ | tɔxai- | tɔxai | tɔˈɣʷaᵉ | toɣwɛi | ||
| six | *ndVkambVk | ɖogambukʰ | tokʷambək | ˈtokʷambək | |||
| excrement | *ndɔkɛ | nɖrokʰ | tɔkɔɨ | tɔxɔi | tuɣwi | ||
| hot | *ndVwi | ɖur (?) | dui | to | ˈtuwi | ˈtowi | towi |
| urine | *nduŋguɺ | ɖuŋguɭ | ˈtuŋguɭ | ˈtuŋguɭ | tuŋgur |
Initial velar prenasalized voiced stop /*ŋg/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ŋg- | ŋg | ŋg | k | k | k | k | |
| nail | *ŋgVmVndi | -gɛmbi | gɛməndi | kɨmdi | |||
| nail | *ŋgVpVn | kɨβin | kəβən | ||||
| good | *ŋge̝p | kijɔpʰ | kep [Umuaf] | ||||
| look for | *ŋgVjVt | kijatʰ | kejar [Sem.] | ||||
| young | *ŋgVɺɛⁱ | kɔːlɛ | -kɭɛ | kɭei ~ -kɭɛ | kəreʔ | ||
| sand | *ŋgVɺɜk | gərɔkʰ | gələk | ˈkəɭək | ˈkəɭək | karʌk | |
| split (tr.) | *ŋgVtVkap | kɔkaβ | kerˈgap | kerˈgap | kaɽɐɣap | kʌraɣap | |
| run | *ŋgaⁱ | ŋkai | kai- [Umuaf] | kai- | |||
| speech/voice | *ŋgɒɺ | ŋgɔl | kaɭ | kaɭ | kaɽ | kar | |
| cloud | *ŋgV | kɔː | kɔː | ||||
| yellow | *ŋgVŋgVn | koŋgowanə- | koŋkwan | kɔŋga- [Umuaf] | kɔŋˈgan [Sem.] | ||
| bone | *ŋgVɺ | kɔl | kɔl | koɽ | kor | ||
| tail | *ŋgɔɺɛⁱ | koli- | guleî | kɔɭɛ- | kɔɭɛi ~ kɔɭɛ | kɔre | |
| come | *ŋgɔɺɔp | koropʰ | kwolop- | kɭop | kɭob- | kɔɽɔp | kɔrɔp |
| night | *ŋgVmVt | kuˈmur | kuˈmur | komoɽ ~ kumuɽ | komor | ||
| mud/soil | *ŋgVwɒt | guwɔtʰ | kʷar- | kʷar- | kʷaɽ | kwar |
Initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *w- | w [v β] | w [v] | w | w | w | w | |
| thorn/sharp | *wi | vi | wií ~ wi | wií | wi | wiː ~ wi | |
| behind | *wɜjak | vog- | wak- | weak | |||
| white | *wVɺV | βʊli | vuli | weɭe | |||
| hear | *waᵘ | vɔu | wau | wau | waᵒ | waoʔ | |
| tree | *waɺ | var- ~ valə- | waɭ- ~ ˈwaɭ- | ||||
| ear | *wVpi | wuˈbi- | wɔbij | wɔβʷi | woβwi | ||
| white | *wVpV | wɔbi ~ -ˈwubi | woβwe | ||||
| scratch | *wut | βutʰ | wur | wur | wuɽ |
Apical non-stop /*ɺ/ does not occur initially.
Initial palatal non-stop /*j is retained as such in all descendants. It is occluded to [z …] in Zorop:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *j- | j [z dʒ] | j [j ɟ] | j | j | j | j | |
| eye | *ji | zi ~ dʒi- | ji | jií | jií ~ ˈji- | ji | ji |
| skin/bark | *jipi | jiˈbi | jəβi | jiβi | |||
| three | *jiniŋg | ziniŋg- | jiniŋg- | jiniŋg [Umuaf] | jiniŋg | jiniŋk | |
| green/new | *jiki | zigi- | ɟiki | dʒigi- | jigi- | jiki- | |
| laugh | *jɜnd | zɔnɖrɔkʰ | jind | jind | |||
| louse | *jəmVɺ | zəmal | jiməl | jeməɭ | jemeɭ | jʌmʌr | |
| sun/sky | *jəmaɺ | zəmal | jəmal | ˈjemaɭ | jemaɭ ~ jɛmaɭ | jɐˈmaɽ | jʌmar |
| tie | *jəkaⁱ | zəkai | jexai | ||||
| head | *jVpV | jɛˈbe- ~ ˈjɛbe- | jɛˈbe | jəβe | |||
| egg | *jVn | zən | jɛ́n | jɛ́n | |||
| burn (tr.) | *jVŋg[ap] | zəŋgapʰ | jaŋg | jeŋgap | |||
| mosquito | *jɜŋgɒɺ | dʒɔŋgɔl | jəŋgal | ˈjɛŋgaɭ | |||
| blood | *jVɺi | jɛˈɭi | ˈjeɽi | jəri | |||
| man/husband | *jɵ̝pɛ | zepʰ | ˈjɔβɛ ~ jɔbɔi | jɔbɔi | |||
| four | *jɵ̝ɺ | zɛjal | -jaɭ | -jaɭ | jɔr | ||
| arm/hand | *jaⁱ | zaːi ~ zaː- | ɟa- | jai- | jai | jaᵉ | jɛi |
| marsupial sp. | *jaⁱɺi | jaiɭi | jɛiri | ||||
| fire/wood | *jaᵘ | zo ~ zu- | ɟo ~ ji- | jau | jao ~ jau | jaᵒ | jaɔ |
| net bag | *jam | zam | jam | jam | jam | jam | |
| bite | *jamb | jamb | jamp | jamp | |||
| sago porridge | *jat | zatʰ | |||||
| shoot/kill | *jVŋgVp | jaˈŋgop | jaˈŋgop | ˈjaŋgɔp | jaɔŋgɔp | ||
| black | *jVkVɺV | jægɭɛ | jʌɣʌre | ||||
| belly | *jaɺV[k] | zarkʰ | jalək | ˈjaɭɨ | ˈjaɭɛ | ||
| yellow | *jaɺ | jaɭ | jar- | jar | |||
| garden | *jVpVɺ | joβaɭ | jɔβʷaɽ | jɔβwar | |||
| bad | *jɔpɔɺ | zɔbɔl | jɔbɔɭ | jɔbɔɭ | |||
| elbow/eight | *jVkup | -zukup ~ -zugupʰ | jogub- [Umuaf] | jogub [Sem.] | |||
| dig | *jɔkɔɺ | zugul | jogoɭ | jogoɭ | jɔkɔr | ||
| liver | *jɵ̝ŋgaⁱ | zéŋgai | jɔŋgʷai | jɔŋgʷai | ˈjɔŋkʷaᵉ | jɔŋgwɛi | |
| seed/tooth | *jɔ | zuː ~ zu- | -ɟu ~ ju- | jɔ- | jɔ | jo ~ ju- | |
| bite | *jɔk | zukʰ | jog | ||||
| moon | *juŋg | zuŋkʰ | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋk | |
| betel pepper | *juɺ | zur | jur ~ juɭ | jur ~ juɭ | juru |
… medial consonants …
Medial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-m- | m | m | m | m | m | m | |
| flesh/meat | *Vmi | mɪʔ ~ -mi | mi ~ -mi | mi ~ -mi | əˈmi | emiʔ | |
| woman | *VɺVm[i] | aləm | əlim | ˈɛɭmɨ | ˈɛɭmɨ | ||
| left | *amVk[V] | amogo- | -amgʷ- | -amgʷ- | |||
| mother | *ɵ̝mu | jamu | ˈɔmu | ˈɔmu | |||
| this | *mVmV | mama- | mama | məˈma | məˈma- | mɐmɐ | |
| that | *tVma | tama- | səma | sma | |||
| 3 sg./pl. | *tVma-V | tamao | təmau | smao | smao | maɔʔ (?) | |
| star | *ndVɺmV | tərmɨ | teɭmei | təɾemiʔ | |||
| nail | *ŋgVmVndi | -gɛmbi | gɛməndi | kɨmdi | |||
| night | *ŋgVmVt | kuˈmur | kuˈmur | komoɽ ~ kumuɽ | komor | ||
| louse | *jVmVɺ | zəmal | jiməl | jeməɭ | jemeɭ | jʌmʌr | |
| sun/sky | *jəmaɺ | zəmal | jəmal | ˈjemaɭ | jemaɭ ~ jɛmaɭ | jɐˈmaɽ | jʌmar |
Medial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-n- | n | n | n | n | n | n | |
| two | *anVŋg | aniŋg- | aŋg- | anəŋk- | anaŋk ~ anəŋ- | ˈanɐŋk | anʌŋk |
| 1 pl. | *[n/j]inV | nɪn | nin | ninao | ninao | jinɔ | jinɔ |
| older sister | *nanV | nanao | ˈnana | ˈnana | |||
| give | *tVnVŋg | sənɨŋ | seneŋg | sɐŋk | sʌŋk | ||
| three | *jiniŋg | ziniŋg- | jiniŋg- | jiniŋg [Umuaf] | jiniŋg | jiniŋk |
Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-p- | p [β] | ||||||
| skin/bark | *apV | aβɛi | aβɨ ~ -abi ~ -abɛ | ||||
| earth/ground | *apVɺ | abrə- ~ aβle- | abi | aβɛɭ- ~ aβəɭ- | aβɛɭ- ~ aβɭu- | aβɐɽ ~ aβəɽ- | |
| low/below | *apVɺVk | abrɔkʰ ~ aβələkʰ | abˈlək | abˈlək ~ aβɭək- | aβəɽɔk | ||
| father | *apV | abaʷ | ˈaβao | aβa | |||
| coconut | *apuk | abukʰ ~ abuk | ɔbuk- | ɔbuk- | ɔpuk | ||
| look for | VpVɺ | oˈboɭ | oboɭ | or-oβor | |||
| nail | *ŋgVpVn | kɨβin | kəβən | ||||
| ear | *wVpi | wuˈbi- | wɔbij | wɔβʷi | woβwi | ||
| white | *wVpV | wɔbi ~ -ˈwubi | woβwe | ||||
| skin/bark | *jipi | jiˈbi | jəβi | jiβi | |||
| head | *jVpV | jɛˈbe- ~ ˈjɛbe- | jɛˈbe | jəβe | |||
| man/husband | *jɵ̝pɛ | zepʰ | ˈjɔβɛ ~ jɔbɔi | jɔbɔi | |||
| garden | *jVpVɺ | joβaɭ | jɔβʷaɽ | jɔβwar | |||
| bad | *jɔpɔɺ | zɔbɔl | jɔbɔɭ | jɔbɔɭ |
… /*p/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-P- | p | p | p | p | |||
| ftther's father | *aPV | apɛ | aˈpe | apɛj [Sem.] | ape | apːeʔ |
Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is uncommon … one illustrative example is Karkar for which the “die (pl.)” is /suˈɽumpʷi/ rather than /suˈsumpʷi/ as both /s/ and /ɽ/ reflect /*t/ initially and medially respectively (Price 1987: 12.):
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-t- | |||||||
| one | *aŋgVtamb | aŋgtamβ | grakamb | ŋgrak | aŋgʌraŋk | ||
| tongue | *mɜtaɺVp | mɔtaːlep | mɛtaləp | ˈmenarəp (?) | |||
| leech | *mbVtaɺ | βətal | ˈpraɭ | ˈpraɭ | pʌrar | ||
| wash | *t[e̝]te̝ɺ | titijal | sreɭ | sreɭ | |||
| split (tr.) | *ŋgVtVkap | kɔkaβ | kerˈgap | kerˈgap | kaɽɐɣap | kʌraɣap |
… /*t/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-T- | t | t | t | t | |||
| father | *aTV | atao | aˈta | atao | ataʔ |
… /*S/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-S- | |||||||
| cassowary | *mbVSi | pasi | ˈpasɨ | ||||
| tree kangaroo | *mbVSi | pəˈsi |
Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is generally voiced and/or fricated to [g x ɣ] in all descendants
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-k- | k [g k] | k [g k] | k [g x k] | k [g x] | k [ɣ] | k [ɣ k ʔ] | |
| from | *-kamb | -gámpʰ | -ˈkamb | -ˈkamb | -ɣamp< | -ɣam | |
| knee | *akuɺ[i[ | agri- | ogələ- | ɔguɭ- | ɔguɭ- | ||
| walk/go | *VkVp | kʷɔβ ~ -kwɔpʰ | kwapɛ | kʷap ~ -kʷab | aˈgɔp ~ -ˈaxɔp | aᵒˈɣʷap | -aoɣɔp |
| wet | *piki | figi | fiˈgi | fiʔ (?) | |||
| afraid | *pɜɺkap | fɔrgapʰ | fərˈgap | fəlˈgap | |||
| side (?) | *pɔkap | -fɔgapʰ | -fɔgap | -fɔgap | |||
| hit | *tVkVɺ | təgɔl | sigiɭ | sigiɭ | |||
| big/many | *ndVkaⁱ | tɔxai- | tɔxai | tɔˈɣʷaᵉ | toɣwɛi | ||
| split (tr.) | *ŋgVtVkap | kɔkaβ | kerˈgap | kerˈgap | kaɽɐɣap | kʌraɣap | |
| green/new | *jiki | zigi- | ɟiki | dʒigi- | jigi- | jiki- | |
| black | *jVkVɺV | jægɭɛ | jʌɣʌre | ||||
| tie | *jəkaⁱ | zəkai | jexai | ||||
| elbow/eight | *jVkup | -zukup ~ -zugupʰ | jogub- [Umuaf] | jogub [Sem.] | |||
| dig | *jɔkɔɺ | zugul | jogoɭ | jogoɭ | jɔkɔr |
In a few instances in which Zorop has lost final low mid front vowel /*ɛ/ (below,) /*k/ is realized as as aspirated [kʰ] as is final /*k/ (below):
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-kV | k [kʰ] | kV [x k] | kV [x] | kV [ɣ] | kV [ɣ] | ||
| salt | *ɔkɛ | ɔkʰ | ɔxʷɛ | ɔxʷɛi | oɣʷe | ɔɣwi | |
| excrement | *ndɔkɛ | nɖrokʰ | tɔkɔɨ | tɔxɔi | tuɣwi |
The failure of /*k/ to lenit may indicate a compound:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-k- | k [g] | k [k] | k [k] | ||||
| six | *ndVkambVk | ɖogambukʰ | tokʷambək | ˈtokʷambək |
Medial bilabial prenasalized voiced stop /*mb/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-mb- | |||||||
| cough | *ambum | amβʊm | bum | ombum | |||
| tree kangaroo | *tVmbV | tomβui | ˈsaːmbʷɛ | ||||
| die | *tumbi | sumbi | sumbi | ˈsumpʷi | sumβwi | ||
| six | *ndVkambVk | ɖogambukʰ | tokʷambək | ˈtokʷambək | |||
| from | *-kamb | -gámpʰ | -ˈkamb | -ˈkamb | -ɣamp< | -ɣam |
Medial apical prenasalized voiced stop /*nd/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-nd- | |||||||
| five | *andik | aɳɖrikʰ | dik- | dik | əndik | ||
| bone/dry | *andaⁱ | andɾai | anrai | ndai | ndai | ||
| ashes | *andV | aɳɖo- | unduh | ndu | ndu- | ndu | |
| nail | *ŋgVmVndi | -gɛmbi (?) | gɛməndi | kɨmdi |
Medial velar prenasalized voiced stop /*ŋg/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-ŋg- | |||||||
| body part sfx/ | *-ŋgV | -ŋgɛ | -ŋgɛ ~ -ŋgi ~ -gi | -kɛ ~ kɨ | |||
| one | *aŋgVtamb | aŋgtamβ | grakamb | ŋgrak | aŋgʌraŋk | ||
| blunt/dull | *aŋg[o/u] | aŋgu | ŋgo- | ŋgo- | |||
| worm | *Vŋgi | ᵑɡwi | gwi | oŋkwiʔ | |||
| red | *mɔŋgwaⁱ | moŋguwalɛ (?) | muŋgwai | moŋgai | mɔŋgai | ||
| over there | *muŋga | muŋ- | ˈmuŋgʷa- | ||||
| urine | *nduŋguɺ | ɖuŋguɭ | ˈtuŋguɭ | ˈtuŋguɭ | tuŋgur | ||
| yellow | *ŋgVŋgVn | koŋgowanə- | koŋkwan | kɔŋga- [Umuaf] | kɔŋˈgan [Sem.] | ||
| burn (tr.) | *jVŋg[ap] | zəŋgapʰ | jaŋg | jeŋgap | |||
| shoot/kill | *jVŋgVp | jaˈŋgop | jaˈŋgop | ˈjaŋgɔp | jaɔŋgɔp | ||
| mosquito | *jɜŋgɒɺ | dʒɔŋgɔl | jəŋgal | ˈjɛŋgaɭ | |||
| liver | *jɵ̝ŋgaⁱ | zéŋgai | jɔŋgʷai | jɔŋgʷai | ˈjɔŋkʷaᵉ | jɔŋgwɛi |
IMedial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-w- | |||||||
| wind | *Vwi | aui | oβi | uwi | uwi | owi | ɔwi |
Medial apical non-stop /*ɺ/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-ɺ- | |||||||
| long | *ɜɺi | ɔlu- | lî- | ɭi | eɭi- | əˈɽi | əriː |
| woman | *VɺVm[i] | aləm | əlim | ˈɛɭmɨ | ˈɛɭmɨ | ||
| knee | *akuɺ[i[ | agri- | ogələ- | ɔguɭ- | ɔguɭ- | ||
| vein/tendon | *aɺVk | arək | ˈaɽɐk | aɾʌk | |||
| person | *aɺɔp | aɭəpʰ ~ aɭɔpʰ  ~ aləb- | alop ~ - alup | aləp ~ aɭəp | aləp | aɽɔp | aɾɔp |
| tongue | *mɜtaɺVp | mɔtaːlep | mɛtaləp | ˈmenarəp | |||
| stab | *paɺVp | faːlupʰ | faɭop | faləp | fʌraɔp | ||
| stand/get up | *pɜɺVp | fɔləpʰ | fɭəp | fɭəp | fɐˈɽɐmp (?) | ||
| shoulder/ten | *pVɺɛ | fɭɨk | flɛ | fəˈɽe | fəre | ||
| afraid | *pɜɺkap | fɔrgapʰ | fərˈgap | fəlˈgap | |||
| roof | *mbVɺi | βəli | pɭi | pɭi | |||
| stone | *mbVɺi | pəɭi | ˈpəɽi | pəri | |||
| rat | *mbVɺVɺV | -ˈpreli [Umuaf] | -ˈpreli | pəɾəɾi- | |||
| young | *mbVɺV | -bli | ple | ||||
| right (side) | *mbVɺVk | βələgə- | -pɭag- | -pɭɛk- | pʌrʌk | ||
| tree | *naɺV | -naːɭɛ ~ -nali | -ˈnaɭi ~ -naɭɛ | ˈnaɭi | |||
| upper arm/nine | *tVɺVk | -lokʰ (?) | -srok | srok | |||
| star | *ndVɺmV | tərmɨ | teɭmei | təɾemiʔ | |||
| young | *ŋgVɺɛⁱ | kɔːlɛ | -kɭɛ | kɭei ~ -kɭɛ | kəreʔ | ||
| sand | *ŋgVɺVk | gərɔkʰ | gələk | ˈkəɭək | ˈkəɭək | karʌk | |
| tail | *ŋgɔɺɛⁱ | koli- | guleî | kɔɭɛ- | kɔɭɛi ~ kɔɭɛ | kɔre | |
| come | *ŋgɔɺɔp | koropʰ | kwolop- | kɭop | kɭob- | ˈkɔɽɔp | kɔrɔp |
| white | *wVɺV | βʊli | vuli | weɭe | |||
| blood | *jVɺi | jɛˈɭi | ˈjeɽi | jəri | |||
| black | *jVkVɺV | jægɭɛ | jʌɣʌre | ||||
| marsupial sp. | *jaⁱɺi | jaiɭi | jɛiri | ||||
| belly | *jaɺV[k] | zarkʰ | jalək | ˈjaɭɨ | ˈjaɭɛ |
Medial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-j- | |||||||
| *… | |||||||
| older brother | *najV | ˈnaja | ˈnaja | nɛi | |||
| look for | *ŋgVjVt | kijatʰ | kejar [Sem.] | ||||
| behind | *wɜjak | vog- | wak- | weak |
… final consonants …
Final bilabial nasal /*m/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-m | m | m | m | m | m | m | |
| weep/cry | *Vm | am | am- | em | em | əm | əm |
| cough | *ambum | amβʊm | bum | ombum | |||
| breast | *mɵ̝m | mijam | mwam | mɔm | mɔm | mɔm | |
| goanna | *mbam | ʙaːm | pam | ||||
| bamboo | *mbVm | βuːɔm- | pom | ||||
| net bag | *jam | zam | jam | jam | jam | jam |
Final apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-n | n | n | n | n | n | n | |
| cassowary | *mbVn | pən | pɐn | pʌnʔ | |||
| sago flour | *mban | pan | pán | pan | |||
| nail | *ŋgVpVn | kɨβin | kəβən | ||||
| yellow | *ŋgVŋgVn | koŋgowanə- | koŋkwan | kɔŋga- [Umuaf] | kɔŋˈgan [Sem.] | ||
| egg | *jVn | zən | jɛ́n | jɛ́n |
Final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is retained as such in all descendants. In …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-p | p [pʰ p β ʙ ] | p | p [p b] | p [p b] | p | p | |
| bow | *ap | aβ | aːp- | aːp- | ap | ||
| wing | *ap | aːpə- | aːp- | ||||
| walk/go | *VkVp | kʷɔβ ~ -kwɔpʰ | kwapɛ | kʷap ~ -kʷab | aˈgɔp ~ -ˈaxɔp | aᵒˈɣʷap | -aoɣɔp |
| person | *aɺɔp | aɭəpʰ ~ aɭɔpʰ  ~ aləb- | alop ~ - alup | aləp ~ aɭəp | aləp | aɽɔp | aɾɔp |
| side (?) | *pɔkap | -fɔgapʰ | -fɔgap | -fɔgap | |||
| blood | *mɜp | mopʰ | məp | mɜp | |||
| tongue | *mɜtaɺVp | mɔtaːlep | mɛtaləp | ˈmenarəp | |||
| stab | *paɺVp | faːlupʰ | faɭop | faləp | fʌraɔp | ||
| stand/get up | *pɜɺVp | fɔləpʰ | fɭəp | fɭəp | fɐˈɽɐmp | ||
| afraid | *pɜɺkap | fɔrgapʰ | fərˈgap | fəlˈgap | |||
| house | *nap | naʙ ~ nab- | nap ~ naːp | naːp | nap | nap | |
| mouth/lip(s) | *ndɔp | drop- ~ drap- | tɔp- | tɔp- | tɔp | tɔp | |
| good | *ŋge̝p | kijɔpʰ | kep [Umuaf] | ||||
| split (tr.) | *ŋgVtVkap | kɔkaβ | kerˈgap | kerˈgap | kaɽɐɣap | kʌraɣap | |
| come | *ŋgɔɺɔp | koropʰ | kwolop- | kɭop | kɭob- | ˈkɔɽɔp | kɔrɔp |
| burn (tr.) | *jVŋg[ap] | zəŋgapʰ | jaŋg (?) | jeŋgap | |||
| shoot/kill | *jVŋgVp | jaˈŋgop | jaˈŋgop | ˈjaŋgɔp | jaɔŋgɔp | ||
| elbow/eight | *jVkup | -zukup ~ -zugupʰ | jogub- [Umuaf] | jogub [Sem.] |
Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-t | t [tʰ] | ||||||
| garden | *pɒt | fɔc | faːr | ||||
| look for | *ŋgVjVt | kijatʰ | kejar [Sem.] | ||||
| night | *ŋgVmVt | kuˈmur | kuˈmur | kumuɽ | komor | ||
| mud/soil | *ŋgVwɒt | guwɔtʰ | kʷar- | kʷar- | kʷaɽ | kwar | |
| scratch | *wut | βutʰ | wur | wur | wuɽ | ||
| sago porridge | *jat | zatʰ |
Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ is retained as such in all descendatns. In …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-k | k [kʰ k ] | k | k [k g] | k [k] | k [x] | k | |
| coconut | *apuk | abukʰ ~ abuk | ɔbuk- | ɔbuk- | ɔpuk | ||
| five | *andik | aɳɖrikʰ | dik- | dik | əndik | ||
| vein/tendon | *aɺVk | arək | ˈaɽɐk | aɾʌk | |||
| new | *ɵ̝k | uwag- | ˈok- | ogu- | |||
| in front/before | *mik | mig- | mik | mik- | mek | ||
| inside | *mɛk | mɛ-mɛkʰ | mɛk | mɛk | mek | mek | |
| right (side) | *mbVɺVk | βələgə- | -pɭag- | -pɭɛk- | pʌrʌk | ||
| rattan/rope | *mbVk | paːk ~ pak- | paok | ||||
| know | *nVk | nəkʰ | nik | nik | ˈnɨk | ||
| upper arm/nine | *tVɺVk | -lokʰ (?) | -srok | srok | |||
| six | *ndVkambVk | ɖogambukʰ | tokʷambək | ˈtokʷambək | |||
| sand | *ŋgVɺVk | gərɔkʰ | gələk | ˈkəɭək | ˈkəɭək | karʌk | |
| behind | *wɜjak | vog- | wak- | weak | |||
| bite | *jɔk | zukʰ | jog |
… /*k/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-k | |||||||
| *… | |||||||
| belly | *jaɺV[k] | zarkʰ | jalək | ˈjaɭɨ | ˈjaɭɛ |
Final bilabial prenasalized voiced stop /*mb/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-mb | mb [mpʰ mβ] | mb [mb] | mb [mb] | mb [mp] | |||
| sleep | *amb | aːmpʰ | amb | amb | ˈamp | ||
| arrow | *ɵ̝mb | jɔɲβ (?) | omb | omb | ɔmp | ɔmp | |
| village | *nɜmb | numpʰ | namb | némb | nəmp | nəmp | |
| bite | *jamb | jamb | jamp | jamp |
One example shows an irregular change of final /*mb/ to velar /*ŋg/ in South Emem and Karkar, probably due to the anological influence of /*anVŋg/ “two” and /*jiniŋg/ “three” (below):
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-mb | |||||||
| one | *aŋgVtamb | aŋgtamβ | grakamb | ŋgrak | aŋgʌraŋk |
Final apical prenasalzed voiced stop /*nd/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-nd | |||||||
| water | *Vnd | jɔɳɖ | ɟəndr | end ~ ˈendə- ~ ndɛ- | énd ~ ndɛ- | ənt | ənt ~ əndə- |
| bird | *and | aːɳɖ | andr | and | ant | ant | |
| laugh | *jɜnd | zɔnɖrɔkʰ | jind | jind |
Final velar prenasalized voiced stop /*ŋg/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-ŋg | |||||||
| two | *anVŋg | aniŋg- | aŋg- | anəŋk- | anaŋk ~ anəŋ- | ˈanɐŋk | anʌŋk |
| kunai grass | *mVŋg | maŋk | maoŋk | ||||
| give | *tVnVŋg | sənɨŋ | seneŋg | sɐŋk | sʌŋk | ||
| rattan/rope | *ndaŋg | raŋkʰ ~ ɖraŋg- (?) | taːŋk ~ taŋk- | ||||
| sit | *ndaŋg | draŋkʰ | taŋk | taŋk | ˈtaŋk | taŋk | |
| three | *jiniŋg | ziniŋg- | jiniŋg- | jiniŋg [Umuaf] | jiniŋg | jiniŋk | |
| moon | *juŋg | zuŋkʰ | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋk |
Final apical non-stop /*ɺ/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *-ɺ | |||||||
| lime | *Vɺ | jɔːɭ | |||||
| earth/ground | *apVɺ | abrə- ~ aβle- | abi | aβɛɭ- ~ aβəɭ- | aβɛɭ- ~ aβɭu- | aβɐɽ ~ aβəɽ- | |
| rain | *aɺ | aɭ | al | aɭ | aɭ | ||
| swim | *ɵ̝ɺ | jar | jul- | oɭ | oɭ | ər | |
| look for | VpVɺ | oˈboɭ | oboɭ | or-oβor | |||
| fence | *p[e/a]ɺ< | fal | feˈɭe- | feɭ- | |||
| pig | *pVɺ | feɽ | fɛɭ | fʌɾ- | |||
| eat/drink | *pɜɺ | fɔl | fəli ~ fələ- | fəɭ | fəɭ | fɐɽ | fʌɾ |
| blow | *puɺ | fulɨ (?) | fuɭ | fuɭ | fur | ||
| leech | *mbVtaɺ | βətal | ˈpraɭ | ˈpraɭ | pʌrar | ||
| hit | *tVkVɺ | təgɔl | sigiɭ | sigiɭ | |||
| speak | *te̝ɺ | tijal | seɭ | seɭ | ˈsəɽ | sər | |
| wash | *t[e̝]te̝ɺ | titijal | sreɭ | sreɭ | |||
| urine | *nduŋguɺ | ɖuŋguɭ | ˈtuŋguɭ | ˈtuŋguɭ | tuŋgur | ||
| speech/voice | *ŋgɒɺ | ŋgɔl | kaɭ | kaɭ | kaɽ | kar | |
| bone | *ŋgVɺ | kɔl | kɔl | koɽ | kor | ||
| louse | *jVmVɺ | zəmal | jiməl | jeməɭ | jemeɭ | jʌmʌr | |
| sun/sky | *jəmaɺ | zəmal | jəmal | ˈjemaɭ | jemaɭ ~ jɛmaɭ | jɐˈmaɽ | jʌmar |
| yellow | *jaɺ | jaɭ | jar- | jar | |||
| mosquito | *jɜŋgɒɺ | dʒɔŋgɔl | jəŋgal | ˈjɛŋgaɭ | |||
| garden | *jVpVɺ | joβaɭ | jɔβʷaɽ | jɔβwar | |||
| bad | *jɔpɔɺ | zɔbɔl | jɔbɔɭ | jɔbɔɭ | |||
| four | *jɵ̝ɺ | zɛjal | -jaɭ | -jaɭ | jɔr | ||
| dig | *jɔkɔɺ | zugul | jogoɭ | jogoɭ | jɔkɔr | ||
| betel pepper | *juɺ | zur | jur ~ juɭ | jur ~ juɭ | juru |
… vowels and diphthongs …
High front vowel /*i/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *i | i | i | i | i | i | i | |
| thorn/sharp | *wi | vi | wií ~ wi | wií | wi | wiː ~ wi | |
| eye | *ji | zi ~ dʒi- | ji | jií | jií ~ ˈji- | ji | ji |
| in front/before | *mik | mig- | mik | mik- | mek (?) | ||
| skin/bark | *jipi | jiˈbi | jəβi | jiβi | |||
| green/new | *jiki | zigi- | ɟiki | dʒigi- | jigi- | jiki- | |
| three | *jiniŋg | ziniŋg- | jiniŋg- | jiniŋg [Umuaf] | jiniŋg | jiniŋk | |
| flesh/meat | *Vmi | mɪʔ ~ -mi | mi ~ -mi | mi ~ -mi | əˈmi | emiʔ | |
| long | *ɜɺi | ɔlu- (?) | lî- | ɭi | eɭi- | əˈɽi | əriː |
| five | *andik | aɳɖrikʰ | dik- | dik | əndik |
High back rounded vowel /*u/ is retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *u | u | u | u | u | u | u | |
| foot/leg | *mbu | βo (?) | fu- | pu- | pú | pu | pu |
| blow | *puɺ | fulɨ | fuɭ | fuɭ | fur | ||
| scratch | *wut | βutʰ | wur | wur | wuɽ | ||
| moon | *juŋg | zuŋkʰ | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋg | ɟuŋk | |
| betel pepper | *juɺ | zur | jur ~ juɭ | jur ~ juɭ | juru | ||
| mother | *ɵ̝mu | jamu | ˈɔmu | ˈɔmu | |||
| coconut | *apuk | abukʰ ~ abuk | ɔbuk- | ɔbuk- | ɔpuk | ||
| cough | *ambum | amβʊm | bum | ombum | |||
| knee | *akuɺ[i[ | agri- | ogələ- | ɔguɭ- | ɔguɭ- |
High mid front vowel /*e̝/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *e̝ | |||||||
| speak (sp.) | *te̝ɺ | tijal | seɭ | seɭ | ˈsəɽ | sər | |
| good | *ŋge̝p | kijɔpʰ | kep [Umuaf] | ||||
| wash | *t[e̝]te̝ɺ | titijal | sreɭ | sreɭ |
High mid central rounded vowel /*ɵ̝/ …
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɵ̝ | [ija ɛja e] | [uwa u] | |||||
| arrow | *ɵ̝mb | jɔɲβ (?) | omb | omb | ɔmp | ɔmp | |
| new | *ɵ̝k | uwag- | ˈok- | ogu- | |||
| swim | *ɵ̝ɺ | jar | jul- | oɭ | oɭ | ər | |
| breast | *mɵ̝m | mijam | mwam | mɔm | mɔm | mɔm | |
| four | *jɵ̝ɺ | zɛjal | -jaɭ (?) | -jaɭ (?) | jɔr | ||
| mother | *ɵ̝mu | jamu | ˈɔmu | ˈɔmu | |||
| man/husband | *jɵ̝pɛ | zepʰ | ˈjɔβɛ ~ jɔbɔi | jɔbɔi | |||
| liver | *jɵ̝ŋgaⁱ | zéŋgai | jɔŋgʷai | jɔŋgʷai | ˈjɔŋkʷaᵉ | jɔŋgwɛi |
High mid back vowel /*o̝/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | |
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | |
| *o̝ | ||||||
| *… |
Low mid front vowel /*ɛ/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɛ | e | ||||||
| head/hair | *mɛ | me- | me- ~ mɛ- | mæ- | mɛ | me | |
| inside | *mɛk | mɛ-mɛkʰ | mɛk | mɛk | mek | mek |
When final /*ɛ/ follows a rounded vowel /*ɵ̝ *ɔ/ in the previous syllable, … [*oⁱ] …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɛ/ɵ̝C_ | |||||||
| man/husband | *jɵ̝pɛ | zepʰ | ˈjɔβɛ ~ jɔbɔi | jɔbɔi | |||
| *ɛ/ɔC_ | |||||||
| salt | *ɔkɛ | ɔkʰ | ɔxʷɛ | ɔxʷɛi | oɣʷe | ɔɣwi | |
| excrement | *ndɔkɛ | nɖrokʰ | tɔkɔɨ | tɔxɔi | tuɣwi |
Low mid central vowel /*ɜ/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɜ | ɔ [ɔ o] | ||||||
| blood | *mɜp | mopʰ | məp | mɜp | |||
| eat/drink | *pɜɺ | fɔl | fəli ~ fələ- | fəɭ | fəɭ | fɐɽ | fʌɾ ~ -fil ~ -fir |
| long | *ɜɺi | ɔlu- | lî- | ɭi | eɭi- | əˈɽi | əriː |
| village | *nɜmb | numpʰ (?) | namb | némb | nəmp | nəmp | |
| laugh | *jɜnd | zɔnɖrɔkʰ | jind | jind | |||
| stand/get up | *pɜɺVp | fɔləpʰ | fɭəp | fɭəp | fɐˈɽɐmp | ||
| mosquito | *jɜŋgɒɺ | dʒɔŋgɔl | jəŋgal | ˈjɛŋgaɭ | |||
| behind | *wɜjak | vog- | wak- | weak | |||
| tongue | *mɜtaɺVp | mɔtaːlep | mɛtaləp | ˈmenarəp | |||
| afraid | *pɜɺkap | fɔrgapʰ | fərˈgap | fəlˈgap |
Low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɔ | ɔ [ɔ o] | ɔ | ɔ | ||||
| mouth/lip(s) | *ndɔp | drop- ~ drap- (?) | tɔp- | tɔp- | tɔp | tɔp | |
| come | *ŋgɔɺɔp | koropʰ | kwolop- | kɭop | kɭob- | ˈkɔɽɔp | kɔrɔp |
| bad | *jɔpɔɺ | zɔbɔl | jɔbɔɭ | jɔbɔɭ | |||
| tail | *ŋgɔɺɛⁱ | koli- | guleî (?) | kɔɭɛ- | kɔɭɛi ~ kɔɭɛ | kɔre | |
| salt | *ɔkɛ | ɔkʰ | ɔxʷɛ | ɔxʷɛi | oɣʷe | ɔɣwi | |
| excrement | *ndɔkɛ | nɖrokʰ | tɔkɔɨ | tɔxɔi | tuɣwi (?) | ||
| side (?) | *pɔkap | -fɔgapʰ | -fɔgap | -fɔgap |
When following palatal non-stop /*j, /*ɔ/ is raised to /u/ in Zorop:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɔ/j_ | u | ||||||
| seed/tooth | *jɔ | zuː ~ zu- | -ɟu ~ ju- | jɔ- | jɔ | jo ~ ju- | |
| bite | *jɔk | zukʰ | jog | ||||
| dig | *jɔkɔɺ | zugul | jogoɭ | jogoɭ | jɔkɔr |
…:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | |
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | |
| *… | ||||||
| *… |
Low central vowel /*a/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *a | a | a | a | a | a | a | |
| sleep | *amb | aːmpʰ | amb | amb | ˈamp | ||
| bird | *and | aːɳɖ | andr | and | ant | ant | |
| rain | *aɺ | aɭ | al | aɭ | aɭ | ||
| house | *nap | naʙ ~ nab- | nap ~ naːp | naːp | nap | nap | |
| rattan/rope | *ndaŋg | raŋkʰ ~ ɖraŋg- (?) | taːŋk ~ taŋk- | ||||
| sit | *ndaŋg | draŋkʰ | taŋk | taŋk | ˈtaŋk | taŋk | |
| from | *-kamb | -gámpʰ | -ˈkamb | -ˈkamb | -ɣamp< | -ɣam | |
| net bag | *jam | zam | jam | jam | jam | jam | |
| sago porridge | *jat | zatʰ | |||||
| skin/bark | *apV | aβɛi | aβɨ ~ -abi ~ -abɛ | ||||
| person | *aɺɔp | aɭəpʰ ~ aɭɔpʰ  ~ aləb- | alop ~ - alup | aləp ~ aɭəp | aləp | aɽɔp | aɾɔp |
| earth/ground | *apVɺ | abrə- ~ aβle- | abi | aβɛɭ- ~ aβəɭ- | aβɛɭ- ~ aβɭu- | aβɐɽ ~ aβəɽ- | |
| two | *anVŋg | aniŋg- | aŋg- | anəŋk- | anaŋk ~ anəŋ- | ˈanɐŋk | anʌŋk |
| vein/tendon | *aɺVk | arək | ˈaɽɐk | aɾʌk | |||
| side (?) | *pɔkap | -fɔgapʰ | -fɔgap | -fɔgap | |||
| sun/sky | *jəmaɺ | zəmal | jəmal | ˈjemaɭ | jemaɭ ~ jɛmaɭ | jɐˈmaɽ | jʌmar |
… /*a/ followed by high back rounded /*u/ in the next syllable …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *a/_Cu | |||||||
| coconut | *apuk | abukʰ ~ abuk | ɔbuk- | ɔbuk- | ɔpuk | ||
| cough | *ambum | amβʊm | bum | ombum | |||
| knee | *akuɺ[i[ | agri- | ogələ- | ɔguɭ- | ɔguɭ- |
When intiial /*a/ is followed by a non-final prenasalized voiced stop /*mb *nd *ŋg/ it is lost in Emem and sometimes in Karkar:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *a/#_mbV | a | ||||||
| cough | *ambum | amβʊm | bum | ombum | |||
| *a/#_ndV | a | ||||||
| five | *andik | aɳɖrikʰ | dik- | dik | əndik | ||
| bone/dry | *andaⁱ | andɾai | anrai | ndai | ndai | ||
| ashes | *andV | aɳɖo- | unduh | ndu | ndu- | ndu | |
| *a/#_ŋgV | a | ||||||
| one | *aŋgVtamb | aŋgtamβ | grakamb | ŋgrak | aŋgʌraŋk | ||
| blunt/dull | *aŋg[o/u] | aŋgu | ŋgo- | ŋgo- |
Low back rounded vowel /*ɒ/ is uncommon. …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɒ | |||||||
| garden | *pɒt | fɔtʰ | faːr | ||||
| speech/voice | *ŋgɒɺ | ŋgɔl | kaɭ | kaɭ | kaɽ | kar | |
| mud/soil | *ŋgVwɒt | guwɔtʰ | kʷar- | kʷar- | kʷaɽ | kwar | |
| mosquito | *jɜŋgɒɺ | dʒɔŋgɔl | jəŋgal | ˈjɛŋgaɭ |
… /*eⁱ/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɛⁱ | |||||||
| nose | *mɛⁱ | mei- | mɛ- | mɛ- | mɛ- | mɛi- | |
| young | *ŋgVɺɛⁱ | kɔːlɛ | -kɭɛ | kɭei ~ -kɭɛ | kəreʔ | ||
| tail | *ŋgɔɺɛⁱ | koli- | guleî | kɔɭɛ- | kɔɭɛi ~ kɔɭɛ | kɔre |
…
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɛⁱ/#_ | jeⁱ [jɛi] | jeⁱ | eⁱ | eⁱ | eⁱ [e] | ||
| name | *ɛⁱ | jɛi | jei | ei | ei | e |
… /*aⁱ/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *aⁱ | aᵉ | ||||||
| short | *paⁱ | faːɛ- | fai | ˈfai- | faᵉ | fɛi | |
| run | *ŋgaⁱ | ŋkai | kai- [Umuaf] | kai- | |||
| arm/hand | *jaⁱ | zaːi ~ zaː- | ɟa- | jai- | jai | jaᵉ | jɛi |
| marsupial sp. | *jaⁱɺi | jaiɭi | jɛiri | ||||
| path | *mVwaⁱ | mai | mai | mai | mʷaᵉ | mwɛi | |
| leaf/hair | *mbVwaⁱ | βəwei ~ -pai | bai ~ -mbai | pai | pai | pʷaᵉ | pwɛi |
| tie | *jəkaⁱ | zəkai | jexai | ||||
| liver | *jɵ̝ŋgaⁱ | zéŋgai | jɔŋgʷai | jɔŋgʷai | ˈjɔŋkʷaᵉ | jɔŋgwɛi | |
| big/many | *ndVkaⁱ | tɔxai- | tɔxai | tɔˈɣʷaᵉ | toɣwɛi | ||
| red | *mɔŋgwaⁱ | moŋguwalɛ (?) | muŋgwai | moŋgai | mɔŋgai | ||
| bone/dry | *andaⁱ | andɾai | anrai | ndai | ndai |
… /*ɔᵘ/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *ɔᵘ | |||||||
| breadfruit | *ɔᵘ | ju | ou | ou | ɔwip |
… /*aᵘ/ …:
| East Pauwasi | Zorop | Zorop | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Warlef | Tokondo | Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | ||
| Lee | Walton | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | ||
| *aᵘ | aᵒ | ||||||
| hear | *waᵘ | vɔu | wau | wau | waᵒ | waoʔ | |
| fire/wood | *jaᵘ | zo ~ zu- | ɟo ~ ji- | jau | jao ~ jau | jaᵒ | jaɔ |
[under construction]
…
[under construction]
…
[under construction]
…
[under construction]
…
Zorop in particular has borrowed a good number of words from Senggi of the Tami River-Bewani Range family to the northwest, some of which are found also in North Emem presumably via Zorop. Senggi attestations are drawn from …::
…
… Senagi …
…
Emem and Karkar … Kwomtari-Nai family to the east …
| Kwomtari | Biaka | Emem | Emem | Karkar | Karkar | |
| Yuruf | Yambraf Dua | … | Main | |||
| Baron | Baron | Lebold | Lebold | Price | [SIL] | |
| dog | mau | mau | ||||
| pig | fɔri | worie ~ fwɔri | feɽ | fɛɭ | fʌɾ- |
…Emem and Tebi of the Tebi-Towe subgroiup to the west …
…
… regional …
…
…
…