Table of Contents

Kamrau Bay

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

The Kamrau Bay family consists of three closely-related languages, Buruwai, also known as Sabakor (Sebakor,) South Kamrau (Kamberau,) also known as Asienara, and North Kamrau (Kamberau,) also known as Iria, spoken around and to the west of Kamrau Bay at the southeast corner of the Bomberai peninsula in the Kaimana regency of Indonesia's West Papua province. Buruwai and Kamrau are the names of major rivers which flow into Kamrau Bay around which the languages named for them are spoken, since the people seem to have no clearly stablished names for themselves or their languages (Anceaux 1958: 116-117, Voorhoeve 1975: 369-370, Walker and Hesse 1988: 1, 2, 3, Visser 1989: 65-66, 68.) Voorhoeve (2005, 2007) calls this family Sabakor, but this is at best the name of only one of the languages and Sebakor also refers to a bay on the west side of the Bomberai peninsula in which Kalamang and Uruangnirin are spoken.

Subclassification

The internal classification of Kamrau Bay is as follows (Walker and Hesse 1988: 2):

Kamrau Bay

Buruwai

Kamrau

South Kamrau

North Kamrau

There has been quite a bit of confusion surrounding the use of the term Asienara, leading to the common misconception that there are only two rather than three languages in the Kamrau Bay family and that Asienara is another name for the Buruwai language. According to Walker and Hesse (1988 2,) Asienara refers to Southhern Kamberau, as spoken in the villages of Esania, Yarona, Edor and Kembala to the east of the lower Buruwai river, a completely different language from Buruwai aross the river to the southwest. Anceaux's (1958: 119-129) brief published vocabulary of Asienara is indeed the same language as South Kamrau. The same is true of Greenberg's (n.d.) lengthier excerpts from Anceaux's (n.d.) notebooks.

However, the vocabulary entitled Asienara in Voorhoeve (1975: 1975: 100) is in fact Buruwai, despite the fact that it too was drawn from Anceaux (n.d.) We can offer no easy explanation for this discrepancy besides the possibility that Anceaux may have had several vocabularies alleged to represent Asienara, with Greenberg exerpting from one and Voorhoeve from the other. Indeed, Voorhoeve's (2007) unpublished comparative vocabularies have some words representing Gaka and Guriasa villages attributed in part to Anceaux (n.d.) Anceaux's (1958: 111) map of the region includes inhabited portions of Walker and Hesse's (p. 3) South Kamberau territory, while both South Kamrau and Buruwai-speaking villages are listed as representing two different dialects of Asienara (p. 116, recapitulated in Voorhoeve 1975: 31.) Visser (1989: 38) writes, “It is revealing that the language spoken by the Sabakor people was called 'Asienara' (Anceaux 1958: 116) , which in Kamrau language means: people with curled hair;” however (p. 75) her survey was conducted with Voorhoeve . This incorrect conflation may also explain the seeming contradiction between Voorhoeve's (1975: 369, echoed by Wurm 1982: 138) comment that Iria and Asienara might be dialects of the same language.with his assertion as quoted by Walker and Hesse (1988: 2 after Voorhoeve p.c.) that Buruwai is a distinct language.

Walker and Hesse (1988: 2) give lexicostatistical figures between eleven Kamrau Bay villages as follows:

Buruwai Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamr. S. Kamr. N. Kamr. N. Kamr. N. Kamr. N. Kamr. N. Kamr. N. Kamr.
Gaka Tairi Yarona 2 Yarona 1 Esania Ubia Bahomia Waho Wamesa Koi Tanngar.
Buruwai Gaka 89 83 61 60 52 50 53 55 55 55
Buruwai Tairi 89 88 67 63 58 57 59 62 62 60
Buruwai Yarona 2 83 88 75 73 59 60 61 64 63 65
S. KamrauYarona 1 61 67 75 93 78 76 76 79 78 79
S. KamrauEsania 60 63 73 93 80 79 77 80 79 80
N. KamrauUbia 52 58 59 78 80 94 93 91 91 90
N. KamrauBahomia 50 57 60 76 79 94 94 93 92 94
N. KamrauWaho 53 59 61 76 77 93 94 97 94 96
N. KamrauWamesa 55 62 64 79 80 91 93 97 97 97
N. KamrauKoi 55 62 63 78 79 91 92 94 97 99
N. KamrauTanggar. 55 60 65 79 80 90 94 96 97 99

(In the chart above, Gaka stands for Gaka-Guriasa, Ubia for Ubia-Sermuku, Tanggar. for Tanggaromi and Kamr. for Kamrau.)

Sources

Anceaux (n.d.) vocabularies for Asienara and Iria (unobtained)

Anceaux (1956) (unobtained,) reprinted in English as (1958)

Anceaux (1958: 116-117) brief description of and (pp. 119-120) 10 comparative terms for Asienara (South Kamrau) and Iria

Greenberg (n.d.) comparative vocabularies for Iria and Asienara (South Kamrau) following Anceaux (n.d.)

Voorhoeve (1975: 100) 40 comparative terms for Iria and Asienara (Buruwai) following Anceaux (n.d.)

Voorhoeve (1975: 369-370) phoneme inventories and pronouns for Iria and Asienara

Voorhoeve (1980: 661-121) Proto-Asmat includes Iria words from Anceaux (n.d.)

Visser (1989) kin and miscellaneous terms for Sabakor (Buruwai) of Gaka village and Kamrau (North Kamrau) of Ubia-Sermuku village

Voorhoeve (2007) 227 comparative terms for Buruwai and Kamrau (mix of North Kamrau and South Kamrau)

Walker (1978) 110 comparative terms for Gaka village (Buruwai) and Obia-Seramuku, Waho and Wainoma villages (North Kamrau)

Walker and Werner (1978) (unobtained)

Walker (1983) 49 comparative terms for Kambola village (South Kamrau)

Walker and Hesse (1988) 209 comparative terms for Buruwai of Tairi village and Northern Kamberau of Waho village, 127 comparative terms for Buruwai of Yarona and Guriasa/Gaka villages, Southern Kamberau of Esania-Kuna and Yarona villages and Northern Kamberau of Tanggaromi, Bahomia, Ubia-Seramuku and Koi villages and 58 comparative terms for Northern Kamberau of Wamesa village

Matsumura (1985) 60 terms for Kamberau of Wanoma village (North Kamrau)

In addition to these, three unattributed typewritten vocabularies have been made available to us by SIL Indonesia dating to July and August 1956. They are glossed in Dutch and Indonesian and give 100 comparative terms for Gaka village (Buruwai,) Esania/Kuna village (South Kamrau) and Koi village (North Kamrau).

Voorhoeve's (2007) unattributed Buruwai and Kamrau vocabularies are not specified by location, but most likely largely largely represent the villages of Gaka and Ubia-Sermuku, since these are the Buruwai and (North) Kamrau villages that Visser and Voorhoeve had visited in 1986 (Visser 1989: 66, 75.) Walker and Hesse's Ubia-Seramuku vocabulary is North Kamrau but contains some unambiguously South Kamrau words, which may at least partly explain Voorhoeve's mix of the two varieites in his Kamrau vocabulary as the village itself probably includes some South Kamrau speakers.

History of classification

The first to mention Kamrau Bay languages in the taxonomic literature was probably Anceaux (1956, 1958: 118-119, ) who wrote “Of some languages it is very clear that they are related, in some cases even closely related, e.g. Iria to Asienara…It is quite possible that further inquiries will prove that all these Papuan languages are related. There are many indications of such a relationship but a definite proof has not yet been given. Of all the Papuan languages of the Bomberai Peninsula Asienara and Iria are the most dissimilar, at least in their vocabulary, but even they have words that may be common with other languages.“

Voorhoeve's (1968: 4) Kamoro-Sempan-Asmat group does not include Anceaux's Asienara and Iria. The discovery of the special relationship between these families fell to Greenberg (1971: 840), who wrote, “It has not been previously noted that these two languages [Asienara and Iria] are to be connected with the Kamoro group to the east from which they are separated both by the Etna Bay subgroup of the Western New Guinea subfamily and by Irarutu, an AN language. Voorhoeve (1975: 369) then includes Iria and Asienara in the Asmat-Kamoro family, but fails to credit Greenberg for this discovery, although Greeenberg's proposed placement of the Etna Bay (a.k.a. Mairasi) family is debunked in detail (pp. 425-431.) Of Kamrau Bay's position within Amsat-Kamoro, Voorhoeve writes, “Iria and Asienara share nearly 80% cognates, the other percentages within the family range from 50 % to 70 %. There is no clear subgrouping; Iria and Asienara seem to be somewhat closer related to Asmat than to Kamoro.” By Voorhoeve (2005) he appears to have abandoned the notion of a special relationship between Kamrau Bay, which he labels Sabakor, and Asmat in particular, treating Sabakor, Kamoro, Sempan and Asmat as four co-equal members of the Asmat-Kamoro family.

Historical phonology

[under construction]

Proto-Kamrau Bay had perhaps13 or 14 consonants and 5 vowels as follows::

*m *n
*p *t *k
*b [*d] *g
*s
*w *j
*i *u
*e *o
*a

Comparison with the inventory proposed in Voorhoeve (1975: 369-370) …



Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ does not occur initially; otherwise any consonant can occur initially or medially. Consonant clusters are found only in compounds.

Only a restricted set of consonants occur root-finally. These are discernible when suffixed with the article /*-ɾa/, where [ɾ] is modified or dropped following a consonant:

*m *n
*t *k

The combinations of final consonants and article /*-ɾa/ are analyzed by Voorhoeve (1980: 66) as class markers: “In this language the nouns seem to fall into three classes: those ending in -ra, in -ka or in -ʔa, and in -a or -da.” Analogous situations are found in West Kainantu (as well as Goroka) and in Baruya of Kratke Range, where Bee (1963) and Lloyd (1969) interpret a reduced set of finals as nominal class suffixes.

Initial consonants correspond as follows:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai S. Kamrau N. Kamrau
*m- m m m
*n- n n n
*p- p p p
*t- t t t
*k- k k ø
*b- b b b
*g- d g g
*ɸ- ɸ h h
*s- s ø ø
*s-/_i u s s s
*w- w w w
*W-
*j- j j j

Medial consonants correspond as follows:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai S. Kamrau N. Kamrau
*-m- m m m
*-n- n n n
*-n-/ma_ ɾ n n
*-p- p p p
*-t- t t t
*-k- k k ʔ
*-b- b b b
*-d- d d d
*-ɟ j d d
*-g- d g g
*-G- g g g
*-ɸ- ɸ h h
*-s- s s s
*-w- w w w
*-W- g w g
*-ɾ- ɾ ɾ ɾ
*-j- j j j

Root-final consonants in combination with article /*-ɾa/ correspond as follows:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai S. Kamrau N. Kamrau
*-V-ɾa ø-ɾa ø-ɾa ø-ɾa
*-m-ɾa ø-da ø-a w-a
*-n-ɾa ø-da ø-a ø-a
*-t-ɾa ø-ta t-a ʔ-a
*-k-ɾa ø-ta k-a ʔ-a
*-ɟ-ɾa j-a d-a d-a
*-ɾ-ɾa ø-da ø-a ø-a

Vowels correspond as follows:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai S. Kamrau N. Kamrau
*i i i i
*u u u u
*e e e e
*o o o o
*a a a a
*a/_Ci a a e
*a/_Cu a a o

These correspondences are exempified as follows. Our sources present an unusual situation in which nearly every one is needed to support at least part of the reconstruction, yet none are authoritative. The attestations of Walker (1978, Walker and Hesse 1988) are the best documented and cover most of the villages, but while generally reliable (notably excepting the pronouns) are pre-phonemic and some of the vocabularies are quite brief even by survey standards. Those of Voorhoeve (2007) contain many terms not found in Walker's surveys, however the curation is haphazard, the provinence of individual entries is often unclear and both Buruwai and (North) Kamrau hav been mixed with South Kamrau words, with South Kamrau itself going unrecognized. Greenberg's (n.d.) excerpts from Anceaux (n.d.) are more carefully curated and their source is clear, but represent only Asienara (South Kamrau) and Iria (North Kamrau) nor are all the terms found in other vocabularies included.

We are faced, then, with a conundrum inasmuch as it's not possible to fit all columns needed for a structured source-delineated presentation upon the width of a page. On the other hand, the phonological structures of the languages are understood well enough and the attestations are consistent enough for us to present our own phonemic versions of the words in question. Therefore we will depart from Newguineaworld conventions in presenting …, noting that the materials from which we draw are available in spreadsheet form in the Vocabularies section of our site.


Any consonant other than apical non-stop /*ɾ/ can occur initially.

Initial bilabial nasal /*m/ \is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*m- m m m m m m
mucus *minik mini-ˈta [CV] minak-a miniʔ-a
smooth *minapoC minaˈpo-də mIˈnapu-a ˈminopu-a
nose *mik ˈmiː-tə mi-ta [CV] miːk-a mik-a ˈmiʔ-a miʔ-a
milk *miɟ -mid-a -amir-a (?)
cough *maiɾu ˈmaⁱɾu-ɾa ˈmeɾu-ˈɾa
hand/arm *man ˈmaː-da ma-da [Gaka] ˈma- ma- ˈma- ma-
eye *manam ˈmara-də ˈməna-ː man-a ˈmonow-a man-ə (?)
live *manam- maɾam-aɾa manam-ˈara
lightning *mananai məɾəˈɾai-ɾə
[Gaka]
mananaⁱ-ɾa mənene-ra ˈmananai-ramananaj-ra
forehead *manam-pu mana-pu-ra mana-pu-rə
path *matoC ˈmato-də
wet *ma[ɟ/s]Vɸokmasaˈɸo-ta ˈmadohok-a modoˈhok-a
[CV]
ˈmodohoʔ-a modoˈhoʔ-a
[CV]
cry/weep *maɟa[C] maⁱˈje-daʔ maja-da [Gaka] mada-ra mada-ra meda-ra
spittle/saliva*masak maˈsa-ta- maˈsa-ta [CV] masak-a
path *mak ˈma-ta [Gaka] ˈmaːk-a- mak-a ˈmaʔ-a- maʔ-ə
foot/leg *mawu maˈβu-ɾa
[Gaka]
mawu-ra [CV] ˈmoβu-ra mabu-ra ˈmowu-rə movu-ra
star *mawuɾ[a] ˈmaβuɾə-ɾə ˈmaβuɾa-ɾa mawura-ra ˈmawur̃-a omawur-ə
walk *maɾ- ˈmaɾ-aɾa ˈmaɾ-əɾə [Kam]
cut down *mo- mu-ˈara [CV]
armpit *mopuk mopuk-a mopu-a
sugarcane *monek mone-ta [CV] moneʔ-a [CV]
water *moɟ ˈmoj-a moj-a [CV] ˈmoːd-a mod-a ˈmoːd-ə mod-a
small root *mumuɾu[C] mumuˈru-ra
[CV]
mumuru-a [EK] mumuru-a mumuru-a
finger *musi -musi-ɾa musi-ɾa ˈmusi-ra
testicles *musa musa [CV] musa-ra musa-ra

Initial apical nasal /*n/ is much less common than initial /*m/ (above.) It is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*n- n n n n n n
eat/drink *n[a]- ˈn-ara(ʔ) n-ara [EK] n-aːɾa
shame *napiC naˈpi-dak ˈneːpij-ə
fish *nam ˈna-daʔ ˈna-da [CV] ˈna-ː na ˈnoːw-a no-a
white *nabu naˈbu-ra ˈnəbu-ɾa nabu-ra ˈnobu-ɾa nobu-ra
raw/green *nasi -nasi-ra ˈnesi-ɾa nesi-ra
wound *nasuk naˈsu-ta [CV] ˈnosuʔ-a [CV]
1 pl. *naɾ ˈnaː-daʔ na-da [CV] n-a- [EK] n-a n-a- n-a
near *nom[o/u] nomo-ra ˈnoːmu-ɾanomo-ra
1 sg. *noɾ ˈnoː-daʔ no-da [CV] no-a [EK] no-a no- no-a
stink/bad smell*num ˈnu-da nu-da [CV] ˈnuːw-a ˈnuːw-a

Initial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is uncommon. It is retained as such in al three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*p- p p p p p p
thick *papuna ˈpapuna-ɾa poˈpuna-r̃a
rotten*pona ˈpona-rə ˈpona-ɾa ˈpoːna-ɾa
bat *pupu puˈpu-ra [CV] pupu-ra [CV]

Initial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is uncommon. None of these examples have known cognates in Asmat-Kamoro except for /*timako/ “crocodile”, which is identical to Kamoro /'timakɔ/ Drabbe 1953: 101) and hence must be a loan in one direction or the other as Kamoro /t/ reflects /*s/ while /*t/ has become /k/ (q.v. Voorhoeve 1980.) It is retained as such in al three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*t- t t t t t t
crocodile*timako tiˈmako-ra
[Gaka]
ˈtimoʔo-ɾa
dry *tata ˈtatə-ɾə ˈtata-ɾa tata-ra taʔta-ɾa tatja-ra
thin *taɾa ˈtaɾə-rə ˈtar̃a-r̃a
worm *toɾe ˈtoɾe-ɾa ˈtoɾe-ɾa
short *tuk[awa] tuˈkoβa-rə ˈtuka-ɾa

Initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is uncommon because Asmat-Kamoro initial /*k/ has been lost in Kamrau Bay. It is either lost in North Kamrau or simply inaudible as the medial reflex of /*k/ is glottal stop /ʔ/ (below;) this change is shared with Mairasi of the Etna Bay family (Peckham 1991: 152-153):

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*k- k k k k ø ø
many *kibu ˈkubu-ɾa kubu-ra ˈubu-ɾa
ibu-ɾa [Tang]
ubu-ra
this *kekeC keke (?) eʔe-a
frog *koni ˈkoni-rə [Gaka] ˈoni-ɾa
paradise (f.)*kowa ˈkoa-ra [CV] ˈoa-ra [CV]
full *kuwe[d/ɟ]a kwɛda-ɾa weda-ɾa; ueda-ɾa
heart *kuɾu kuˈru-ɾa ˈkuɾu-ɾa

Initial bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*b- b b b b b b
chest *bi bi- [CV] bi-ra bi-ra
snake *bima ˈbima-ɾa bima-ra bima-ɾa bimə-rə
wash *biɾi[g]- birid-aɾaʔ ˈbiri-arə
knife *bakatu bakatu-ra baʔtu-ra
hard *bebe bebe-ra bebe-ra
heart *bewe beβe-ɾaʔ [EK] ˈbeβe-ɾa
man/male *bewu beβu-ɾaʔ beɸu-ra bebu-ra ˈbewu-ɾa bevu-ra
vagina *beɾ ˈbe-da [CV] be-a ˈ be-a
good *bae bae-ra [EK] bae-ra bai-rah bae-ra
mouse/rat *bam ˈba-də ˈba-da [CV] ˈba-ː b-a ˈbaow-a [Koi] baw-a
cut (grass)*bawoɟ- baˈβoj-arə baβod-aɾa
egg *baɾusa ˈbarusa-ɾa barusa-raboˈɾusa-ra [US]borusə-rə
paddle *bo bo-ra [CV]
swollen *bonam ˈbonə-də ˈboːn-a ˈbonow-ə
mountain *bonaC boˈna-da ˈboon-aʔ [EK]
stick (n.) *boWa[C] ˈboga-ɾa ˈboːw-a ˈbɔːg-a
see *boɾ- boɾ-ˈaɾa bor-ara [EK] ˈbor-ara
cassowary *bu ˈbuː-ɾa ˈbu-ra [CV] ˈbuː-ɾa buː-ɾa
fly (v.) *buiɾ- ˈbwir-ara bᵘir-ara [CV]ˈbuːɾ-aɾa ˈbuɾ-aɾa bur-ara [CV]
areca nut *bueka ˈβeka-ra
[Kai] (?)
buekə-rə [Kam] ˈbweʔa-ɾa
tree/wood *buk ˈbuː-ta [Gaka] ˈbuːk-a ˈbuʔ-a
buttocks *buk buk-a buʔ-ə
moon *buɾa ˈbuɾa-ɾa ˈbuɾa-ɾa bura-ra ˈbur̃a-r̃a burə-rə
lake *buɾuwa buˈruβa-ra
[Gaka]
buˈɾuwa-ra
mountain *bujam ˈbuej-ə [Kam] buˈew-a biaw-e

Apical voiced stop /*d/ does not occur initially in native words. Two apparent examples of initial apical voiced stop /*d/ are loans from Kowiai /domaʔ/ “straight” and /na-dua/ “flood tide” respectively (Walker 1985):

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*d- d d d
long [*doma] ˈdoma-rə
river[*dua] ˈdua-ɾa ˈdua-ɾa dua-ra

Palatal voiced stop /*ɟ/ does not occur word-intiially because Asmat-Kamrau Bay initial /*ɟ/ has been lenited to non-stop /*j/ (below.)

Initial velar voiced stop /*g/is fronted to apical /d/ in Buruwai:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*g- d d g g g g
cut up *giɟ- di- [CV] ki- [CV] (?)
person *gisi diˈsi-ɾa disi-ra [CV] gisi-ra [EK]gisi-rə giˈsi-ɾa gisi-rə
beard *gemu gemu-rə gəmu-rə
cheek *gepam gep-a gepu-
leech *geɸi ˈdeɸi-rə defi-ra [CV] gehi-ɾa gehi-ɾa gefi-ra [CV]
rain *gek de-ta de-ta [CV] ˈgeːk-a gek-a ˈgeːʔ-a giʔ-a
child *gewu ˈdeβu-ɾa ˈdewu-ra [CV] gevu-ra ˈgewu-ɾa gevu-rə
bird *geɟ ˈdɛj-a deːj-a [CV] ˈgeːd-a ged-a geⁱd-a ged-ə
give *g[e/a]m- dam-araʔ dam- [CV] gam-ara [EK]gam- [CV]ˈgem-aɾə gem- [CV]
take *gV- da-r- [CV] ga-r- [CV]
grandparent*ga[t/k]a ˈdata-ra [CV] gaʔa-ra [CV]
push *go[w]- ˈdow-aɾaʔ ˈgow-uhu-ˈarə
stab *gu- ˈdw-aɾa gu-ˈaɾa
wipe *guɾu-maɟ-duˈru-maj-aɾa ˈguru-mad-arə

One example in which initial /*g/ is unexpectedly retained as /g/ in Buruwai may indicate a loan from South Kamrau into Buruwai (cf. Asmat-Kamoro /*tarawu/):

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*g- g g g g
old*gaɾu gaɾu-ɾa garu-ra goɾu-ɾa goru-ra

Initial bilabial voiceless fricative /*ɸ/ is deoccluded to /h/ in South Kamrau and in North Kamrau:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*ɸ- ɸ ɸ h h h h
hear *ɸi- -ɸi-ara [Gaka]-fi- [CV] -hi-ara [EK] -hi-aɾa -hi- [CV]
calf *ɸima fima-ra [CV] hima-ra [CV]
hair/feather(s)*ɸin ˈɸi-da fi-da [CV] ˈhĩːj-ə [Kam]hi-a ˈhiː-ə hi-ə ~ hi-a
excrement *ɸa ˈha-ra ha-ra haː-ra ha-ra
scratch *ɸa-maɟ- ˈɸa-maj-eɾa ˈha-mad-arə
wide *ɸaɸok ˈɸaβo-ta ˈhahok-a ˈhaːhoʔ-a
sore *ɸarin ˈɸari-də ˈharij-a ˈhaːri-ə
cuscus *ɸaɟ ˈpai-ra [CV] (?) haːd-a [CV]
cut *ɸo- fo- [CV] ho- [CV]
neck *ɸoma ˈhoma-ɾa homa-ra ˈhoma-rə homa-ra
skin/bark *ɸu ˈɸu-ra fu-ra [CV] ˈhuː-ɾa hu-ra ˈhuː-ɾa hu-ra
blow *ɸui-maɟ- ɸuⁱmaj- fi-ma- [CV] hu-ma- [CV]
fat/grease *ɸueɟ fued-a [CV] (?) hued-a hued-a

Initial apical voiceless fricative /*s/ when followed by mid and low vowels /*e *a *o/ is dropped in South Kamrau and in North Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*s-/_e a os s ø ø ø ø
tooth/sharp *sik ˈsiʔ-ta si-ta- [CV] ˈsik-a sik-a ˈsiʔ-a siʔ-a
earth/ground *sek ˈseʔ-ta se-ta [CV] ˈeːk-a ek-a ˈeʔ-a eʔ-a
flesh/meat *sasi səˈsi-ɾa ˈsasi-ra [CV]ˈaːsi-ɾa asi-rə ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
dry *sasok saso-ta [Gaka]soso-ta [CV]
light (weight)*soɸo sofo-ra [CV] oho-ra oho-ra
liver *soɸo[ɸo] sofo-ɾa [Gaka] ˈohoho-ɾa [US] ˈohoha-ɾa
forearm *sonam ˈsona-da [CV]
upper arm *sosu ˈsosu- [CV] ˈosu-ra [CV]

When initial /*s/ is followed by high vowels /*i *u/ it is retained in South Kamrau and in North Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*s-/i us s s s s s
paradise (m.)*siaga ˈsiada-ra [CV] ˈsiaga-ra [CV]
sand *sin ˈsiː-a si-a
tooth/sharp *sik ˈsiʔ-ta si-ta- [CV] ˈsik-a sik-a ˈsiʔ-a siʔ-a
salt *siɾa siɾa-ɾa [Gaka] ˈsiɾa-ɾa ˈsiraʔ-aʔ (?)
dig *siɟ- ˈsij-araʔ ˈsid-aɾa
sand *sumake ˈsumake-ra ˈsumaˈke-ɾa sumake-ra
kunai grass *suɾuma suˈruma-ra
[Gaka]
suˈrumə-rə
[Kam]
suˈruma-ɾa

Several examples have an /*s/ which is not droppped in South Kamrau and North Kamrau despite being followed by /*a/. Excepting “yellow”, which has no known Austronesian etymology and may well be a loan from Buruwai into South Kamrau, all of these are known to be loans from from Irarutu or Kowiai (below):

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*S- s s s s s s
yellow *Samaɸi ˈsamaɸi-ra
[Yar]
ˈsamehe-raʔ
[EK]
forked branch*SaGa ˈsaga-rə ˈsaga-raʔ [EK] saˈga-ra
fog *Sawanini[C]saˈwanini-ɾə
[Yar]
saˈwaniɲj-a
lake/swamp *Saɾuwe saraweˈɛ-rə ˈsaruwe-rə

Initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*w-
person *weɟ wed-a [CV]weˈd-a ued-ə
sky *wanam[a] wəˈnama-rə wanama-ra
[CV]
ˈwənama-ɾauanama-ra ˈoːnaw-a
thatch *wan[i/e]nwaˈnɛ-da ˈweːni-a
forest *wak wa-ta ˈwa-ta [CV] waʔ-a waʔ-a [CV]
hornbill*waɾi ˈwari-ra [CV] weri-ra [CV]
rope *waɾak ˈwara-ta [Yar] waɾak-a uarak-a waˈɾaʔ-a uaraʔ-a
thumb *wok wo-ta [CV] -wok-a -woʔ-a

… /*w/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*W- gʷ [gʷ gu]gʷ [gʷ gu]gʷ [gʷ gu] gʷ [gʷ gu]gʷ [gʷ gu]gʷ [gʷ gu]
vomit *Waɸin ˈgwaɸi-daʔ ˈgwaːj-aʔ guˈahi-a [CV]
long *Waɾu gwaɾu-ɾa gwaru-ra ˈgwaɾu-ɾa gwaru-ra
thunder*Wuɾuɟam gurˈia-da ˈgurud-a
~ˈguri-a
guri-e ˈguruˈdaw-a gurudaw-a

Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ does not occur initially.

Initial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*j-
head *jebin jɛˈbi-da jabi-da [CV] ˈjebij-a ˈjeʔbi-a
night *jewak iβa-ˈtaa iwa-ta [CV] ˈjeβak-a iawak-a ˈjewa-a iewa ʔ-a
penis *jamam jaˈma-da [CV] jem-a [CV] jemo-a [CV]
left *jamo iˈjamo-ɾa jamoa-ra ˈjaːmo-ɾa jamo-ra
all *jabasin ˈjaːbasi [EK] jabasi-a ˈjeːbasi-a
[Wam]
jabasi-a
all *jabowa jaˈboβa-rə ˈjeboβa-ɾa
kill *jaɸ- ˈiɸ-araʔ ˈeːh-aɾa
house *jaɸ[a/o] ˈjaho-ɾə [Kam]jaha-ra ˈjaha-ɾa jaha-ra
ear *jaɸ[a/o]miːɸo-də fa-da [CV] ˈjaːh-a ja-ha ˈehow-ə ehu-a
nest *jawa ˈjo-rə [Gaka] ˈjawa-ra jawa-rə
woman/female*jawoɟa jaˈβoa-raʔ jaˈwoja-ra [CV]jaɸoda-ra jewoda-ra joˈwoda-ra [CV]
father *jaja ˈjaⁱja-ɾaʔ jaja [CV] jai-ra ˈjai-ɾa jai-ra
river *joWa ˈjoga-ɾə jogə-ra
lie down *joɟ- joⁱj-aɾa ˈjod-aɾəʔ

… /*j/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*[j]- j j ø
big*[j]okak ˈjokə-təjoˈka-ta [CV]ˈoːˈkok-a

Any consonant can occur medially.

Medial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-m- m m m m m m
arrow sp. *imuC iˈmu-da [CV] imw-a [CV]
garden *iduma iˈdumə-rə iˈduma-ɾa [EK]
stand *emeɟ- ˈmej-aɾa emed-ara [EK] emet-ara ˈɛmed-ara emet-ara
count *emaw- maᵘw-araʔ ˈɛmu-aɾa
round *emo[a]ɾa ˈmoara-r
[Gaka]
emora-ra [anon] ˈemoɾa-ɾa
tongue *[a]mam ˈama-də ama-da [CV] ˈma-ː ma ˈmoːw-a mo-ə
hot *amam ˈama-da aˈma-da [CV] ˈaːm-a am-a ˈaːmow-a amw-a
bow *amon aˈmo-da [CV] amo-a amo-a
narrow *amota aˈmota-ra ˈamota-ɾa ˈamota-rə
husband *amoɟak aˈmoⁱja-taʔ moja-ta [CV] amodak-a ˈamodaʔ-a amoda (?)
smoke *amuni[C] amuˈni-ɾa ˈamonj-a [EK] amuni-a ˈamuni-ə amuni (?)
two *aboma aˈbomə-ra
[Gaka]
ˈaboma aboma ˈaboma aboma
ashes/dust *umin uˈmi-da umi-da [CV] ˈuːmij-a umi-a ˈuːmij-a umi-ə
root *[u]mam uma-da [anon] mo-a [anon]
navel *umabeɾ moˈbe-da [CV] umabi-a umab-e
live *manam- maɾam-aɾa manam-ˈara
small root *mumuɾu[C] mumuˈru-ra
[CV]
mumuru-a [EK] mumuru-a mumuru-a
snake *bima ˈbima-ɾa bima-ra bima-ɾa bimə-rə
calf *ɸima fima-ra [CV] hima-ra [CV]
scratch *ɸa-maɟ- ˈɸa-maj-eɾa ˈha-mad-arə
neck *ɸoma ˈhoma-ɾa homa-ra ˈhoma-rə homa-ra
blow *ɸui-maɟ- ɸuⁱ-maj- fi-ma- [CV] hu-ma- [CV]
near *nom[o/u] nomo-ra ˈnoːmu-ɾa nomo-ra
crocodile *timako tiˈmako-ra
[Gaka]
ˈtimoʔo-ɾa
sand *sumake ˈsumake-ra ˈsumaˈke-ɾa sumake-ra
kunai grass*suɾuma suˈruma-ra
[Gaka]
suˈrumə-rə
[Kam]
suˈruma-ɾa
beard *gemu gemu-rə gəmu-rə
give *g[e/a]m- dam-araʔ dam- [CV] gam-ara [EK] gam- [CV] ˈgem-aɾə gem- [CV]
wipe *guɾu-maɟ-duˈru-maj-aɾa ˈguru-mad-arə
penis *jamam jaˈma-da [CV] jem-a [CV] jemo-a [CV]
left *jamo iˈjamo-ɾa jamoa-ra ˈjaːmo-ɾa jamo-ra

In one word, medial /*m/ has irregularly changed to final /*m/ (below) in north Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-m[a]-ɾama-ɾa ma-ɾa ma-ɾa ma-ɾaw-a w-a
sky*wanam[a] wəˈnama-rəwanama-ra
[CV]
ˈwənama-ɾauanama-raˈoːnaw-a

Medial apical nasal /*n/ is generally retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-n- n n n n n n
back *eɾena(-si) ˈenesa-ɾa erena-ra ˈɛr̃nə-si-ɾaerna-ra
come *[e/a]n[e/a]w-naβ-ˈaraʔ naw- anaw-ara anaw-e ˈneːw-aɾa anaw-ara
smoke *amuni[C] amuˈni-ɾa ˈamonj-a [EK]amuni-a ˈamuni-ə amuni (?)
centipede *anV anə-ra
jungle fowl*[owa]nak ˈona-te [CV] ˈwanaʔ-a [CV]
smooth *minapoC minaˈpo-də mIˈnapu-a ˈminopu-a
mucus *minik mini-ˈta [CV] minak-a miniʔ-a
sugarcane *monek mone-ta [CV] moneʔ-a [CV]
thick *papuna ˈpapuna-ɾa poˈpuna-r̃a
rotten *pona ˈpona-rə ˈpona-ɾa ˈpoːna-ɾa
swollen *bonam ˈbonə-də ˈboːn-a ˈbonow-ə
mountain *bonaC boˈna-da ˈboon-aʔ [EK]
forearm *sonam ˈsona-da [CV]
thatch *wan[i/e]n waˈnɛ-da ˈweːni-a
sky *wanam[a] wəˈnama-rəwanama-ra
[CV]
ˈwənama-ɾa uanama-raˈoːnaw-a

When following an initial segment /*ma/, medial /*n/ is lenited to non-stop /ɾ/ in Buruwai:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-n-/ma_ɾ ɾ n n n n
eye *manam ˈmara-də ˈməna-ː man-a ˈmonow-a man-ə (?)
live *manam- maɾam-aɾa manam-ˈara
lightning*mananai məɾəˈɾai-ɾə
[Gaka]
mananaⁱ-ɾamənene-raˈmananai-ramananaj-ra

Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-p- p p p p p p
arrow sp. *ipuC ipu-a ipu (?)
sago *apim ˈapi-a
older brother*apoɟa aˈpoja-ra
[CV]
apuda (?) apoda-ra
fog *apuki apuˈki-ra ˈapuʔiɾa
above *ope ope-ra ope-ra
armpit *mopuk mopuk-a mopu-a
thick *papuna ˈpapuna-ɾa poˈpuna-r̃a
bat *pupu puˈpu-ra [CV] pupu-ra [CV]
shame *napiC naˈpi-dak ˈneːpij-ə
cheek *gepam gep-a gepu-

Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is uncommon. It si retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-t- t t t t t t
tie/bind*it- it-ˈara ˈit-aɾa ˈiːt-araʔ
bamboo *it[a/o]C ito-da [CV] it-a [CV] it-a [CV]
stone *eta ˈeːta-ɾa ˈeːta-ɾa eta-ra ˈeta-ɾa etə-rə
narrow *amota aˈmota-ra ˈamota-ɾa ˈamota-rə
path *matoC ˈmato-də
knife *bakatu bakatu-ra baʔtu-ra
dry *tata ˈtatə-ɾə ˈtata-ɾa tata-ra taʔta-ɾa tatja-ra (?)

Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is deoccluded to glottal stop /ʔ/ in North Kamrau:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-k- k k k k ʔ ʔ
fruit/seed *eke eˈke-ra jake-ra [CV] ˈeke–ɾa -eke-ra ˈeʔe-ɾa -eʔe-ra
bone *eke ˈke-ɾa eke-ra [CV] ˈeke-ɾa eke-ra ˈeʔe-ɾa [US] eʔe-rə
fog *apuki apuˈki-ra ˈapuʔiɾa
salt/bitter *akewa ˈkeβa-ra ˈaʔewa-ɾa [US]akewa-ra ˈaʔewə-ɾa [Koi]
charcoal/black*aka ˈaka-ra ˈaka-ra [CV] aka-ɾa aka-ra aʔa-r̃a aʔa-ra
knife *bakatu bakatu-ra baʔtu-ra
areca nut *bueka ˈβeka-ra [Kai] buekə-rə [Kam] ˈbweʔa-ɾa
crocodile *timako tiˈmako-ra
[Gaka]
ˈtimoʔo-ɾa
short *tuk[awa] tuˈkoβa-rə ˈtuka-ɾa
sand *sumake ˈsumake-ra ˈsumaˈke-ɾa sumake-ra
this *kekeC keke (?) eʔe-a
big *[j]okak ˈjokə-tə joˈka-ta [CV]ˈoːˈkok-a

Medial bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is retained as such in all three subgroups:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-b- b b b b b b
two *aboma aˈbomə-ra
[Gaka]
ˈaboma aboma ˈaboma aboma
breadfruit*obam oba-da [CV] ob-a [CV] obo-a [CV]
navel *umabeɾ moˈbe-da [CV] umabi-a umab-e
blunt/dull*ubija ˈuːbija-ɾa ˈubja-ɾa [Tang]
old man *ubok ubok-a uboʔ-a
five *man ibak ma-da-ˈba-ta ˈme-ⁱbak-a ˈme-baʔ-a ma-iba (?)
hard *bebe bebe-ra bebe-ra
white *nabu naˈbu-ra ˈnəbu-ɾa nabu-ra ˈnobu-ɾa nobu-ra
many *kibu ˈkubu-ɾa kubu-ra ˈubu-ɾa
ibu-ɾa [Tang]
ubu-ra
head *jebin jɛˈbi-da jabi-da [CV] ˈjebij-a ˈjeʔbi-a
all *jabasin ˈjaːbasi [EK]jabasi-a ˈjeːbasi-a
[Wam]
jabasi-a
all *jabowa jaˈboβa-rə ˈjeboβa-ɾa

Medial apical voiced stop /*d/ is found clearly in only three native roots, where it is retained as such in all three languages. “Heavy” is found in Asmat-Kamoro as /*jutoro/. “Garden” is conceivably a metathesis of North Kamrau /imoj/ [imod-a] loaned into Buruwai from South Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-d- d d d d d d
heavy *id[a/o]ɾoCidaˈro-dadiro-da [CV]ˈidaru-a idoro-a ˈiːdor̃u-aidoro-a
garden*iduma iˈdumə-rə iˈduma-ɾa [EK]
know *ad- ˈad-aɾa ˈad-ama

A third example is a loan from Irarutu /waranda/ “knife” (Voorhoeve 1995, below); see also Matsumara's (1985) North Kamrau [beːda] “machete” which is a loan from Kowiai /beda/ “machete, bushkife” (Walker 1985, below):

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-d- d d
axe*waɾada waraˈda-ra [CV] farada-ra [CV]

Medial palatal voiced stop/*ɟ/ is occluded to \voiced apical stop /d/ in South Kamrau and in North Kamrau:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-ɟ- j ø j ø d d d d
one *-ɟawa -ˈjaβə-ɾa [Gaka]-ˈawa-ra -ˈdaβa -dawa -dawa
husband *amoɟak aˈmoⁱja-taʔ moja-ta [CV] amodak-a ˈamodaʔ-a amoda (?)
older brother *apoɟa aˈpo(ja)-ra
[CV]
apuda apoda-ra
younger brother*awoɟa awo(ja)-ra
[CV]
awadeja (?) awoda-ra
cry/weep *maɟa[C] maⁱˈje-daʔ maja-da [Gaka] mada-ra mada-ra meda-ra
thunder *Wuɾuɟam gurˈia-da ˈgurud-a
~ˈguri-a
guri-e ˈguruˈdaw-agurudaw-a
woman/female *jawoɟa jaˈβoa-raʔ jaˈwoja-ra [CV] jeˈβoːdə-rə
[Kam]
jewoda-ra joˈwoda-ra ]CV]

A number of verbs have root-final /*ɟ/. Historically, these reflect either palatal non-stop /*j/ or subphonemic giide [*j] following a front vowel /*i *e/ or a dipthongs /*oi/ etc.; however as they follow the same correspondence as root-medial /*ɟ/ they are presented as such at the proto-Kamrau Bay level:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-ɟ… j j d d d d
stand *emeɟ- ˈmej-aɾa emed-ara [EK] emet-ara ˈɛmed-ara emet-ara
cook/burn *aw[i/e]ɟ-aˈβi-a awi- [CV]ˈaβed-aɾa ˈaᵘβed-aɾa ˈawed-ara [CV]
split (tr.)*owoɟ- oˈβoj-arə ˈoβod-araʔ [EK}
bathe *moɟ- -mod-aɾa
cut (grass)*bawoɟ- baˈβoj-arə baβod-aɾa
scratch *ɸa-maɟ- ˈɸa-maj-eɾa ˈha-mad-arə
dig *siɟ- ˈsij-araʔ ˈsid-aɾa
wipe *guɾu-maɟ-duˈru-maj-aɾa ˈguru-mad-arə
lie down *joɟ- joⁱj-aɾa ˈjod-aɾəʔ

Medial velar voiced stop /*g/, like intiial /*g/ (above), is fronted to apical /d/ in Buruwai:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-g- d d g g g g
speak *ag- ad-ara [CV] ag-ara [CV]
bite *ag- ad-ˈaɾəad- [CV] ˈag-aɾa ˈaːg-ara
call *ag- da-r [CV] aga-r [CV]
voice/speech *aga ada-ra [CV] aga-ra aga-rə
branch *agaC ˈada- [CV] ag-a ag-a
paradise (m.)*siaga ˈsiada-ra [CV] ˈsiaga-ra [CV]

One example in which medial /*g/ is unexpectedly retained as /g/ in Buruwai may indicate a loan from South Kamrau into Buruwai (cf. Asmat-Kamoro /*iti/) or is conditioned by following high front vowel /*i/:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-g- g g g g g g
thorn*igi iˈgi-rəgi-ra [CV]igi-ɾa igi-ɾa igi-ra

Medial bilabial voiceless fricative /*ɸ/, like intial /ɸ/ (above,) is deoccluded to /h/ in South Kamrau and in North Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-ɸ- ɸ ɸ h h h h
cold *iɸok iˈɸo-ta iˈfo-ta [CV] ˈihok-a ihok-a
leaf *eɸe -ɸɛ-ɾə efe-ra [CV] ˈehe-ɾa ehe-ra eˈhe-ɾa ehe-ra
tail *eɸe ˈɸɛ- fe- [CV] ˈehe-raʔ [EK] ehe-ra ehe-ɾ- ehe-
wind *aɸe aˈɸe-ra afe-ra [CV] ˈahe-ɾa ahe-ra ˈahe-ɾa ahe-rə
hole *aɸa afi-ra [CV] aha-ra aha-rə
wing *aɸa-ɸu aɸa-ˈɸu-ra afa-ˈfu- [CV] ˈaha-hu-ɾa aha-hu-ra ˈaha-hu-ɾaha-hu-ra
belly *aɸowa aˈɸoga-rə [Gaka]aˈpoga-ra [CV]ˈahowa-ɾa ˈahoga-rə oho-
soft *oɸo oho-ra
hand/arm *man ɸek ˈm-a-hek-a m-a-hek-a ˈm-a-heʔ-am-a-heʔ-a
wet *ma[ɟ/s]Vɸokmasaˈɸo-ta ˈmadohok-a modoˈhok-a
[CV]
ˈmodohoʔ-amodoˈhoʔ-a
[CV]
wide *ɸaɸok ˈɸaβo-ta ˈhahok-a ˈhaːhoʔ-a
light (weight)*soɸo sofo-ra [CV] oho-ra oho-ra
liver *soɸo sofo-ɾa [Gaka] ˈoh-oho-ɾa [US] ˈoh-oha-ɾa
leech *geɸi ˈdeɸi-rə defi-ra [CV] gehi-ɾa gehi-ɾa gefi-ra [CV]
house *jaɸ[a/o] ˈjaho-ɾə [Kam] jaha-ra ˈjaha-ɾa jaha-ra
vomit *Waɸin ˈgwaɸi-daʔ ˈgwaːj-aʔ guˈahi-a [CV]
kill *jaɸ- ˈiɸ-araʔ ˈeːh-aɾa
ear *jaɸ[a/o]m iːɸo-də fa-da [CV] ˈjaːh-a ja-ha ˈehow-ə ehu-a

Medial apical voiceless fricative /*s/ is retained as such in all three languages regardless of the following vowel, unlike intial /*s/ which is dropped when folowed by /*e *a *o/ (above):

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-s- s s s s s s
mosquito *isi iˈsi-rə ˈisi-ɾa isi-ra ˈisi-ɾa isi-rə
sleep *esa- sa-ˈmaɾ-aɾa ˈes-arə [Kam] ˈeːs-aɾə es-ara [CV]
net bag *esak iˈsa-ta [CV] esek-a esa [CV] (?)
dream *esoC ˈeːso-daʔ ˈeso-a eso-ˈa [CV]
sun/day *asi aˈsi-ra asi-ɾa asi-ra ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
egg *asa ˈasa-ra asa-ra [CV]
yesterday *asaɟ (?) asa-de asa-də
ripe *asak asa-ta [CV] ak-a aʔ-a
cough *os- ˈos-ara [CV]
coconut *usin uˈsi-da [Gaka]uˈsi-da [CV] ˈusi-a
fire *usa ˈusa-ɾa ˈusa-ɾa usa-ra ˈuːsa-ɾa use-ra
spittle/saliva*masak maˈsa-ta- maˈsa-ta [CV] masak-a
finger *musi -musi-ɾa musi-ɾa ˈmusi-ra
testicles *musa musa [CV] musa-ra musa-ra
egg *baɾusa ˈbarusa-ɾa barusa-raboˈɾusa-ra [US] borusə-rə
raw/green *nasi -nasi-ra ˈnesi-ɾa nesi-ra
wound *nasuk naˈsu-ta [CV] ˈnosuʔ-a [CV]
flesh/meat *sasi səˈsi-ɾa ˈsasi-ra [CV]ˈaːsi-ɾa asi-rə ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
dry *sasok saso-ta [Gaka]soso-ta [CV]
upper arm *sosu ˈsosu- [CV] ˈosu-ra [CV]
all *jabasin ˈjaːbasi [EK]jabasi-a ˈjeːbasi-a
[Wam]
jabasi-a

Medial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-w- w [β w] w w [β ɸ w] w [w <v b>]w [w β] w [w <v b>]
lip(s) *iwin iˈβi-d- ˈiβu- ivu- ˈiwu- ivu-
dog *iwuɾ iˈβu-də iwu-da [CV] ˈiβu-a ibu-a ˈiːw-a ib-a
count *emaw- maᵘw-araʔ ˈɛmu-aɾa
come *[e/a]n[e/a]w-naβ-ˈaraʔ naw- anaw-ara anaw-e ˈneːw-aɾa anaw-ara
sit *[e/a]w- ˈeβ-aɾa aɸ-ara [EK] aw-ara ˈaw-arə aw-ara
salt/bitter *akewa ˈkeβa-ra ˈaʔewa-ɾa [US] akewa-ra ˈaʔewə-ɾa [Koi]
rib(s) *awin awin(ə)- [CV] abi- avi-
cook/burn *aw[i/e]ɟ- aˈβi-a awi- [CV] ˈaβed-aɾa ˈaᵘβed-aɾa ˈawed-ara [CV]
far *aw[i/a] aβi-ɾa aua-ra aˈuːwa-ɾa aua-ra
breast *awo aˈwo-ra [Gaka] aɸo-ra [EK] avo-ra ˈawo-ra avo-rə
younger brother*awoɟa awo(ja)-ra
[CV]
awadeja (?) awoda-ra
jungle fowl *[owa]nak ˈona-te [CV] ˈwanaʔ-a [CV]
split (tr.) *owoɟ- oˈβoj-arə ˈoβod-araʔ [EK}
foot/leg *mawu maˈβu-ɾa
[Gaka]
mawu-ra [CV] ˈmoβu-ra mabu-ra ˈmowu-rə movu-ra
star *mawuɾ[a] ˈmaβuɾə-ɾə ˈmaβuɾa-ɾa mawura-ra ˈmawur̃-a omawur-ə
man/male *bewu beβu-ɾaʔ beɸu-ra bebu-ra ˈbewu-ɾa bevu-ra
cut (grass) *bawoɟ- baˈβoj-arə baβod-aɾa
lake *buɾuwa buˈruβa-ra
[Gaka]
buˈɾuwa-ra
one *-ɟawa -ˈjaβə-ɾa [Gaka] -ˈawa-ra -ˈdaβa -dawa -dawa
full *kuwe[d/ɟ]a kwɛda-ɾa weda-ɾa; ueda-ɾa
child *gewu ˈdeβu-ɾa ˈdewu-ra [CV] gevu-ra ˈgewu-ɾa gevu-rə
push *go[w]- ˈdow-aɾaʔ ˈgow-uhu-ˈarə
night *jewak iβa-ˈtaa iwa-ta [CV] ˈjeβak-a iawak-a ˈjewa-a iewa ʔ-a
all *jabowa jaˈboβa-rə ˈjeboβa-ɾa
nest *jawa ˈjo-rə [Gaka] ˈjawa-ra jawa-rə
woman/female *jawoɟa jaˈβoa-raʔ jaˈwoja-ra [CV] jaɸoda-ra jewoda-ra joˈwoda-ra [CV]

… /*W/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-W- g w g
stick (n.)*boWa[C] ˈboga-ɾa ˈboːw-a ˈbɔːg-a
river *joWa ˈjoga-ɾə jogə-ra

Medial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-ɾ- ɾ ɾ ɾ ɾ ɾ ɾ
heavy *id[a/o]ɾoCidaˈro-da diro-da [CV] ˈidaru-a idoro-a ˈiːdor̃u-a idoro-a
shoot *iɾ- iɾ-ˈaɾə ˈiɾ-aɾa ˈiɾ-aɾa [US]
round *emo[a]ɾa ˈmoara-r
[Gaka]
emora-ra [anon] ˈemoɾa-ɾa
back *eɾena(-si) ˈenesa-ɾa erena-ra ˈɛr̃nə-si-ɾa erna-ra
2 pl.. *eɾeɾ ere-a [EK] eri-a eraj-a [anon] eri-a
today *asi-ɾek asi-rik-a- asi-reʔ-a
3 sg. *aɾaɾ ar-a [EK] ar-a aːˈr-a ar-a
fly (n.) *oɸoɾoboC ˈohoˈrobo-a ohorobu-a ˈoho bu-a ohobu-a
cloud *oɾeC oˈre-da- [CV] ˈor̃e- [EK] ˈore-a [Tang] ore- [CV]
2 sg. *oɾoɾ oˈroː-da oro-da [CV] oro-a [EK] oro-a woɾu-ˈə oro-a
cough *maiɾu ˈmaⁱɾu-ɾa ˈmeɾu-ˈɾa
walk *maɾ- ˈmaɾ-aɾa ˈmaɾ-əɾə [Kam]
small root *mumuɾu[C] mumuˈru-ra
[CV]
mumuru-a [EK] mumuru-a mumuru-a
wash *biɾi[g]- birid-aɾaʔ ˈbiri-arə
egg *baɾusa ˈbarusa-ɾa barusa-ra boˈɾusa-ra [US]borusə-rə
see *boɾ- boɾ-ˈaɾa bor-ara [EK] ˈbor-ara
fly (v.) *buiɾ- ˈbwir-ara bᵘir-ara [CV] ˈbuːɾ-aɾa ˈbuɾ-aɾa bur-ara [CV]
moon *buɾa ˈbuɾa-ɾa ˈbuɾa-ɾa bura-ra ˈbur̃a-r̃a burə-rə
lake *buɾuwa buˈruβa-ra
[Gaka]
buˈɾuwa-ra
sore *ɸarin ˈɸari-də ˈharij-a ˈhaːri-ə
thin *taɾa ˈtaɾə-rə ˈtar̃a-r̃a
worm *toɾe ˈtoɾe-ɾa ˈtoɾe-ɾa
kunai grass*suɾuma suˈruma-ra
[Gaka]
suˈrumə-rə
[Kam]
suˈruma-ɾa
heart *kuɾu kuˈru-ɾa ˈkuɾu-ɾa
old *gaɾu gaɾu-ɾa garu-ra goɾu-ɾa goru-ra
wipe *guɾu-maɟ- duˈru-maj-aɾa ˈguru-mad-arə
hornbill *waɾi ˈwari-ra [CV] weri-ra [CV]
rope *waɾak ˈwara-ta [Yar] waɾak-a uarak-a waˈɾaʔ-a uaraʔ-a
long *Waɾu gwaɾu-ɾa gwaru-ra ˈgwaɾu-ɾa gwaru-ra
thunder *Wuɾuɟam gurˈia-da ˈgurud-a
~ˈguri-a
guri-e ˈguruˈdaw-a gurudaw-a

Medial palatal non-stop /*j/ is retained as such in all three languages:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-j- j j j j j j
wife *ajam aˈja-da ja-da- [CV] aj-a ˈajaw-a ajaw-a
blunt/dull*ubija ˈuːbija-ɾa ˈubja-ɾa [Tang]
father *jaja ˈjaⁱja-ɾaʔjaja [CV] jai-ra ˈjai-ɾa jai-ra
mountain *bujam ˈbuej-ə [Kam] buˈew-a biaw-e

Only a restricted number of consonants /*m *n *t *k *ɾ *ɟ/ occur word-finally, where they are discernible primarily by the results of their combinations with nominal article /*-ɾa/. First, let us examine the behavior of /*-ɾa/ when it is appended to a vowel-final root and is thus reflected as /-ɾa/ in all three languages :

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa
mosquito *isi iˈsi-rə ˈisi-ɾa isi-ra ˈisi-ɾa isi-rə
thorn *iGi iˈgi-rə gi-ra [CV] igi-ɾa igi-ɾa igi-ra
small *iwu iβu-ɾa ivu-ra iwu-ɾa ivu-ra
garden *iduma iˈdumə-rə iˈduma-ɾa [EK]
round *emo[a]ɾa ˈmoara-r
[Gaka]
emora-ra [anon] ˈemoɾa-ɾa
leaf *eɸe -ɸɛ-ɾə efe-ra [CV] ˈehe-ɾa ehe-ra eˈhe-ɾa ehe-ra
tail *eɸe ˈɸɛ- fe- [CV] ˈehe-raʔ [EK] ehe-ra ehe-ɾ- ehe-
stone *eta ˈeːta-ɾa ˈeːta-ɾa eta-ra ˈeta-ɾa etə-rə
fruit/seed *eke eˈke-ra jake-ra [CV] ˈeke–ɾa -eke-ra ˈeʔe-ɾa -eʔe-ra
bone *eke ˈke-ɾa eke-ra [CV] ˈeke-ɾa eke-ra ˈeʔe-ɾa [US] eʔe-rə
back *eɾena(-si) ˈenesa-ɾa erena-ra ˈɛr̃nə-si-ɾa erna-ra
new *ai aⁱ-ɾa ai-ra [anon] ai-ra ai-ra ai-ra
narrow *amota aˈmota-ra ˈamota-ɾa ˈamota-rə
older brother *apoɟa aˈpo(ja)-ra
[CV]
apuda (?) apoda-ra
fog *apuki apuˈki-ra ˈapuʔiɾa
crab *[a]buea aˈbwea-ra [CV] ˈbwe-ra [CV]
wind *aɸe aˈɸe-ra afe-ra [CV] ˈahe-ɾa ahe-ra ˈahe-ɾa ahe-rə
hole *aɸa afi-ra [CV] aha-ra aha-rə
wing *aɸa-ɸu aɸa-ˈɸu-ra afa-ˈfu- [CV] ˈaha-hu-ɾa aha-hu-ra ˈaha-hu-ɾa ha-hu-ra
belly *aɸowa aˈɸoga-rə [Gaka] aˈpoga-ra [CV] ˈahowa-ɾa ˈahoga-rə oho-
centipede *an[a] anə-ra
sun/day *asi aˈsi-ra asi-ɾa asi-ra ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
egg *asa ˈasa-ra asa-ra [CV]
salt/bitter *akewa ˈkeβa-ra ˈaʔewa-ɾa [US] akewa-ra ˈaʔewə-ɾa [Koi]
charcoal/black *aka ˈaka-ra ˈaka-ra [CV] aka-ɾa aka-ra aʔa-r̃a aʔa-ra
voice/speech *aga ada-ra [CV] aga-ra aga-rə
far *aw[i/a] aβi-ɾa aua-ra aˈuːwa-ɾa aua-ra
breast *awo aˈwo-ra [Gaka] aɸo-ra [EK] avo-ra ˈawo-ra avo-rə
younger brother*awoɟa awo(ja)-ra
[CV]
awadeja (?) awoda-ra
tree/wood *o ˈo-ra oː-ɾa o-ra ˈoːʔ-ra o-ra
above *ope ope-ra ope-ra
soft *oɸo oho-ra
cough/phlegm *os[a] ˈosa-ra [CV]
name *u u-ˈɾa u-ra [EK] u-ra uː-ra u-ra
white cockatoo *u u-rə
blunt/dull *ubija ˈuːbija-ɾa ˈubja-ɾa [Tang]
fire *usa ˈusa-ɾa ˈusa-ɾa usa-ra ˈuːsa-ɾa use-ra
sea *uwa ˈuβa-rə ˈuːwa-ɾa uva-ra ˈuwa-ra uvə-rə
cough *maiɾu ˈmaⁱɾu-ɾa ˈmeɾu-ˈɾa
lightning *mananai məɾəˈɾai-ɾə
[Gaka]
mananaⁱ-ɾa mənene-ra ˈmananai-ra mananaj-ra
forehead *manam-pu mana-pu-ra mana-pu-rə
foot/leg *mawu maˈβu-ɾa
[Gaka]
mawu-ra [CV] ˈmoβu-ra mabu-ra ˈmowu-rə movu-ra
star *mawuɾ[a] ˈmaβuɾə-ɾə ˈmaβuɾa-ɾa mawura-ra ˈmawur̃-a omawur-ə
finger *musi -musi-ɾa musi-ɾa ˈmusi-ra
testicles *musa musa [CV] musa-ra musa-ra
thick *papuna ˈpapuna-ɾa poˈpuna-r̃a
rotten *pona ˈpona-rə ˈpona-ɾa ˈpoːna-ɾa
bat *pupu puˈpu-ra [CV] pupu-ra [CV]
chest *bi bi- [CV] bi-ra bi-ra
snake *bima ˈbima-ɾa bima-ra bima-ɾa bimə-rə
knife *bakatu bakatu-ra baʔtu-ra
hard *bebe bebe-ra bebe-ra
heart *bewe beβe-ɾaʔ [EK] ˈbeβe-ɾa
man/male *bewu beβu-ɾaʔ beɸu-ra bebu-ra ˈbewu-ɾa bevu-ra
good *bae bae-ra [EK] bae-ra bai-rah bae-ra
egg *baɾusa ˈbarusa-ɾa barusa-ra boˈɾusa-ra [US] borusə-rə
paddle *bo bo-ra [CV]
cassowary *bu ˈbuː-ɾa ˈbu-ra [CV] ˈbuː-ɾa buː-ɾa
areca nut *bueka ˈβeka-ra [Kai] buekə-rə [Kam] ˈbweʔa-ɾa
moon *buɾa ˈbuɾa-ɾa ˈbuɾa-ɾa bura-ra ˈbur̃a-r̃a burə-rə
lake *buɾuwa buˈruβa-ra
[Gaka]
buˈɾuwa-ra
calf *ɸima fima-ra [CV] hima-ra [CV]
excrement *ɸa ˈha-ra ha-ra haː-ra ha-ra
neck *ɸoma ˈhoma-ɾa homa-ra ˈhoma-rə homa-ra
skin/bark *ɸu ˈɸu-ra fu-ra [CV] ˈhuː-ɾa hu-ra ˈhuː-ɾa hu-ra
white *nabu naˈbu-ra ˈnəbu-ɾa nabu-ra ˈnobu-ɾa nobu-ra
raw/green *nasi -nasi-ra ˈnesi-ɾa nesi-ra
near *nom[o/u] nomo-ra ˈnoːmu-ɾa nomo-ra
crocodile *timako tiˈmako-ra
[Gaka]
ˈtimoʔo-ɾa
dry *tata ˈtatə-ɾə ˈtata-ɾa tata-ra taʔta-ɾa tatja-ra
thin *taɾa ˈtaɾə-rə ˈtar̃a-r̃a
worm *toɾe ˈtoɾe-ɾa ˈtoɾe-ɾa
short *tuk[awa] tuˈkoβa-rə ˈtuka-ɾa
paradise (m.) *siaga ˈsiada-ra [CV] ˈsiaga-ra [CV]
salt *siɾa siɾa-ɾa [Gaka] ˈsiɾa-ɾa ˈsiraʔ-aʔ (?)
flesh/meat *sasi səˈsi-ɾa ˈsasi-ra [CV] ˈaːsi-ɾa asi-rə ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
light (weight) *soɸo sofo-ra [CV] oho-ra oho-ra
liver *soɸo sofo-ɾa [Gaka] ˈoh-oho-ɾa [US] ˈoh-oha-ɾa
upper arm *sosu ˈsosu- [CV] ˈosu-ra [CV]
sand *sumake ˈsumake-ra ˈsumaˈke-ɾa sumake-ra
kunai grass *suɾuma suˈruma-ra
[Gaka]
suˈrumə-rə
[Kam]
suˈruma-ɾa
many *kibu ˈkubu-ɾa kubu-ra ˈubu-ɾa
ibu-ɾa [Tang]
ubu-ra
frog *koni ˈkoni-rə [Gaka] ˈoni-ɾa
paradise (f.) *kowa ˈkoa-ra [CV] ˈoa-ra [CV]
full *kuwe[d/ɟ]a kwɛda-ɾa weda-ɾa; ueda-ɾa
heart *kuɾu kuˈru-ɾa ˈkuɾu-ɾa
person *gisi diˈsi-ɾa disi-ra [CV] gisi-ra [EK] gisi-rə giˈsi-ɾa gisi-rə
beard *gemu gemu-rə gəmu-rə
leech *geɸi ˈdeɸi-rə defi-ra [CV] gehi-ɾa gehi-ɾa gefi-ra [CV]
child *gewu ˈdeβu-ɾa ˈdewu-ra [CV] gevu-ra ˈgewu-ɾa gevu-rə
grandparent *ga[t/k]a ˈdata-ra [CV] gaʔa-ra [CV]
old *gaɾu gaɾu-ɾa garu-ra goɾu-ɾa goru-ra
hornbill *waɾi ˈwari-ra [CV] weri-ra [CV]
left *jamo iˈjamo-ɾa jamoa-ra ˈjaːmo-ɾa jamo-ra
all *jabowa jaˈboβa-rə ˈjeboβa-ɾa
house *jaɸ[a/o] ˈjaho-ɾə [Kam] jaha-ra ˈjaha-ɾa jaha-ra
nest *jawa ˈjo-rə [Gaka] ˈjawa-ra jawa-rə
woman/female *jawoɟa jaˈβoa-raʔ jaˈwoja-ra [CV] jaɸoda-ra jewoda-ra joˈwoda-ra [CV]
father *jaja ˈjaⁱja-ɾaʔ jaja [CV] jai-ra ˈjai-ɾa jai-ra
river *joWa ˈjoga-ɾə jogə-ra

Numbers take article /*-ɾa/ in Buruwai but not in South Kamrau or North Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-V(-ɾa)V-ɾa V-ɾaV V V V
two*aboma aˈbomə-ra
[Gaka]
ˈaboma aboma ˈaboma aboma
one*-ɟawa -ˈjaβə-ɾa [Gaka] -ˈawa-ra-ˈdaβa -dawa -dawa

Final bilabial nasal /*m/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-m-ɾaø-da ø-da ø-a ø-a w-a w-a
drum *em eː-da [CV]
tongue *[a]mam ˈama-də ama-da [CV] ˈma-ː ma ˈmoːw-a mo-ə
hot *amam ˈama-da aˈma-da [CV] ˈaːm-a am-a ˈaːmow-a amw-a
sago *apim ˈapi-a (?)
wife *ajam aˈja-da ja-da- [CV] aj-a ˈajaw-a ajaw-a
louse *om ˈoːw-a ˈoow-a
breadfruit *obam oba-da [CV] ob-a [CV] obo-a [CV]
root *[u]mam uma-da [anon] mo-a [anon]
eye *manam ˈmara-də ˈməna-ː man-a ˈmonow-a man-ə (?)
mouse/rat *bam ˈba-də ˈba-da [CV] ˈba-ː b-a ˈbaow-a [Koi]baw-a
swollen *bonam ˈbonə-də ˈboːn-a ˈbonow-ə
mountain *bujam ˈbuej-ə [Kam] buˈew-a biaw-e
fish *nam ˈna-daʔ ˈna-da [CV] ˈna-ː na ˈnoːw-a no-a
stink/bad smell*num ˈnu-da nu-da [CV] ˈnuːw-a ˈnuːw-a
cheek *gepam gep-a gepu-
thunder *Wuɾuɟam gurˈia-da ˈgurud-a
~ˈguri-a
guri-e ˈguruˈdaw-a gurudaw-a
penis *jamam jaˈma-da [CV] jem-a [CV] jemo-a [CV]

Final apical nasal /*n/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Buruwai Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-n-ɾaø-da ø-da ø-a ø-a ø-a ø-a
lip(s) *iwin iˈβi-d- ˈiβu- ivu- ˈiwu- ivu-
bow *amon aˈmo-da [CV] amo-a amo-a
ashes/dust *umin uˈmi-da umi-da [CV] ˈuːmij-a umi-a ˈuːmij-a umi-ə
coconut *usin uˈsi-da [Gaka]uˈsi-da [CV] ˈusi-a
hand/arm *man ˈmaː-da ma-da [Gaka] ˈm-a- m-a- ˈm-a- m-a-
hair/feather(s)*ɸin ˈɸi-da fi-da [CV] ˈhĩːj-ə [Kam]hi-a ˈhiː-ə hi-ə ~ hi-a
sore *ɸarin ˈɸari-də ˈharij-a ˈhaːri-ə
sand *sin ˈsiː-a si-a
forearm *sonam ˈsona-da [CV]
thatch *wan[i/e]nwaˈnɛ-da ˈweːni-a
vomit *Waɸin ˈgwaɸi-daʔ ˈgwaːj-aʔ guˈahi-a [CV]
head *jebin jɛˈbi-da jabi-da [CV] ˈjebij-a ˈjeʔbi-a
all *jabasin ˈjaːbasi [EK]jabasi-a ˈjeːbasi-a
[Wam]
jabasi-a

Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ has been identified in only one example, where it descends from Asmat-Kamrau Bay fricative /*s/:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-t-ɾaø-taø-ta t-a t-a ʔ-a ʔ-a
blood/red*et ˈeː-ta ˈe-ta [CV]ˈeːt-a et-a ˈeʔ-a eʔ-a

Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. Kamrau N. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-k-ɾa ø-ta ø-ta k-a k-a ʔ-a ʔ-a
cold *iɸok iˈɸo-ta iˈfo-ta [CV] ˈihok-a ihok-a
that *ik ik-a i-a
knee *inik ˈinik-ə [Kam]inik-a ˈiniʔ-a iniʔ-a
net bag *esak iˈsa-ta [CV] esek-a esa [CV] (?)
husband *amoɟak aˈmoⁱja-taʔ moja-ta [CV] amodak-a ˈamodaʔ-a amoda (?)
today *asi-ɾek asi-rik-a- asi-reʔ-a
ripe *asak asa-ta [CV] ak-a aʔ-a
thigh *ak ak-a aʔ-a
pig *ok ˈo-ta o-ta [CV] ˈoːk-a ok-a ˈoʔ-a oʔ-a [CV]
jungle fowl *[owa]nak ˈona-te [CV] ˈwanaʔ-a [CV]
goura pigeon *uk ˈuk-a [CV] uʔ-a [CV]
old man *ubok ubok-a uboʔ-a
mucus *minik mini-ˈta [CV] minak-a miniʔ-a
nose *mik ˈmiː-tə mi-ta [CV] miːk-a mik-a ˈmiʔ-a miʔ-a
five *man ibak ma-da-ˈba-ta ˈme-ⁱbak-a ˈme-baʔ-a ma-iba (?)
hand/arm *man ɸek ˈm-a-hek-a m-a-hek-a ˈm-a-heʔ-am-a-heʔ-a
wet *ma[ɟ/s]Vɸokmasaˈɸo-ta ˈmadohok-a modoˈhok-a
[CV]
ˈmodohoʔ-amodoˈhoʔ-a
[CV]
spittle/saliva*masak maˈsa-ta- maˈsa-ta [CV] masak-a
path *mak ˈma-ta [Gaka] ˈmaːk-a- mak-a ˈmaʔ-a- maʔ-ə
armpit *mopuk mopuk-a mopu-a
sugarcane *monek mone-ta [CV] moneʔ-a [CV]
tree/wood *buk ˈbuː-ta [Gaka] ˈbuːk-a ˈbuʔ-a
buttocks *buk buk-a buʔ-ə
wide *ɸaɸok ˈɸaβo-ta ˈhahok-a ˈhaːhoʔ-a
wound *nasuk naˈsu-ta [CV] ˈnosuʔ-a [CV]
tooth/sharp *sik ˈsiʔ-ta si-ta- [CV] ˈsik-a sik-a ˈsiʔ-a siʔ-a
earth/ground *sek ˈseʔ-ta se-ta [CV] ˈeːk-a ek-a ˈeʔ-a eʔ-a
dry *sasok saso-ta [Gaka]soso-ta [CV]
rain *gek de-ta de-ta [CV] ˈgeːk-a gek-a ˈgeːʔ-a giʔ-a
forest *wak wa-ta ˈwa-ta [CV] waʔ-a waʔ-a [CV]
rope *waɾak ˈwara-ta [Yar] waɾak-a uarak-a waˈɾaʔ-a uaraʔ-a
thumb *wok wo-ta [CV] -wok-a -woʔ-a
night *jewak iβa-ˈtaa iwa-ta [CV] ˈjeβak-a iawak-a ˈjewa-a iewa ʔ-a
big *[j]okak ˈjokə-tə joˈka-ta [CV]ˈoːˈkok-a

Final palatal voiced stop /*ɟ/ … resulting in a correspondence identical to that of medial /*ɟ/ (above):

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. Kamrau N. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-j-ɾaj-aj-a d-a d-a d-a d-a
urine *eɟ ˈeij-a [CV] ed-a ed-a
milk *miɟ -mid-a -amir-a (?)
water *moɟ ˈmoj-a moj-a [CV] ˈmoːd-a mod-a ˈmoːd-ə mod-a
bathe *moɟ- -mod-aɾa
cuscus *ɸaɟ ˈpai-ra [CV] (?) haːd-a [CV]
fat/grease*ɸueɟ fued-a [CV] (?) hued-a hued-a
bird *geɟ ˈdɛj-a deːj-a [CV] ˈgeːd-a ged-a geⁱd-a ged-ə
person *weɟ wed-a [CV]weˈd-a ued-ə

Final apical non-stop /*ɾ/ … It is thus nearly indisiguishable from the reflexes of final /*n/ (above) except through outcomparison to Asmat-Kamoro although the sporadic presence of nasalization in some examples of the latter:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-ɾ-ɾaø-daø-da ø-a ø-a ø-a ø-a
dog *iwuɾ iˈβu-də iwu-da [CV] ˈiβu-a ibu-a ˈiːw-a ib-a
2 pl..*eɾeɾ ere-a [EK]eri-a eraj-a [anon]eri-a
3 sg. *aɾaɾ ar-a [EK] ar-a aːˈr-a ar-a
2 sg. *oɾoɾ oˈroː-daoro-da [CV] oro-a [EK]oro-a woɾu-ˈə oro-a
navel *umabeɾ moˈbe-da [CV] umabi-a umab-e
vagina*beɾ ˈbe-da [CV] be-a ˈ be-a
1 pl. *naɾ ˈnaː-daʔna-da [CV] n-a- [EK] n-a n-a- n-a
1 sg. *noɾ ˈnoː-daʔno-da [CV] no-a [EK] no-a no- no-a

A number of final consonants are ambiguous between /*m *n *ɾ/ because there is no outocmparison to Asmat-Kamoro or Asmat-Kamoro has lost the final consonant (that is they do not continue a reduced segment /*CV/) and the final vowel is not /*a/, the disposition of which distinguishes /*m/ in North Kamrau:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-C-ɾa ø-da ø-da ø-a ø-a ø-a ø-a
arrow sp.*imuC iˈmu-da [CV] imw-a [CV]
arrow sp.*ipuC ipu-a ipu (?)
bamboo *it[a/o]C ito-da [CV] it-a [CV] it-a [CV]
heavy *id[a/o]ɾoCidaˈro-da diro-da [CV] ˈidaru-a idoro-a ˈiːdor̃u-a idoro-a
dream *esoC ˈeːso-daʔ ˈeso-a eso-ˈa [CV]
fly (n.) *oɸoɾoboC ˈohoˈrobo-a ohorobu-aˈoho bu-a ohobu-a
cloud *oɾeC oˈre-da- [CV]ˈor̃e- [EK] ˈore-a [Tang]ore- [CV]
smooth *minapoC minaˈpo-də mIˈnapu-a ˈminopu-a
path *matoC ˈmato-də
mountain *bonaC boˈna-da ˈboon-aʔ [EK]
shame *napiC naˈpi-dak (?) ˈneːpij-ə
this *kekeC keke (?) eʔe-a

In four examples, Buruwai indicates a final vowel but South Kamrau and North Kamrau indicate a final consonant /*m *n *ɾ/ (below). This may reflect yet another allowable final consonant the quality of which cannot be identified with the data at hand:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-[C]-ɾaV-ɾa V-ɾa ø-a ø-a ø-a ø-a
smoke *amuni[C] amuˈni-ɾa ˈamonj-a [EK]amuni-a ˈamuni-ə amuni (?)
banana *o[C] ˈo-də o-da [CV] oːw-a o-a [CV] ˈoow-a o-a
small root*mumuɾu[C] mumuˈru-ra
[CV]
mumuru-a [EK]mumuru-a mumuru-a
stick (n.)*boWa[C] ˈboga-ɾa ˈboːw-a ˈbɔːg-a

One word follows the opposite pattern, with Buruwai inicating a final consonant while South Kamrau and North Kamrau indicate a final vowel:

Kamrau Bay Buruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*-[C]-ɾaø-da ø-da V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa V-ɾa
cry/weep*maɟa[C] maⁱˈje-daʔmaja-da [Gaka]mada-ra mada-ra meda-ra

… vowels ….

High front vowel /*i/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*i
*…

High back rounded vowel /*u/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*u
*…

Mid front vowel /*e/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*e
*…

Mid back rounded vowel /*o/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*o
*…

Low central vowel /*a/ …:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a a a a a a a [ə]
*…

When /*a/ is followed in the next syllable by high front vowel /*i/ . it is raised and fronted to /e/ in North Kamrau:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a/_Cia a a a e e
raw/green*nasi -nasi-ra ˈnesi-ɾa nesi-ra
hornbill *waɾi ˈwari-ra [CV] weri-ra [CV]
thatch *wan[i/e]nwaˈnɛ-da ˈweːni-a
shame *napiC naˈpi-dak (?) ˈneːpij-ə

…:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a/_Cia a a a a a
sun/day *asi aˈsi-ra asi-ɾa asi-ra ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
flesh/meat*sasi səˈsi-ɾa ˈsasi-ra [CV]ˈaːsi-ɾa asi-rə ˈaːsi-ra asi-rə
sago *apim ˈapi-a
sore *ɸarin ˈɸari-də ˈharij-a ˈhaːri-ə
vomit *Waɸin ˈgwaɸi-daʔ ˈgwaːj-aʔ guˈahi-a [CV]
all *jabasin ˈjaːbasi [EK]jabasi-a ˈjeːbasi-a
[Wam]
jabasi-a
*a/_i a a a a a a
new *ai aⁱ-ɾa ai-ra [anon] ai-ra ai-ra ai-ra
lightning *mananai məɾəˈɾai-ɾə
[Gaka]
mananaⁱ-ɾa mənene-raˈmananai-ra mananaj-ra

When /*a/ is followed in the next syllable by high back rounded vowel /*u/, it is raised backed and rounded to /o/ in North Kamrau:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. Kamrau N. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a/_Cua a a a o o
white*nabu naˈbu-ra ˈnəbu-ɾa nabu-ra ˈnobu-ɾa nobu-ra
old *gaɾu gaɾu-ɾa garu-ra goɾu-ɾa goru-ra
wound*nasuk naˈsu-ta [CV] ˈnosuʔ-a [CV]
thick*papuna ˈpapuna-ɾa poˈpuna-r̃a
egg *baɾusa ˈbarusa-ɾabarusa-raboˈɾusa-ra [US]borusə-rə

One example in which Walker and Hesse's South Kamrau forms also change /*a/ to /o/ probably indicates a loan from North Kamrau into South Kamrau:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi Asienara Yarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a/_Cua a o a o o
foot/leg*mawu maˈβu-ɾa
[Gaka]
mawu-ra [CV]ˈmoβu-ra mabu-ra ˈmowu-rə movu-ra

One word is not affected because it is a compound with /*manam/ “eye” (above):

Kamrau Bay BuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. Kamrau N. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a/_-Cua a a a a a
forehead*manam-pu mana-pu-ra mana-pu-rə

However there are several unexplained exceptions to this rule:

Kamrau BayBuruwai Buruwai S. Kamrau S. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*a/_Cua a a a a a
long *Waɾu gwaɾu-ɾa gwaru-ra ˈgwaɾu-ɾagwaru-ra
smoke*amuni[C] amuˈni-ɾa ˈamonj-a [EK]amuni-a ˈamuni-ə amuni (?)
fog *apuki apuˈki-ra ˈapuʔiɾa
star *mawuɾ[a] ˈmaβuɾə-ɾə ˈmaβuɾa-ɾa mawura-raˈmawur̃-aomawur-ə
knife*bakatu bakatu-ra baʔtu-ra

Buruwai has a tendency to lose initial vowels …:

Kamrau BayBuruwaiBuruwai S. KamrauS. KamrauN. KamrauN. Kamrau
Tairi AsienaraYarona Asienara Waho Iria
Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux Walker Anceaux
*VCV CV

Pronouns

Kamrau Bay free pronouns are reconstructed as follows, with attestations drawn from Anceaux (n.d.) via Greenberg (n,d.) and Voorhoeve (1975: 369-370, 2007):

Kamrau BayBuruwaiS. KamrauN. Kamrau
1 sg. *noɾ no-da no-a no-a
2 sg. *oɾ-or oro-da oro-a oro-a
3 sg./pl.*aɾ-aɾ ? ar-a ar-a
1 pl. *naɾ na-da n-a n-a
2 pl. *eɾ-eɾ ? eri-a eri-a

We share Voorhoeve's (1975: 370, 448) doubts about the reliability of Anceaux' Iria third persons plurals (<ariʔa> etc.) and follow his suggestion that, as in the closely-related Asmat-Kamoro languages, there was no number distinction in the third person.

Anceaux (n.d.) gives possessives for Asienara as follows, showing the possessive suffix to be underlyingly /-ja/. The postposition of alienable possessors, as is also found in Mor (Hammarström 2010: 10-12,) Iha (Flassey and Animung 1992: 68-69) and Kalamang (Visser 2016: 82-83,) reflects the influence of local Austronesian languages, in this instance most likely Kowiai spoken just off the coast in Kamrau bay:

Asienara
1 sg.-n-ea
2 sg.-w-ea
3 sg.-a-ja
1 pl.-na-ja
2 pl.-ja-ja

Verbal morphology

No information about Kamrau Bay verbal morphology is available to us at this time.

Loans from neighboring families

While the Kamrau Bay languages are currently separated from Kamoro to the east by the Etna Bay languages, several loans make it evident that they were in contact with them in the fairly recent past, long after the breakup of proto-Asmat-Kamrau Bay. Tarya Kamoro attestations are drawn from Drabbe (1953: 96-104):

Kamrau BayKamoro
crocodile*timako 'timakɔ

Visser (1989) discusses the close social interrelationships between Kamrau Bay languages and Irarutu of the Austronesian family. However, only a few loans from Irarutu have been identified. Others seem to come immediately from Kowiai, spoken on an island off the coast to the south. Here Irarutu attestations aredrawn from Voorhoeve (1995) and Koiwai (Kowiai) from Walker (1985.) Some of these are shared also with Etna Bay family as shown.The graphemes <*S G> represent irregular correspondences in which initial /*s/ is unexpectedly retained in South Kamrau and in North Kamrau while medial /*g/ fails to become apical /d/ in Buruwai (above.):

Kamrau Bay Etna BayIrarutu KoiwaiEast Maluku
machete *beda ? ? beda *mbenda
areca nut *bueka ? ? bueʔa *mbujaq
straight/long*doma ? domaʔ
river/bore *dua ? na-dua*ɣuab (?)
grandparent *… ? -tatə ~ -data -tata *tata
salt *siɾa *sira sira *siɣa
flesh *sasi *sasi ses
forked branch*SaGa saŋgə saŋ *saŋa
fog *Sawanini[C]? sawana*sawan[a]
lake/swamp *Saɾuwe saro-wɛrə *waiɣ
axe *waɾada ? waranda “knife”
rope *waɾak wara waras *waɣa[dz]

The word for “moon” looks very much like a loan from an Austronesian language, but, in addition to its cognate in Asmat-Kamoro, it is not found in Irarutu and does not participate in changes which characterize Kowiai, so if it is a loan rather than a coincidence it can only have been introduced at a signficantly earlier date than those listed above:

Kamrau BayAsmat-KamoroIrarutuKoiwaiCMP
moon*bura *bura furan *bulan

One word of Indonesian origin is also shared with Koiwai:

Kamrau BayKoiwaiIndonesian
dirty*kotoru kotor kotor

Walker and Hesse's (1988) vocabulary of South Kamberau of Yarona village includes two Malay color terms, presumably borrowed very recently. Unlike the loans listed above, they are not suffixed with the article /-ra/ [-ra -a] which accompanies most nominals and adjectives (above):

Yarona Indonesian
yellowkuni-kuni kuniŋ
green hidʒau hidʒauhidʒaᵘ