Table of Contents

Muli Strait

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

The Muli Strait family consists of two closely related languages, Mombum, also known as Komolom (Komelomsch,) and Konorau (Koneraw, Konerawsch,) spoken respectively on Komolom Island at the south end of the Muli Strait (Marianne Strait) and on the south coast of the larger Kolopom island immediately the west. Loans from Muli Strait in Sawuy, Yakhai and Warkay suggest that the family originated in the Casuarina Coast region, and was pushed south by the expansion of Asmat. Upon entering the Muli strait region, the family acquired a number of loans from the Kolopom languages and from the unrelated Marind language to the east.

Sources

[under construction]

Geurtjens (1933: 393-433) 455 comparative terms for Konerawsch (Konorau) and Komelomsch (Mombum)

Drabbe (1950) 422 comparative terms for Mombùm of Mombùm village

Boelaars (1950) …

Drabbe (1954) …

Voorhoeve (1975: 99) 40 comparative terms for Mombum following Drabbe (1950) and 37 for Koneraw following Geurtjens (1933)

Voorhoeve (1975: 396-398) pronouns for Koneraw following Geurtjens (1933) and for Mombum following Drabbe (1950)

Voorhoeve (1980: 61-121) Proto-Asmat includes comparisons to Drabbe's (1950) Mombùm

Susanto (2001) 238 comparative terms for Konorau (Waɣan) and Komolom

Olsson (2017) … comparative terms for Mombùm

History of classification

Geurtjens' (1933: 393-433) comparative vocabularies of Konerawsch and Komelomsch make it perfectly obvious that the two form a tightly-knit group, but nowhere does he propose a classification of the languages he surveyed.

Drabbe (1950: 548,) without reference to Geurtjens' (1933) materials, places Mombùm alongside Paniai Lakes, Asmat-Kamoro, Awyu, Wambon and Muyu (Lowland Ok) in a group he designates the suffixing languages (“suffix-talen.”) While the other three of Drabbe's groups have at least some grain of taxonomic truth to them, his operative criterion is synchronic and typological rather than genealogical in nature, and in this respect suffixiation is the norm throughout New Guinea and Australia alike. Even so, it it true that Mombum belongs immediately with Asmat-Kamoro rather than with Kolopom proper (“koppelwoord-talen”,) Marind-Yaqay and Boazi (“præfix-talen”) or Moraori and the West Morehead River (“gemengde talen”) languages, so Drabbe's classification is arguably not completely groundless, and it's possible that the imperfect but non-random congruence of these morphological categories with taxonomic reality is what moved him to adopt it.

Voorhoeve (1968: 3-5) posits Drabbe's (1950) Mombum as a fourth branch of his Asmat-Awyu-Ok family, though qualifies this, saying: “Mombum is a border case; its closest relationship is with Asmat. Since it does not show comparably close links with any other language it has been provisionally included ln the Asmat-Awyu-Ok Family.” In support of this assertion, he calculates 31% cognacy between 156 comparable terms for Asmat and Mombum respectively. It is interesting to note that the borders of Voorhoeve's Asmat-Awyu-Ok, while formally based upon lexicostatistics rather than typology, closely track those of Drabbe's suffixing group.

Voorhoeve (1975: 369, 396-398) adds Geurtjens' (1933) Koneraw to form a Mombum Family, which is said to belong to his Central and South New Guinea Stock alongside not only Asmat-Kamoro, Awyu and Ok but also Awin-Pa (Elevala River,) East Strickland (Strickland River,) Bosavi (Papuan Plateau) and Duna-Bogaya. There is no mention here of an exclusive relationship between the Mombum Family and Asmat-Kamoro. But in Voorhoeve (1980: 1) he goes further than his earlier (1968) claim, stating, “The Mombum Family is the closest relative of the Asmat-Kamoro Family; together they form a sub group within the CSNG Stock.” This assertion is then is supported by a modest number of comparisons to Mombum scattered throughout his reconstructions of proto-Asmat, with a note (p. 59) explaining: The Mombum and Koneraw languages…have been strongly influenced by the neighbouring languages of the Kolopom and Marind families, and this has obscured their relationship with the languages of the Asmat-Kamoro family to a considerable degree. Still, Mombum data often throw unexpected light on the reconstruction of proto-forms, especially those of the ancestor language of the Asmat-Kamoro family, and for this reason I have admitted [Mombum] data as well.“

Wurm (1982: 130-138) fails to consider Voorhoeve's (1958, 1980) assertions of a special relationship between Asmat-Kamoro and Mombum-Koneraw, instead following Voorhoeve's (1975) positioning of the Mombum Family as a primary branch of the very broad Central and South New Guinea Stock. Because Wurm's breakdown was repeated in tertiary compilations such as Ruhlen (1987,) Voorhoeve's insight slipped through the cracks of the macro-regional taxonomic literature. Yet Voorhoeve (2005) himself made no mention of Mombum or Koneraw when comparing his proto-Asmat forms with Healey's (1964) proto-Mountain Ok and (1970) proto-Awyu-Dumut; it's not clear if he'd backed away from his proposal or simply had no reconstruction of proto-Mombum-Koneraw and felt that single language comparisons were out of place in this treatment. Mombum is still shown as a member of Asmat-Kamoro is Voorhoeve's (2007) unpublished New Guinea lexical files.

Greenberg (1971: 829-834) places Komelom (Mombum) and Koneraw in a Jei subgroup of a Southern or Kiwaiic branch of his proposed Indo-Pacific macrofamily. This Jei subgroup is said to include Yei and the westernmost languages of the Morehead River family, the Kolopom languages including Moraori and the Bulaka River languages as well as those of Muli Strait. This regional grouping is nearly the set of languages which have borrowed from Marind, or even all the languages which appeared in Geurtjens (1933: 393-433) or Nevermann (1939) except for Marind itself. This must be seen as among the very worst errors in Greenberg's breakdown, with no attempt to identify loans and unduly influenced by the juxtapositions of vocabularies in the print literature..

Ross (1995: 144) lists the Mombum family among those whose “pronoun forms which could well reflect Proto Trans New Guinea. but they do not reflect the paradigm convincingly enough for inclusion here,” further stating (p. 153) that there is some small amount of evidence that it belongs with the Trans-New Guinea phylum without saying what that evidence is. Pawley, Ross and Osmond (2005: 70-75) consider Voorhoeve's (1968) placement of Mombum with an Asmat-Awyu-Ok family and assert that Mombum shares with Asmat and Awyu-Dumut the common innovation of having replaced the vowel /*a/ in pronouns with /*u/.

Here we advocate the point of view expressed and exemplified in Voorhoeve (1980,) which is that the Muli Strait (Mombum) family is most closely related to the Asmat-Kamrau Bay family along the coast to the north and the far northwest.

Historical phonology

[under construction]

Proto-Muli Strait had 14 or 16 consonants and perhaps 7 vowels as follows:

*m *n
*p *t *s *k
*b *d *z
*mb *nd *ŋg
[*w] *r [*j]
*i *u
*e̝ *o̝
*a

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

It is not clear if semivowels [*w *j] should be treated as non-stop consonants or as sequential vowels as they are in nearby Bulaka River and Marind. Voiced /*b *z/ originated as /*w *j/ but may have already been occluded by the time of proto-Muli Strait.


Initial consonants correspond as follows:

Muli Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*m- m m m m m
*n- n n n n n
*p- p p p p p
*t- t t t t t
*s- s s s s s
*k- k k k k k
*b- b b b
*d-
*z- x z θ dz
*mb- mb mb mb mb mb
*nd-
*ŋg-
*w- w w w w w
*j- j j j j j
*ɣ-

Medial consonants correspond as follows:

Muli Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-m- m m m m m
*-n- n n n n n
*-p- p p p p p
*-t- t t t t t
*-s- s s s s s
*-k- k k k k k
*-b- p p p b b
*-d- d d d d d
*-z- j j j ð dz
*-mb- mb mb mb mb mb
*-nd- nd nd nd nd nd
*-nd-/_i ndʒ ? ndʒ ndʒ ndʒ
*-ŋg- ŋg ŋg ŋg ŋg ŋg
*-w-
*-r- r r r r r
*-j-
*-ɣ- ɣ ɣ ɣ ɣ ɣ

Final consonants correspond as follows:

Muli Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-m m m m m m
*-n n n n n n
*-p
*-t t t t t t
*-b
*-mb mb mb mb m m
*-nd nd nd nd n n
*-nd/i_ ndʒ ndʒ ndʒ n n
*-ŋg ŋg ŋg ŋg n n
*-r
*-ɣ

Vowels and vowel sequences correspond as follows:

Muli Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*i
*u
*e̝
*o̝
*a

These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with Mombum (Komolom, Komelomsch) forms drawn from Drabbe (1950: 561-574,) Susanto (2001) and Geurtjens (1933: 398-433) and Konorau (Konerawsch) from Susanto and Geurtjens.


All consonants except for bilabial voiced stop /*b/ and apical non-stop /*r/ can occur initially.

Initial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*m- m m m m m
saliva/spittle*mitap miˈtao mitaw
sugarcane *me̝ me meː
thought *me̝nip mɛnif meniw meneː-~-mənə
nose/tip *mæne̝ɣ mɛnəɣ mənɛ me(:)nɛɣ ˈmənaɣar mʌnːɛ ~mʌnːʌr
stone *mæte̝ mɛˈtɛ ˈmɛtɛ mateː mæt̪ʰɛ matɛ
fat/grease *mær mɛr mar
weeping *mamb mamb mamb- mamb mam- maːm-
rope *mar mar mar maːl mar maːr
six (?) *mar- ma- ma- ma- mær- mar-
water *mo̝i mwɛ mʷɛj ~ mʷɤⁱmui mʷi ~ mʷɪ-moi
foot *mɔb mop mobə mob
thorn *m[ɔ]be̝ŋg moˈpɛŋk mɛbɛn
leech *mo̝ndir mondʒir ˈmundʒir mondʒir
lime *mo̝ɣo̝ mu mo ˈmoɣo moɣo
rain *mun mun mun mun mun mun
eye *musiɣ musiɣ ˈmusi- muri ~ mutʃiˈmudʒi mudzu

Initial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomsch KonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*n- n n n n n
younger sibling*n[ai]ɣ nɛɣ -nɛ -ˈnalθ nair
big *næŋgVr nɛŋgərnəŋgər naŋgar~naŋgornaŋgar naŋgar
man/person *nam nam nam nam nam nam
wallaby *nar nar nar- nar nar naː
1 sg. *no̝ nu nu mo [sic] no no
eat/drink *no̝ku nuku nuku noku ~ -nok nogo nugu

Initial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*p- p p p [p b]p p [p b]
tail *p[ie̝] pi pi pi peː ~ pjeː
see *pe̝ɣe̝r- pɛɣɛɾ- pɛr pəˈðər
garden/clearing*par par par par par paːr
areca nut *par[e̝] ˈparɜ para pəˈrɛ
flatulate *po̝- pu-
belly *put put put put puθ ~ puˡt̪put
white *pur-bur ˈpuru-burpu-bur puru-bur pur-bur pur-bur

Initial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*t- t t t t [t θ] t
good *tiuɔr tiwor ˈtiwʊr tiwor
wing *tæɣV tɛˈɣɛ tɛj tareː θoɣot̪~θəɣɔθ (?)tʌwːo
dig *ta ta- -ta tə ~ -tɜ
hit/kill *tab- ˈt̪abɛ tabeː
lie down *tai- taj- taːᴵtʃ tainə
body *tɔnɔm tonom tonam tonom ~ tɔnɔm tonom
afraid *tɔp -tɔ- to -tɔ- tov-tov
tree *to̝ tu tu to to- ~ tɔ- toː
elbow *to̝n tun toːn
earth/ground*tum[a/o]r tuˈmor ~ ˈtumortuˈmʊr tamal tumar- tamar
behind *tumui tumʷɪ temːe- tumʷi-

Initial laminal /*s/ is typically realized as an affricate [tʃ ts] in Konorau, a change found also in the insular Kolopom languages which surround the Konorau enclave:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*s- s [s ʃ]s [s]s [s ʃ ʒ]s [tʃ s] s [tʃ ts tz s]
salty *siar ˈsiaɾ -tʃiˈjar
hair *sin sin sin ʃin ~ ʒin tʃin ~ sin tʃin
fly (n.) *sinɔɣɔ ˈsinoɣo sinoho tʃina
sand *sir sir sɪr sir(ə) tʃɪr ~ sir tʃir
fruit/seed *se̝t ʃɛt sɛt̪ tʃɛt̪̚ ~ tʃɛθ
plain(s) *s[e̝]re̝m serem tzrem
throw away *særæp- ʃɛruw sarewo tsarab
charcoal/black*sɔr sor soːr- so ~ ʃor tʃor- tʃor ~ soːr
fence *su ʃu su su tʃu ~ suʔ tʃu

Initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*k- k k k k k
snake *kVnimb[o̝i] kɛˈnimbokəɲimbukaɲumba kinimbʷikinembeː
do/make *ke̝mV- kɛmu-
chest *kæɣæn kɛˈɣɛn kælan kʌrːen
leg *kaŋg kaŋk kaŋ kaŋg kan kaːn
paradise sp.*kar[i/e̝]r[e̝] kareː karirə
crocodile *karam[o̝i] ˈkaramo kəramu karam ˈkarumʷikaromui
unripe *kɔp kob
joint *k[o̝/u]mb[o̝/u]ɣkumbəɣ -kumbə
~ -kombo
-kuᵐburθ-kumbo
~-kombo
tie *kumbu[i] kumbu -kumbu kumbu kumbʷɪ kumbui

Initial bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is uncommon. It is retained as such in both languages.:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*b- b b b
arm *bo̝ko̝r ˈbukur bukul bogor
sago stem(s)*buɣ[ɔ]it[ɔ]ɣbuɣojtəɣ boitr bugito

Initial palatal voiced /*z/ …:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*z- x z θ dz [dz tʃ]
hear/sense*ziu- z̪yw- ~ z̪əw--ˈxɛᵘ θəβə~ θəwɔ
bite *zik- ixikaᵘx (?) θikub tzikab
tooth *ziɣ z̪iɣ xi zid ~ zil θiθ tʃirə ~ tzi
sun *zaua z̪aˈwa xowa zowa θəwo dzʌwːo
heavy *zak[ɔ/o̝]e ˈz̪akwɛ zagoi dzagʌ
lake *zɔmb xom zomb θom zomb
breadfruit*z[ɔ/o̝]ɣ[ɔ/o̝][r] dzohol
bamboo *zo̝bɔr z̪upor xupər θəbor sobor
shoot *zVri- z̪əri-
wind *zuru z̪uru xəru zuru θruru ~ θurːu dzuru
flesh/meat*zuruɣ z̪yryɣ xərʷi zuru θurut̪ ~ θuruθ
nipa palm *zuruɣand z̪uroɣod tʃruda tsruan

It's conspicuous that Drabbe and Geurtjens agree that the sound is a voiced laminal [z̪ z dz] in both languages while Susanto's much more recent vocabularies give unvoiced [x θ]. Most likely, this is an ongoing change under the influence of Marind's western dialects in which the regular reflex of Marind /*j/ is aspirated to [hʲ] (q.v. Drabbe 1955. 148-151.) Maklew of the Bulaka River family likewise reflects /*j/ as /s/, Susanto's Konorau [θ] being in keeping with the fronting which characterizes apicals in both languages.

Initial bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ is uncommon. It is retained as such in both languages.:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*mb- mbmb mb mb mb
mud/loam *mbam ᵐbam mbam bam mbaːm
know *mbaɣVzV pʌrtə (?) əmbəθəd̪o
~ əmbəθəbd̪ɔ
mbʌrːedzo
illness/pain*mbu mbu mbu mbu

Initial apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*nd- nd [d]nd [d]nd [d]nd [d d̪]nd [d nd]
root *ndVndVr dədəɾ -drʌdr dənˈdɨr
betel pepper*ndædim ˈdɛdim d̪ɛˈd̪im dadiwn
goanna *ndVzV ðɛ dhʌdːa ˈdərə~ dəðə ndʌrːɛ
carry *ndamVnd ˈdamənd- demd- daman
many *ndɔm ndom-rom ˈⁿdɔmɔ-rɔmdom-rom
tongue *ndupæn dupɛn ˈdəpən dʌpːan ˈdəpən dʌpːan

Initial velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ ….

Muli StraitMombùmKomolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*ŋg- ŋg [ŋg]ŋg [ŋg]ŋg [g]ŋg [g]
food *ŋgimb ᵑgib- gim- gim-
forest*ŋg… ŋgor gərə

Apical non-stop /*r/ has not been observed to occur initially.

Initial velar non-stop /*ɣ/ … Apparent variations in the realization of velar non-stop /ɣ/ are attributed not to phonemic change, but to Geurtjens' inconsistent hearing of the sound in Mombum and Konorau alike. Drabbe stipulates that /ɣ/ approaches [x] in stridency, leading Geurtjens to hear [h] in some examples:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*ɣ- ɣ x [x h] ɣ [ɣ k] x ɣ [ɣ k h w]
drum *ɣaim ɣajm ɣeim ɣaim
bark (of dog) *ɣamban ɣamban -amban
paddle *ɣane̝ŋg ɣaˈnɛŋk xaˈniŋ kaleŋg ~ ɣanenˈxanɛn kanen
bow *ɣaræp ɣaˈrɛw ɣarab ~ ɣara ɣarab ~ ɣara
light (weight)*ɣɔr ɣoro-ˈɣur ɣoro wo-wor
mat *ɣ[ɔ/o̝]me̝ɣɣuməɣ ɣomɛ ɣamɛ
head/hair *ɣo̝p ɣu- ˈxu- ko-
banana *ɣo̝ro̝b ɣuˈrub xurub ɣurub xoˈroɸ horob
five *ɣVipam xʷajpam-
~ hʷajpam-
ɣobe- xʷɛⁱpam oipoin
dry season *ɣua[e̝]r ɣwaˈrao kwaːr kwer ~ gojer
hold/grab *ɣuati ɣwati xʷati xoˈtijɜ ~ xoti hoti ~ hotːi
hand *ɣuaɣ ɣwaɣ xʷaj kwal xolt̪ ~xoθ ~xoðɣoiɣ-
deaf/forget *ɣun ɣun xun xun
kunai grass *ɣup ɣu xu ku xuɸ ɣiv

In one example, the initial consonant is ambiguous between /*ɣ/ and palatal voiced /*z/ (above):

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*[z/ɣ]-ɣ x θ
cuscus*[z/ɣ]VmVr ɣəmər ˈxəmər θəmər

Any consonant can occur medially.

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

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-m- m m m [m mː]m m
causative *-mɔp -mow -mʷo -mowɔ ~ -mɔɸ -mo
knee *i[ɔ]ɣɔmɔɣ joɣoməɣ ˈjomʷɛ johomo jɛmoˡθ ~ jəmol-jemu-
shadow *imær imɛr imar
below *imui iˈmu imʷi jumʷi-
ashes *[i/e̝]mund iˈmud iˈmud -imun eːmun
chin *amo̝te̝ amuˈtɛ amti amodeː
earth/ground*t[u]m[a/o]rtuˈmor ~ ˈtumortuˈmʊr tamal tumar- tamar
behind *tumui tumʷɪ temːe- tumʷi-
carry *ndamVnd ˈdamənd- demd- damənə
do/make *ke̝mV- kɛmu-
crocodile *karam[o̝i] ˈkaramo kəramu karam ˈkarumʷi karomui
cuscus *[j/ɣ]VmVr ɣəmər ˈxəmər θəmər
mat *ɣ[ɔ/o̝]me̝ɣɣuməɣ ɣomɛ ɣamɛ

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

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-n- n n n n n
voice *uanan wanan wanan ˈwanan
nose/tip*mæne̝ɣ mɛnəɣ mənɛ me(:)nɛɣ ˈmənaɣar mʌnːɛ ~mʌnːʌr
body *tɔnɔm tonom tonam tonom ~ tɔnɔmtonom
fly (n.)*sinɔɣɔ ˈsinoɣo sinoho tʃina
paddle *ɣane̝ŋg ɣaˈnɛŋgxaˈniŋ kaleŋg ~ ɣanenˈxanɛn kanen

When followed by high front vowel /*i/, the reflexes of medial /*n/ are sometimes realized as palatalized nasal [ɲ] in free variation with apical [n]:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-n-/_i n [n ɲ]n [ɲ n]n [n ɲ]n [n] n [n]
ant sp.*iniui iniwi iniwi
child *æni ɛɲi -æɲi ˈæni ~ ˈɨniænːi ~ ani-
taro *uni uˈni ˈuni uni uni uni
thought*me̝nip mɛnif meniw meneː-~-mənə
snake *kVnimb[o̝i]kɛˈnimbo kəɲimbu kaɲumba kinimbʷi kinembeː

Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is generally retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-p- p p p [p pː]p p [p pː]
cold *iVp[u]i jɛˈpwiˈjoᶷpi
ear *ie̝pær ˈipɛr ˈipɛr ipar ˈjɛpar ~ jɛˈpɛrjʌpːar ~ jepʌrːa
goose *tVpue̝ tubwɛ (?) tapweː
tongue*ndup[e/a]ndupɛn ˈdəpən dʌpːan ˈdəpən dʌpːan
five *ɣVipam xʷajpam-ɣobe- (?) xʷɛⁱpam oipoin

Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-t- t t t t [t t̪ʰ] t [t tː]
adj. suffix *-tVɣe̝ -tɛɣɛ ~ -təɣ
~ -ˈtoɣ
-tɛ -ta -təðə ~ -tə ~ -ti–tɛ ~ -teː
chin *amo̝te̝ amuˈtɛ amti amodeː (?)
saliva/spittle*mitap miˈtao mitaw
stone *mæte̝ mɛˈtɛ ˈmɛtɛ mateː mæt̪ʰɛ matɛ
sago stem(s) *buɣ[ɔ]it[ɔ]ɣbuɣojtəɣ boitr bugito
hold/grab *ɣuati ɣwati xʷati xoˈtijɜ ~ xoti hoti ~ hotːi

Medial laminal /*s/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-s- s [s]s [s]s [tʃ dʒ r]s [dʒ]s [s dz]
sneeze*æsi ˈɛsu edʒi asija
eye *musiɣ musiɣ ˈmusi- muri ~ mutʃi ˈmudʒi mudzu

Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-k- k [k]k [k]k [k g]k [k g]k [k g]
bad *ikɔr ikor ikor igor
arm *bo̝ko̝r ˈbukur bukul bogor
eat/drink*no̝ku nuku nuku noku ~ -noknogo nugu
bite *zik- ixikaᵘx θikub tzikab
heavy *zak[ɔ/o̝]eˈz̪akwɛ zagoi dzagʌ

Medial bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is usually devoiced to [p] in Mombum:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-b- p p p b b
stand *ibærænd iˈpɛrɛdiprəd iprad- ibran ibran(ə)
dog *i[u]bui iˈpwi ipʷi ipwi ˈubʷi ubui
leaf *ebur ˈɛpur -pur -pur ɜˈbor ~ -bor-bur
older sister*ab[ɔ /u][p/b]apob n-ʊpup n-æˈbʊ
breast *abuɣ apwyɣ ʊpʷuⁱ apur əbʊt̚ ~ əbuθabur
thorn *m[ɔ]be̝ŋg moˈpɛŋk mɛbɛn
hit/kill *tab- ˈt̪abɛ tabeː
bamboo *zo̝bɔr z̪upor xupər θəbor sobor

One apparently irregular example in which medial /*b/ is a reduplication of intiial /*p/ (/*p *b/ are not distinguished initially, above) possibly indicates a loan into Mombum from Konorau:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-b- b b b b b
white*pur-bur ˈpuru-burpu-bur puru-bur pur-burpur-bur

Medial apical voiced stop /*d/ is generally retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolom KomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-d- d d [d r]d d [d̪ ð]d [d dː]
go *iad- jar- jato (?) jʌdːo
night/dark *iɔɣdɔm ˈjɔxrom johodom ˈjɔðɔm jodom ~ jʌdːom
gall/bile *idVɣ idəɣ
forehead *e̝idɔu ejˈdow eidow eidow
grandchild *adV n-aːd n-ˈəðə
betel pepper*ndædim ˈdɛdim d̪ɛˈd̪im dadiwn

Medial palatal voiced /*z/ … Although it's not clear that it contrasts with sequential /*i/ [j], its reflexes in Konorau are like those of intiial /*z/ (above) which is contrastive :

Muli StraitMombùmKomolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-z- j j [ø]j [j dː r]θ [ð d̪ r] dz [dz rː j]
breath*uize̝n -viden- wijen
canoe *uo̝ze̝ŋg uˈjɛŋkwɪŋk ujeŋgə woðən wodzæn
know *mbaɣVzV pʌrtə əmbəθəd̪o
~ əmbəθəbd̪ɔ
mbʌrːedzo
goanna*ndVzV ðɛ dhʌdːa ˈdərə~ dəðə ndʌrːɛ

Medial bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-mb- mb [mb]mb [mb m]mb [mb] mb [mb]mb [mb]
sweat *ie̝mbo̝ro̝m ˈimburum imburum jemborom
tomorrow *iembu ˈimbu jembu ~ embu imb-
husband *o̝mb[o̝] umb -ˈwom -womb -wʊmbʊ ombo
snake *kVnimb[o̝i] kɛˈnimbo kəɲimbu kaɲumba kinimbʷi kinembeː
joint *k[o̝/u]mb[o̝/u]ɣkumbəɣ -kumbə
~ -kombo
-kuᵐburθ -kumbo
~-kombo
tie *kumbu[i] kumbu -kumbu kumbu kumbʷɪ kumbui
bark (of dog)*ɣamban ɣamban -amban

… /*nd/ …:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-nd-
root*ndVndVr dədəɾ -drʌdr dənˈdɨr

Medial apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-nd- nd [nd]nd [nd]nd [nd nt] nd [nd]nd [nd]
head/skull*uɔndVro̝m wondˈrum ˈwondrum wondrom
~ untrom
ˈwondərəm wonderam
~ underʌm
root *ndVndVr dədəɾ -drʌdr dənˈdɨr

One apparent exception suggests a compound or a loan from Kimaghama in which this root is found as /itumbu/ (q.v. Geurtjens 1933: 400-401):

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*…
liver*… ˈidumuidmu idumo iroˈromirorom

Medial /*nd/ when followed by high front vowel /*i/ is palatalized and affricated to [ndʒ] in both languages:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-nd-/_ind [ndʒ]? nd [ndʒ]nd [ndʒ]nd [ndʒ]
lightning*[i/u]Vndir 'wandʒir wondʒir jendʃir
navel *undir undʒɛr undʒir undʒi
leech *mo̝ndir mondʒir ˈmundʒir mondʒir
throat *… kɛ'rɛndʒɛram karindʃan

Medial voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-ŋg- ŋg [ŋg ŋk]ŋg [ŋg ŋk]ŋg [ŋg] ŋg [ŋg ŋː] ŋg [ŋg]
coconut*iŋgiuin iŋgun iŋgun iŋgiwi ~ eŋgonjunː ~ jun- ŋgiwin ~ jun-
sago *æiŋga eink [sic] æŋk eiŋgə æⁱŋːa ~ æˈŋːɜ
~ ɛⁱŋːə
iŋga
new *[æ]riŋgip ɛriŋgib riŋgib əriŋgiɸ
big *næŋgVr nɛŋgər nəŋgər naŋgar~naŋgor naŋgar naŋgar

Medial apical non-stop /*r/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-r- r r r r r
bandicoot *ie̝uri jɛw'ri jɨˈwuri
sweat *ie̝mbo̝ro̝m ˈimburum imburum jemborom
stand *ibærænd iˈpɛrɛd iprəd iprad- ibran ibran(ə)
moon *irind iˈrindʒairindʒi irintʃə irin irin
new *[æ]riŋgip ɛriŋgib riŋgib əriŋgiɸ
four *aræɣ arəɣ ˈarar ara araθ ara
cockroach *arV[j/ɣ]Vr arəˈɣɛr arar arːadzərə
head/skull *uɔndVro̝m wondˈrumˈwondrumwondrom ˈwondərəm wonderam
back *uriɣ uriɣ uril ~ urir urur ~ uru
shoulder *uramb urob uram
areca nut *par[e̝] ˈparɜ para pəˈrɛ
plain(s) *s[e̝]re̝m serem tzrem
throw away *særæp- ʃɛruw sarewo tsarab
paradise sp.*kar[i/e̝]r[e̝] kareː karirə
crocodile *karam[o̝i] ˈkaramo kəramu karam ˈkarumʷi karomui
forest *ŋg… ŋgor gərə
shoot *zVri- z̪əri-
wind *zuru z̪uru xəru zuru θruru ~ θurːu dzuru
flesh/meat *zuruɣ z̪yryɣ xərʷi zuru θurut̪ ~ θuruθ
nipa palm *zuruɣand z̪uroɣod tʃruda tsruan
bow *ɣaræp ɣaˈrɛw ɣarab ~ ɣara ɣarab ~ ɣara
banana *ɣo̝ro̝b ɣuˈrub xurub ɣurub xoˈroɸ horob

Medial velar non-stop /*ɣ/ …

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-ɣ- ɣ [ɣ] ɣ [x ø]ɣ [h l ø]ɣ [θ ð ɣ ø] ɣ [g ɣ h r ø]
yesterday *iɔɣɔi joˈɣoj joweː jog-
knee *i[ɔ]ɣɔmɔɣ joɣoməɣ ˈjomʷɛ johomo jɛmoˡθ ~ jəmol- jemu-
night/dark *iɔɣdɔm ˈjɔxrom johodom ˈjɔðɔm jodom ~ jʌdːom
grandfather *aɣa… n-ahal n-aɣat̪ n-aɣad
lime *mo̝ɣo̝ mu mo ˈmoɣo moɣo
see *pe̝ɣe̝r- pɛɣɛɾ- pɛr pəˈðər
sago stem(s)*buɣ[ɔ]it[ɔ]ɣ buɣojtəɣ boitr bugito
know *mbaɣVzV pʌrtə əmbəθəd̪o
~ əmbəθəbd̪ɔ
mbʌrːedzo
adj. suffix *-tVɣe̝ -tɛɣɛ ~ -təɣ ~ ˈtoɣ-tɛ -ta -təðə ~ -tə ~ -ti –tɛ ~ -teː
wing *tæɣV tɛˈɣɛ tɛj tareː θoɣot̪ ~ θəɣɔθ tʌwːo
chest *kæɣæn kɛˈɣɛn kælan kʌrːen
fly (n.) *sinɔɣɔ ˈsinoɣo sinoho tʃina
breadfruit *z[ɔ/o̝]ɣ[ɔ/o̝][r] dzohol
nipa palm *zuruɣand z̪uroɣod tʃruda tsruan

In one example, the medial consonant is ambiguous between /*ɣ/ and palatal non-top /*j/ (above):

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-[j/ɣ]-ɣ
cockroach*arV[j/ɣ]Vr arəˈɣɛr arar arːadzərə

All consonants except for laminal /*s/, velar voiceless stop /*k/ and palatal non-stop /*j/ have been found to occur word-finally.

Final bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in both languages:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-m m m m m m
give *ie̝m jeːm
sweat *ie̝mbo̝ro̝mˈimburum imburum jemborom
night/dark *iɔɣdɔm ˈjɔxrom johodom ˈjɔðɔm jodom ~ jʌdːom
louse *am am am aːm am aːm
hot *uɔm wom wom uom umoː
head/skull *uɔndVro̝m wondˈrumˈwondrum wondrom ˈwondərəm wonderam
mud/loam *mbam ᵐbam mbam bam mbaːm
man/person *nam nam nam nam nam nam
body *tɔnɔm tonom tonam tonom ~ tɔnɔmtonom
betel pepper*ndædim ˈdɛdim d̪ɛˈd̪im dadiwn [sic]
many *ndɔm ndom-romˈⁿdɔmɔ-rɔmdom-rom
plain(s) *s[e̝]re̝m serem tzrem
drum *ɣaim ɣajm ɣeim ɣaim
five *ɣVipam xʷajpam- ɣobe- xʷɛⁱpam oipoin (?)

Final apical nasal /*n/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-n n n n n n
old woman *ie̝uɔn jɛwon ~ -jawon-jun jewan jəwon jeːwon
coconut *iŋgiuin iŋgun iŋgun iŋgiwi ~ eŋgonjunː ~ jun-ŋgiwin ~ jun-
centipede *an an aːn jaːn
voice *uanan wanan wanan ˈwanan
rain *mun mun mun mun mun mun
elbow *to̝n tun toːn
tongue *ndupæn dupɛn ˈdəpən dʌpːan ˈdəpən dʌpːan
hair *sin sin sin ʃin ~ ʒin tʃin ~ sin tʃin
chest *kæɣæn kɛˈɣɛn kælan kʌrːen
bark (of dog)*ɣamban ɣamban -amban
deaf/forget *ɣun ɣun xun xun

Final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-p f b w øø xb w ø ɸ ø b v ø
new *[æ]riŋgip ɛriŋgib riŋgib əriŋgiɸ
pig *up u u u u
spittle *mitap miˈtao mitaw
thought *me̝nip mɛnif meniw meneː-~-mənə
causative *-mɔp -mow -mʷo -mowɔ ~ -mɔɸ-mo
afraid *tɔp -tɔ- to -tɔ- tov-tov
throw away *særæp- ʃɛruw sarewo tsarab
unripe *kɔp kob
bow *ɣaræp ɣaˈrɛw xarəᵘ ɣarab ~ ɣaraxaraɸ ɣarab ~ ɣara
head/hair *ɣo̝p ɣu- ˈxu- ko-
kunai grass*ɣup ɣu xu ku xuɸ ɣiv

Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-t t [t]t [t t̪]t [t] t [θ t̪ t̪̚]t [t ø]
woman/wife*ie̝t jɛt -ɛt ~ id- jɛθ jeː ~ jʌdː-
~ jeːr- ~ ir-
belly *put put put put puθ ~ puˡt̪ put
fruit/seed*se̝t ʃɛt sɛt̪ tʃɛt̪̚ ~ tʃɛθ

Laminal /*s/ does not occur finally, because Asmat-Muli Strait final /*s/ has merged with /*r/ (below):

Velar voiceless stop /*k/ has not been found to occur finally, perhaps suggesting that it has changed to non-stop /*ɣ/ (below).

Final bilabial voiced stop /*b/ …:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-b
foot *mɔb mop mobə mob
banana*ɣo̝ro̝b ɣuˈrubxurub ɣurub xoˈroɸ
~ xorof
ɣorob

Final voiced prenasalized stops /*mb *nd *ŋg/ are merged with nasals /m n/ in Konorau.

Final bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ is retained as /mb/ [mb b] in Mombum and meged with nasal /m/ in Konorau:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch KonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-mb mb [mb]mb [mb]mb [mb b]m m
shoulder*uramb urob uram
weeping *mamb mamb mamb- mamb mam- maːm-
food *ŋgimb ᵑgib- gim- gim-

One example is somewhat confused in this respect:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolom Komelomsch KonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusanto Geurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-mb mb [m]mb [mb]m mb (?)
lake*zɔmb xom zomb θom zomb

Final apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ is retained as /nd/ [d nd] in Mombum and merged with nasal /n/ in Konorau:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-nd nd [d nd]nd [d]nd [d]n n
ashes *[i/e̝]mundiˈmud iˈmud -imun eːmun
stand *ibærænd iˈpɛrɛd iprəd iprad- ibran ibran(ə)
carry *ndamVnd ˈdamənd- demd- daman ~
damənə
nipa palm*zuruɣand z̪uroɣod tʃruda tsruan

When preceded by high front vowel /*i/, /*nd/ is realized as [ndʒ] in Mombum and as /n/ in Konorau:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-nd/i_nd [ndʒ]nd [ndʒ]nd [ntʃ]nd [ndʒ]nd [ndʒ]
moon*irind iˈrindʒ irindʒi irintʃə irin irin

Final velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ is retained as /ŋg/ [ŋg ŋk ŋ] in Mombum and merged with apical nasal /n/ in Konorau, as is final /*nd/ (above):

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom Komelomsch KonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*-ŋg ŋg [ŋk ŋg]ŋg [ŋk ŋ]ŋg [ŋg n] n n
fish *iaŋg jaŋk jaŋk jaŋk ~ jaŋg- jan jan-
mucus *i[ɔ]ŋg joŋk- joŋgə jen
canoe *uo̝zeŋg uˈjɛŋk wɪŋk ujeŋgə woðən wodzæn
thorn *m[ɔ]be̝ŋg moˈpɛŋk mɛbɛn
leg *kaŋg kaŋk kaŋ kaŋg kan kaːn
paddle*ɣane̝ŋg ɣaˈnɛŋg xaˈniŋ kaleŋg ~ ɣanenˈxanɛn kanen

Final apical non-stop /*r/ is sometimes followed with a subphonemic copy vowel:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-r r(V) r(V) [r l] r(V)
ear *ie̝pær ˈipɛr ˈipɛr ipar ˈjɛpar ~ jɛˈpɛrjʌpːar ~ jepʌrːa
shadow *imær imɛr imar
bad *ikɔr ikor ikor igor
blood *ir iˈri ˈiri iri ˈiri iri
lightning *[i/u]Vndir'wandʒir wondʒir jendʃir
leaf *ebur ˈɛpur -pur -pur ɜˈbor ~ -bor -bur
urine *[a]ir aˈir ir- ir ær- ijərə
excrement *ar ar ar ar ar aːr
cockroach *arV[j/ɣ]Vrarəˈɣɛr arar arːadzərə
navel *undir undʒɛr undʒir undʒi
name *ur ur ur uru ur ur
rope *mar mar mar maːl mar maːr
six (?) *mar- ma- (?) ma- (?)ma- mær- mar-
leech *mo̝ndir mondʒir ˈmundʒir mondʒir
see *pe̝ɣe̝r- pɛɣɛɾ- pɛr pəˈðər
skin/bark *par par par par par paːr
white *pur-bur ˈpuru-bur pu-bur puru-bur pur-bur pur-bur
arm *bo̝ko̝r ˈbukur bukul bogor
big *næŋgVr nɛŋgər nəŋgər naŋgar~naŋgor naŋgar naŋgar
wallaby *nar nar nar- nar nar naː [sic]
good *tiuɔr tiwor ˈtiwʊr tiwor
earth/ground *tum[a/o]r tuˈmor ~ ˈtumortuˈmʊr tamal tumar- tamar
root *ndVndVr dədəɾ -drʌdr dənˈdɨr
salty *siar ˈsiaɾ -tʃiˈjar
sand *sir sir sɪr sir(ə) tʃɪr ~ sir tʃir
charcoal/black*sɔr sor soːr- so ~ ʃor tʃor- tʃor ~ soːr
bamboo *zo̝bɔr z̪upor xupər θəbor sobor
cuscus *[j/ɣ]VmVr ɣəmər ˈxəmər θəmər
light (weight)*ɣɔr ɣoro-ˈɣur ɣoro wo-wor
dry season *ɣua[e̝]r ɣwaˈrao kwaːr kwer ~ gojer

Palatal non-stop /*j/ has not been found to occur finally. Some reflexes of velar non-stop /*ɣ/ (below) suggest that the two may have been merged in final position.

Final velar non-stop /*ɣ/ …:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*-ɣ ɣ … [r j ø]ɣ [ɣ r l ø] θ [θ lθ t̚ r ø]… [r ø]
knee *i[ɔ]ɣɔmɔɣ joɣoməɣ ˈjomʷɛ johomo jɛmoˡθ ~ jəmol- jemu-
gall/bile *idVɣ idəɣ
breast *abuɣ apwyɣ ʊpʷuⁱ apur əbʊt̚ ~ əbuθ abur
four *aræɣ arəɣ ˈarar ara araθ ara
back *uriɣ uriɣ uril ~ urir urur ~ uru
nose/tip *mæne̝ɣ mɛnəɣ mənɛ me(:)nɛɣ ˈmənaɣar mʌnːʌr ~mʌnːɛ
eye *musiɣ musiɣ ˈmusi- muri ~ mutʃi ˈmudʒi mudzu
sago stem(s) *buɣ[ɔ]it[ɔ]ɣ buɣojtəɣ boitr bugito
younger sibling*n[ai]ɣ nɛɣ -nɛ -ˈnalθ nair
joint *k[o̝/u]mb[o̝/u]ɣkumbəɣ -kumbə
~ -kombo
-kuᵐburθ -kumbo
~-kombo
tooth *ziɣ z̪iɣ xi zid ~ zil θiθ tʃirə ~ tzi
flesh/meat *zuruɣ z̪yryɣ xərʷi zuru θurut̪ ~ θuruθ
mat *ɣ[ɔ/o̝]me̝ɣ ɣuməɣ ɣomɛ ɣamɛ
hand *ɣuaɣ ɣwaɣ xʷaj kwal xolt̪ ~xoθ ~xoð ɣoiɣ-

… vowels …

High front vowel /*i/ is generally retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*i i i i
blood *ir iˈri ˈiri iri ˈiri iri
sand *sir sir sɪr sir(ə) tʃɪr ~ sir tʃir
hair *sin sin sin ʃin ~ ʒin tʃin ~ sin tʃin
food *ŋgimb ᵑgib- gim- gim-
bite *zik- ixikaᵘx θikub tzikab
tooth *ziɣ z̪iɣ xi zid ~ zil θiθ tʃirə ~ tzi
ant sp. *iniui iniwi iniwi
good *tiuɔr tiwor ˈtiwʊr tiwor
gall/bile *idVɣ idəɣ
bad *ikɔr ikor ikor igor
fly (n.) *sinɔɣɔ ˈsinoɣo sinoho tʃina
shadow *imær imr imar
saliva/spittle*mitap miˈtao mitaw
navel *undir undʒɛr undʒir undʒi
bandicoot *ie̝uri jɛw'ri jɨˈwuri
leech *mo̝ndir mondʒir ˈmundʒir mondʒir
child *æni ɛɲi -æɲi ˈæni ~ ˈɨniænːi ~ ani-
betel pepper *ndædim ˈdɛdim d̪ɛˈd̪im dadiwn
new *[æ]riŋgip ɛriŋgib riŋgib əriŋgiɸ
urine *[a]ir aˈir ir- ir ær- ijərə

… /*i/ … The reflexes of these sequences contrast with those of intiial palatal non-stop /*j/ (above):

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*i/#_V i i i
woman/wife*ie̝t jɛt -ɛt ~ id- jɛθ jeː ~ jʌdː-
~ jeːr- ~ ir-
bandicoot *ie̝uri jɛw'ri jɨˈwuri
old woman *ie̝uɔn jɛwon ~ -jawon-jun jewan jəwon jeːwon
ear *ie̝pær ˈipɛr ˈipɛr ipar ˈjɛpar ~ jɛˈpɛrjʌpːar ~ jepʌrːa
cold *iVp[u]i jɛˈpwi ˈjoᶷpi
mucus *i[ɔ]ŋg joŋk- joŋgə jen
knee *i[ɔ]ɣɔmɔɣ joɣoməɣ ˈjomʷɛ johomo jɛmoˡθ ~ jəmol-jemu-
night/dark*iɔɣdɔm ˈjɔxromjohodom ˈjɔðɔm jodom ~ jʌdːom
fish *iaŋg jaŋk jaŋk jaŋk ~ jaŋg-jan jan-
*i/V_V i ij
salty *siar ˈsiaɾ -tʃiˈjar

… /*i/ …:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*i/_Cuii i i ju uu
below*imui iˈmu imʷi jumʷi-
dog *i[u]bui iˈpwi ipʷi ipwi ˈubʷi ubui

In two examples, /*i/ is backed to [u] in Geurtjens' Konerawsch when following high back vowel /*u/ in a previous syllable:

Muli StraitMombùmKomolomKomelomsch KonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
*i/uC_ i i i i u
back*uriɣ uria uril ~ urir urur ~ uru
eye *musiɣ musiɣ ˈmusi- muri ~ mutʃiˈmudʒi mudzu

High back rounded vowel /*u/ is generally retained as such in both languages:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*u u u u u u
pig *up u u u u
illness/pain*mbu mbu mbu mbu
fence *su ʃu su su tʃu ~ suʔ tʃu
name *ur ur ur uru ur ur
rain *mun mun mun mun mun mun
belly *put put put put puθ ~ puˡt̪ put
deaf/forget *ɣun ɣun xun xun
kunai grass *ɣup ɣu xu ku xuɸ ɣiv (?)
wind *zuru z̪uru xəru zuru θruru ~ θurːudzuru
white *pur-bur ˈpuru-burpu-bur puru-bur pur-bur pur-bur
tie *kumbu[i] kumbu -kumbu kumbu kumbʷɪ kumbui
taro *uni uˈni ˈuni uni uni uni
navel *undir undʒɛr undʒir undʒi
back *uriɣ uriɣ uril ~ urir urur ~ uru
eye *musiɣ musiɣ ˈmusi- muri ~ mutʃiˈmudʒi mudzu
shoulder *uramb uromb uram
ashes *[i/e̝]mundiˈmud iˈmud -imun eːmun
eat/drink *no̝ku nuku nuku noku ~ -nok nogo nugu

… /*u/ …:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*u/#_V u [w u] u [w]u [w u]u [w]u [w u]
canoe *uo̝ze̝ŋg uˈjɛŋk wɪŋk ujeŋgə woðən wodzæn
hot *uɔm wom wom uom umoː
head/skull*uɔndVro̝m wondˈrum ˈwondrum wondrom ˈwondərəmwonderam
fire *ua[nd/r] wad wad wad war waːr
voice *uanan wanan wanan ˈwanan
*u/V_(V)u [w] u [w]u [w] u [w]u [w wː]
bandicoot *ie̝uri jɛw'ri jɨˈwuri
ant sp. *iniui iniwi iniwi
good *tiuɔr tiwor ˈtiwʊr tiwor
old woman *ie̝uɔn jɛwon ~ -jawon-jun jewan jəwon jeːwon
sun *zaua z̪aˈwa xowa zowa θəwo dzʌwːo

High mid front vowel /*e̝/ …:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*e̝ e e [e ɛ] e [e ɛ æ]
sugarcane *me̝ me meː
fruit/seed*se̝t ʃɛt sɛt̪ tʃɛt̪̚ ~ tʃɛθ
see *pe̝ɣe̝r- pɛɣɛɾ- pɛr pəˈðər
plain(s) *s[e̝]re̝m serem tzrem
thought *me̝nip mɛnif meniw meneː-~-mənə
forehead *e̝idɔu ejˈdow eidow eidow
do/make *ke̝mV- kɛmu-
woman/wife*ie̝t jɛt -ɛt ~ id- jɛθ jeː ~ jʌdː-
~ jeːr- ~ ir-
canoe *uo̝ze̝ŋg uˈjɛŋk wɪŋk ujeŋgə woðən wodzæn
mat *ɣ[ɔ/o̝]me̝ɣɣuməɣ ɣomɛ ɣamɛ
thorn *m[ɔ]be̝ŋg moˈpɛŋk mɛbɛn
stone *mæte̝ mɛˈtɛ ˈmɛtɛ mateː mæt̪ʰɛ matɛ
nose/tip *mæne̝ɣ mɛnəɣ mənɛ me(:)nɛɣ ˈmənaɣar mʌnːɛ ~mʌnːʌr
goose *tVpue̝ tubwɛ tapweː
paddle *ɣane̝ŋg ɣaˈnɛŋkxaˈniŋ kaleŋg ~ ɣanenˈxanɛn kanen

High mid back rounded vowel /*o̝/ …:

Muli Strait Mombùm Komolom Komelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*o̝ u u o u o ɔ u ʊo
do *o̝ u u o
flatulate *po̝- pu-
1 sg. *no̝ nu nu no no no
tree *to̝ tu tu to to- ~ tɔ- toː
elbow *to̝n tun toːn
head/hair *ɣo̝p ɣu- ˈxu- ko-
husband *o̝mb[o̝] umb -ˈwom -womb -wʊmbʊ ombo
lime *mo̝ɣo̝ mu mo ˈmoɣo moɣo
arm *bo̝ko̝r ˈbukur bukul bogor
banana *ɣo̝ro̝b ɣuˈrub xurub ɣurub xoˈroɸ horob
water *mo̝i mwɛ mʷɛj ~ mʷɤⁱ
~ mʷɪ- ~ mʷɛ-
mui mʷi ~ mʷɪ- moi
leech *mo̝ndir mondʒir ˈmundʒir mondʒir
eat/drink *no̝ku nuku nuku noku ~ -noknogo nugu
bamboo *zo̝bɔr z̪upor xupər θəbor sobor
sweat *ie̝mbo̝ro̝mˈimburum imburum jemborom
canoe *uo̝ze̝ŋg uˈjɛŋk wɪŋk ujeŋgə woðən wodzæn
head/skull*uɔndVro̝m wondˈrumˈwondrum wondrom ˈwondərəm wonderam
chin *amo̝te̝ amuˈtɛ amti amodeː

Low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorau Konerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
o o o
causative *-mɔp -mow -mʷo -mowɔ ~ -mɔɸ -mo
foot *mɔb mop mobə mob
afraid *tɔp -tɔ- to -tɔ- tov-tov
many *ndɔm ndom-rom ˈⁿdɔmɔ-rɔmdom-rom
charcoal/black*sɔr sor soːr- so ~ ʃor tʃor- tʃor ~ soːr
unripe *kɔp kob
lake *zɔmb xom zomb θom zomb
light (weight)*ɣɔr ɣoro-ˈɣur ɣoro wo-wor
body *tɔnɔm tonom tonam tonom ~ tɔnɔm tonom
hot *uɔm wom wom uom umoː
head/skull *uɔndVro̝m wondˈrum ˈwondrum wondrom ˈwondərəm wonderam
yesterday *iɔɣɔi joˈɣoj joweː jog-
bad *ikɔr ikor ikor igor
good *tiuɔr tiwor ˈtiwʊr tiwor
fly (n.) *sinɔɣɔ ˈsinoɣo sinoho tʃina
knee *i[ɔ]ɣɔmɔɣ joɣoməɣ ˈjomʷɛ johomo jɛmoˡθ ~ jəmol-jemu-
night/dark *iɔɣdɔm ˈjɔxrom johodom ˈjɔðɔm jodom ~ jʌdːom
forehead *e̝idɔu ejˈdow eidow eidow
bamboo *zo̝bɔr z̪upor xupər θəbor sobor

Low front vowel /*æ/ …:

Muli StraitMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
ɛ a ɛ e a
fat/grease *mær mɛr mar
throw away *særæp- ʃɛruw sarewo tsarab
sneeze *æsi ˈɛsu edʃi asija
betel pepper*ndædim ˈdɛdim d̪ɛˈd̪im dadiwn
stone *mæte̝ mɛˈtɛ ˈmɛtɛ mateː mæt̪ʰɛ matɛ
nose/tip *mæne̝ɣ mɛnəɣ mənɛ me(:)nɛɣ ˈmənaɣar mʌnːɛ ~mʌnːʌr
wing *tæɣe̝ tɛˈɣɛ tɛj tareː θoɣot̪ ~ θəɣɔθ tʌwːo
big *næŋgVr nɛŋgər nəŋgər naŋgar~naŋgornaŋgar naŋgar
shadow *imær imɛr imar
stand *ibærænd iˈpɛrɛdiprəd iprad- ibran ibran(ə)
tongue *ndupæn dupɛn ˈdəpən dʌpːan ˈdəpən dʌpːan
ear *ie̝pær ˈipɛr ˈipɛr ipar ˈjɛpar ~ jɛˈpɛrjʌpːar ~ jepʌrːa
bow *ɣaræp ɣaˈrɛw xarəᵘ ɣarab ~ ɣara xaraɸ ɣarab ~ ɣara

Low central vowel /*a/ is generally retained as such in both languages. In monosyllables, it is often lengthened to [aː], especially in Konorau:

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
*a a a [a aː] a [a aː]
louse *am am am aːm am aːm
centipede *an an aːn jaːn [sic]
excrement *ar ar ar ar ar aːr
weeping *mamb mamb mamb- mamb mam- maːm-
rope *mar mar mar maːl mar maːr
six (?) *mar- ma- ma- ma- mær- mar-
garden/clearing*par par par par par paːr
mud/loam *mbam ᵐbam mbam bam mbaːm
man/person *nam nam nam nam nam nam
wallaby *nar nar nar- nar nar naː
hit/kill *tab- ˈt̪abɛ tabeː
leg *kaŋg kaŋk kaŋ kaŋg kan kaːn
bark (of dog) *ɣamban ɣamban -amban
grandchild *adV n-aːd n-ˈəðə
paradise sp. *kar[i/e̝]r[e̝] kareː karirə
breast *abuɣ əpwyɣ ʊpʷuⁱ apur əbʊt̚ ~ əbuθabur
areca nut *par[e̝] ˈparɜ para pəˈrɛ
paddle *ɣane̝ŋg ɣaˈnɛŋkxaˈniŋ kaleŋg ~ ɣanenˈxanɛn kanen
crocodile *karam[o̝i] ˈkaramokəramu karam ˈkarumʷi karomui
chin *amo̝te̝ amuˈtɛ amti amodeː
heavy *zak[ɔ/o̝]e ˈz̪akwɛ zagoi dzagʌ
four *aræɣ arəɣ ˈarar ara araθ ara
bow *ɣaræp ɣaˈrɛw xarəᵘ ɣarab ~ ɣara xaraɸ ɣarab ~ ɣara
cockroach *arV[j/ɣ]Vr arəˈɣɛr arar arːadzərə
fish *iaŋg jaŋk jaŋk jaŋk ~ jaŋg- jan jan-
salty *siar ˈsiaɾ -tʃiˈjar
saliva/spittle *mitap miˈtao mitaw
fire *ua[nd/r] wad wad wad war waːr
voice *uanan wanan wanan ˈwanan

Pronouns

Muli Strait nominative pronouns are reconstructed as follows, with attestations drawn from Drabbe (1950: 562, 574,) Susanto (2001: 4) and Geurtjens (1933: 430-431):

Muli Strait Mombùm KomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
1 sg.*no̝ nu nu mo [sic] no no
2 sg.*iu ju ju jo (?) ju ju
3 sg.*aŋgVmb (?) aːˈŋgib aŋgam uŋgumi
1 pl.*ni/*no̝-m (?)nu-m no-m ˈnu-mu ni
2 pl.*iu-m ju-m y-m ja-mu (?) ˈju-mu i-mu

The third person plural, if there was one, is not known. First person plural /*ni/ is tentative, based as it is solely upon Geurtjens' <ni>, conceivably a misprint.

Loans from neighboring families

Like other languages of the region, the Muli Strait languages, especially Mombum, have borrowed many words from Marind:

MarindMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
river *aɾikiɛɾiˈkiɛˈriki ariki
flesh/meat *mui mui
skin/bark *paɾ par par par par paːr
nape *mbakumbaku mbaku boku
travel *sapoɾ sapura sabor
paradise sp.*sakiɾsakil
bamboo knife*sok suk- sok
cassowary *kai ˈkai kaj kai

The fact that Mombum has more loans from Marind suggests most to be of recent origin, as Komolom is closer to Marind territory than is the south coast of Kolopom where Konorau is spoken.

Some words which by their meanings cannot be original to Marind are nevertheless borrowed immediately therefrom:

Marind Mombùm Komolom KomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
Drabbe Susanto Geurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
tobacco *tamuk[o/u]tɛˈmuku tamuku tamuku
iron (blade)*wak[a]ɾa ɣwakəɾ ˈɸakər ~ -akərvakr

The second of these may contain a novel phoneme in Mombum in clear contrast with initial sequence /*uV/ and reflecting Marind's western dialects' realization of Marind /*w/ as [hʷ ]; see Marianna Strait reflexes of initial /*j/ (above) for comparison

… Indonesian …:

IndonesianMombùmKomolomKomelomschKonorauKonerawsch
DrabbeSusantoGeurtjens SusantoGeurtjens
macheteparaŋ paˈdaŋ paraŋ

… Kolopom …:

KolopomMombùm KomolomKomelomsch Konorau Konerawsch
Drabbe SusantoGeurtjens Susanto Geurtjens
cassowary*awi owi-wi ˈɜwi awi
stone *mete mɛˈtɛ ˈmɛtɛ mateː mæt̪ʰɛ matɛ
rainbow *… ˈmalab
star *… mbɛˈɾɛm ᵐbarɛm mbaram tʃɔmbram
~ sombram
sʌmberam
bow *karep ɣaˈrɛw ɣarab ~ ɣara ɣarab ~ ɣara
lightning*… 'wandʒir wondʒir jendʃir
bad *jakVt ikor ikor igor

The following loans between Muli Strait and Sawuy, Yakhai-Warkay and Kaugat (Atohaim) respectively suggest that Muli Strait languages were once spoken in the Casuarina Coast region well to the north of Kolopom (q.v. Voorhoeve 1971: 89, 110-114):

Muli StraitSawuy
bow *ɣaræp xarab
banana*ɣo̝ro̝b xorob
Muli StraitYakhai-Warkay
fish *iaŋg *iaŋg
breast*abuɣ *abut
many *ndɔm *ndom
Muli StraitKaugat
dog *i[u]bui upotʃ

In a few of theseinstances, the direction of borrowing is not known. However, several have established etymologies in Asmat-Muli Stait or elsewhere. “Breast” /*abuɣ/ is the regular reflex of Asmat-Muli /*awVɣV/. Asmat-Muli /*iuwuri/ “dog” loses its subfinal apical in Muli Strait /*i[u]nui/, but the loan to Atohaim shows it to have still been present in pre-Muli Strait. On the other hand, /*ɣaræp/ “bow” is itself a loan from Kolopom /*karep/, which must be more ancient than proto-Muli as its reflex is found also in Moraori, strengthening the suggestion that the linguistic geography of this region was rather different in relatively recent times.