Table of Contents

Central Digul River

­ Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

[under construction]


Subclassification

The internal classification of Central Digul River is as follows:

Central Digul River

Awyu

Ndeiram River-Wambon

Ndeiram River

Wambon

Voorhoeve (2000: 362) provides lexicostatistical figures for Awyu-Dumut as follows:

Siagha Pisa Aghu Kombai Digul W. Yong W. Kaeti
Siagha 52 52 30 34 32 32
Pisa 52 68 32 36 35 33
Aghu 55 68 30 34 34 33
Kombai 30 32 30 36 38 40
Digul W. 34 36 34 36 50 51
Yong. W. 32 35 34 38 50 62
Kaeti 32 33 33 40 51 62

These are substantially lower than those given by Healey (1970: 1009):

Syiagha Yenimu Pisa Aghu Yong. W. Kaeti
Syiagha 86 78 73 62 54
Yenimu 86 83 78 62 55
Pisa 78 83 91 59 54
Aghu 73 78 91 54 50
Yong. W. 62 62 59 54 77
Kaeti 54 55 54 50 77

Sources

van Doorn (1931-1932) 429 comparative terms for (pp. 133-140) Digul Mappi (Mappi River Awyu) and (pp. 141-150) Digul Mandobo (Upper Mandobo) published in Stokhof ed. (1982)

Unattributed Holle comparative of vocabularies of (pp. 120-121) Upper Uwimerah [sic]/Upper Digul (Kenon or Kenyam) and (pp. 129-130) Uwimerah (observation post) (Kokenop) published in Stokhof ed. (1982)

Nevermann (1939) vocabulary of Oser

Drabbe (1947) grammar of Pisà (Wildeman River)

Boelaars (1950: 68-76) English language recension of Drabbe's Pisà grammar

Drabbe (1950) grammar and (pp. 131-142) 408 comparative terms for Sjìagha (Ia River,) Jénimu (Bamgi River) and Pisà

Drabbe (1954: 162-163) pronouns and (1954: 211- 214) grammar sketch of Oàmbon (Upper Mandobo) of Anggimòp village and Runggoanjàp and (pp. 214-229) 419 comparative terms and (pp. 231-255) 100 comparative terms for (Oàmbon) Dumùt, Sjìagha, Jénimu and Pisà

Drabbe (1957) grammar and (pp. 47-41) 408 comparative terms for Aghu

Drabbe (1959) grammar of Kaeti (Omba Rungwanjap i.e. Central Mandobo) and Wambon (Agayop) and (pp. 162-181) 431 comparative terms for Siàgha, Jénimu, Pisà, Aghu, Kaeti and Wambon

Healey (1970) reconstruction of Proto Awyu-Dumut

Voorhoeve (1975: 374-379) brief general descriptions of Awyu-Dumut languages

Voorhoeve (2000) revision of Healey's (1970) Awyu-Dumut, including (pp. 372-381) 108 reconstructed terms and 5 comparative terms for Kwem (Central Mandobo)

Voorhoeve (2005) comparison of Proto-Awyu-Dumut to Proto-Asmat and Proto-Ok

de Vries (1986) Wambon relators

de Vries (1987) Kombai kin terms

de Vries (1989) unpublished thesis on Wambon and Korowai (unobtained)

de Vries (1990) Kombai quotations

de Vries and de Vries-Wiersma (1992) grammar of (Kenon) Wambon of Sawagit village

de Vries (1993) grammar of Kombai

de Vries (1994) Awyu (i.e. Central Digul River) number systems

van Enk and de Vries (1997: 221-225) 200 comparative terms for Kombai

de Vries (2010) Dumut conjoined clauses

de Vries, Wester and van den Heuvel (2012) Greater Awyu (Digul River) comparative pronouns and verbal morphology

Jang (2003: 39-47) 239 comparative terms for Ketumof Ater village, Kenon of Klofkamp and Kokenop of Bukit

Jang (2008) grammar of (Kenon) Wambon of Klofkamp and Manggelum villages

Hughes (2009: 27-37) 239 comparative terms for Wanggom of Biwage village and Digul Wambon of Manggelum

Lebold, Kriens and de Vries (2010: 46-52) 97 comparative terms for South Awyu (Bamgi River) of Salamepe village

Kriens and Lebold (2010: 40-53) 239 comparative terms for Awyu (Pasue River) of Ketah, Nohon and Taim villages and Awyu (Wildeman River) of Busiri

Lebold, Kriens, de Vries and Rumaropen (2010: 54-66) 240 comparative terms for Asue Awyu of Juvo Besar/Kabu, Juvo Kecil, Keru and Khanami villages, 62 comparative terms for Asaren, Isage, Aboge, Kopi, Kiki, Eci, Homang, Amenda, Omuro, Khaibu and Kasima villages

Kriens, Lebold and Menanti (2011: 44-51) 239 comparative terms for Asue Awyu of Amagatsu village, 50 comparative terms for Sogope, Katage and Yagatsu villlages

Lebold, Kriens and Susanto (2013: 36-47) 239 comparative terms for South Awyu (Bamgi River) of Yeloba and Konebi (Jas) villages, Edera Awyu of Meto, Ujung Kia, Yame and Bhakti, Jair Awyu (Upper Kia River) of Ujung Kia and (Central) Mandobo of Kaisah, and (pp. 48-50) 60 comparative terms for Edera of Amk, South Awyu (Bamgi River) of Banamepe and Konebi (Homeme,) Jair (Upper Kia River) of Subur and (Central) Mandobo of Subur and Aiwat

Wester (2014) Awyu-Dumut comparative morphology including (pp. 195-210) 430 comparative terms for Shiaxa, Yenimu, Pisa, Aghu, (Kaeti) Mandobo, and Yonggom Wambon (Agayop) after Drabbe (1959: 162-181,) Digul Wambon (Kenon) after Jang (p.c.) Kombai after Chi (p.c.) and Korowai after van Enk and de Vries (1997 ibid.)

Groen (n.d.) unpublished vocabulary of Kombai obtained in comparative spreadsheet format from Paul Whitehouse via the Summer Institute of Linguistics

History of classification

Drabbe (1954: 214-229) compares Kati (Muyu,) Wambon and Awyu languages. Drabbe (1959: 4-5) joins the Awyu and Wambon languages in an Awyu group in explicit contrast to Kati, mentioning Wanggom as another member. This division is followed by Voorhoeve (1968: 4) in his subclassification of the Asmat-Awyu-Ok subgroup of his South and Central New Guinea Stock.

Healey (1970) distinguishes Awyu from Dumut (i.e. Wambon) within Awyu-Dumut.

Voorhoeve (1971: 89-90) adds Sawuy to Awyu-Dumut, suggesting that it may be closest to Sjiagha/Jenimu (South Awyu.) Voorhoeve (1975: 27-29) treats Sawuy as a third member alongside Healey's Awyu and Dumut, with Wanggom as a member of Dumut.

De Vries (1986: 9-10) identifies Digul Wambon as a Dumut language with a dialect-level relationship to Yonggom Wambon (Drabbe's 1959 Wambon, i.e. East Wambon)

De Vries (1989: 4, 1993: 1) identifies Kombai, Wanggom and Tayan as dialects of a single language.

Voorhoeve (2000: 362) treats de Vries' (1993) Kombai as a third branch of proto-Awyu-Dumut, but does not mention Sawuy. De Vries' Digul Wambon is treated as a separate language from Yonggom Wambon.

De Vries, Wester and van den Heuvel (2012: 299-300) reiterate Voorhoeve's tripartite division with Kombai-Wanggom-Tayan renamed Ndeiram River. Voorhoeve's (1971) Sawuy is included in Awyu-Dumut (p. 276) but is not explicitly placed relative to the other three branches.

Greenberg (1971: 825-826) includes both Awju and Dumut in his Southwestern subgroup of Indo-Pacific; however Dumut is wrongly treated as a subgroup of Ok, and both Awju and Ok are given as coordinate to Marind, Tirio (Lower Fly River) and Kukukuku (Kratke Range) groups.

Historical phonology

[under construction]

The presentation which follows is inevitably deeply indebted to the reconstruction presented in Healey (1970) and to its modification and expansion by Voorhoeve (2000.) De Vries, Wester and van den Heuvel (2012) and Wester (2014) add some valuable points of comparative morphology, but their phonological system, to the extent there can be said to be one, is not reliable.

Proto-Central Digul River had 14 to 16 consonants and 9 or 10 vowels as follows:

*m *n
*p *t *s *k *kʷ
*mb *nd [*ndz] *ŋg *ŋgʷ
[*hʷ]
*w *j
*i *u
*e̝ *ɵ̝ *o̝
[*ɜ]
*a

In addition to the simple vowels given above, a number of diphthongs are found as follows:



Only a restricted set of consonants occurs finally:

*m *n
*p *t *k
*j

This system is substantially different from Healey's (1970: 998-1000) Proto-Awyu Dumut inventory of 13 or 14 consonants and 8 vowels, with Healey's segments given in their original orthography:

*m *n
[*p] *t *k
*b *d *g
*f *s *x
*w *r *y
*i *u
*e *o
*a



The values proposed here correlate to Healey's as follows:

Usher Healey
*m *m
*n *n
*p *f
*p
*t *t
*s *s
*k *k
*k *x
*kʷ *k
*mb *b
*nd *d
*ndz
*ŋg *g
*ŋgʷ *w
*hʷ *f
*w *w
*r
*j *y
*i *i
*u
*e̝ *e
*ɵ̝
*o̝ *u
*o
*a *a



Initial and medial consonants correspond as follows:

C. Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*m *m m *m
*n *n n *n
*p ɸ *p
*t *t r *t
*s *s r *s
*k *k x *k
*k/a ɒ ɔ *x x *k
*kʷ *kʷ *kʷ
*mb *b mb *mb
*nd *d nd *nd
*ndz r *ndz
*ŋg *g ŋg *ŋg
*ŋgʷ *w ŋgʷ *ŋgʷ
*hʷ *xʷ ɸ
*w
l
*j *j *j

Final consonants correspond as follows:

C. Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*…

Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:

C. Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*i *i i *i
*u *u y
*e̝₂ *e̝ i *e
*e̝₁ *e̝ e *e
*o̝ *o̝ u *ɵ̝
e *e
o *o
*a *a a *a
a
*uⁱ *uⁱ uⁱ
*ɛⁱ *ɛⁱ eⁱ
*ɔⁱ *ɔⁱ *oⁱ
*aⁱ *aⁱ aⁱ
*aⁱ/kʷ_ *ɔⁱ aⁱ *uⁱ
*ɔᵘ *ɔᵘ oʸ oᵘ *u

These correspondences are exemplified as follows. Since not much Wanggom data is available, Kombai is used to exemplify Ndeiram River, with most forms drawn from de Vries (1993,) van Enk and de Vries (1997: 221-225) and Voorhoeve (2000: 372-381;) those drawn from Groen (n.d.) are designated [jg]:

There is one known comparison involving a sound found in Awyu as a rounded velar fricative /*xʷ/, which appears only in loans from Marind or Marind-Yaqay, where the western dialects of Marind realize /*w/ as [hʷ]. The Mandobo reflex has an [*h], retained in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo, which is found only in loans:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon;Healey
*hʷ *xʷɸ *p*f
canoe*jahʷun *jaxʷuNjaɸu(n)*japʉn*jofün

High front vowel /*i/ …:

Central Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*i *i i *i *i
drink (realis) *mi- *mi[N/C]-mi- *mi- *mik-
mother *ni *ni ni *noy
plait *ti- *ti- *ti- *ti-
earth/ground *ip i(ɸ) *ip
star/firefly *min *miN mi *min
thought *pin(-pin) *piN- ɸimbi-ma- [rw]*pin(-pin)
shin *mbin *biN *mbin *bin
coconut *mbij[ɒ/ɔ]n mbijo *mbijɒn
dog *tit *tit
rattan/rope *tik ri *tik
nose/beak *sim *siN *sim
bathe/swim *kim- *kiN- *kim- *kim-
rib(s) *ɾin *ɾiN *ɾin *rin
hand/arm *wit i(t) *wit
thigh *mindin *midiN mindi [rw] *mindin
thick *pinim ɸini [rw] *pinim
turtle/tortoise*mbiɾip mbi ~ mbli *mbiɾip
sand *ŋgiɾim *giɾiN *ŋgiɾim *girim
tail *minu *minu miny
swallow *mi[m/n] kɵ̝m-*miko̝N *mi[m/n] kɵ̝m-*mi köm-
wind *kip[ɛⁱ] *kiɸɛⁱ xiɸeⁱ *kijapoj **kifuy
torch *sijaC *sija riˈja
tooth *imban imba *imban
sour *tɔᵘŋgi *t[ɔᵘ]ŋgiroᵘŋgi [rw]
snake *ŋgʷati *wati ˈŋgʷari *ŋgʷati **wati
bamboo knife *waki *waki waxi [rw] *waki *waki
bite *atik- *atiC- *atik- *atik-
sneeze (n.) *asin *asiN *asin *asin
bow *mbandit mbandi [rw] *mbandit
cuscus *takip *takip
night *wamin *wamiN *wamin *wɔmin
egg *wandin indi *wandin
path *jandit *jadi *jandit
male *mbaktim *baxtiN *mbatim *baxtim
buy/sell *taki-mɔ raxi-mo- *taki-mɔ-

High central rounded vowel /*ʉ/ …:

Central Digul Awyu KombaiWambon Healey
y *u
heart*ndʉ[m/mb]-ɾɔp*dʉb-ɾɔndymo *ndum-ɾop*dümrop

One example …:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambonHealey
*[i/ʉ] *ii
name*p[i/u]p *ɸi ɸi *pup *füp

High back rounded vowel /*u/ is fronted to [y ʉ] …:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*u *u y *u
back *mu *mu *mu *mü
stab/kill (fut.)*pu- *ɸu- *pu-
expel from body *tu- *tu- ry- *tu- *tü(k)-
cook/burn *ndu- *du- andy- ~ andu-*(a-)ndu-
sing *ɾu- ly- *ɾu- *rük-
chop down *ɾu[C]- *ɾu[C]- *ɾu- *rük-
smell *pup *ɸu- *pup-(mɔ)-*füp
banana *tut *tu ry(l) *tut *tüt
sugarcane *k[ʷ]um *kuN *kum *kün
brain *un *guN *ŋgun *gün
boil (n.) *ɾun *ɾuN *ɾun *rün
egg *muŋgɔ *mugɔ
dig *kuwɔ- *kuwɔ- xywo-
tail *minu *minu miny
rain *mo̝ɾup muly ~ my *mo̝ɾup
village *mbo̝tup *bo̝tu byry *mbo̝tup *bütüp
black *ŋgo̝num ŋguny *ŋgo̝num
son/child *amut *amut *amut
yesterday *aɾup *aɾup
body *anduɾ *adu *anduɾ *ɔdü
hot *mamun mamy *mamun
beard *matut *matu *matut *matit
elbow/eight *ŋgambum ŋgamby *ŋgambum
tail *wambut *wɔbu *wambut *wɔbüt
middle/inside *wamup *w[ɔ]muwamy *wamup

When following rounded velars /*kʷ *hʷ/ or non-stop /*w/, /*u/ is not fronted in Kombai but is retained as /u/:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*u/Cʷ w_ *u u *u
die *kʷum- *kuN- xumo- *kum- *küm-
hit/kill*wu[n]- *wu- u- *[w]un-*wü-
canoe *jahʷun *jaxʷuNjaɸu(n)*japun *jofün

One example …:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambon Healey
*[o̝/u] *u *o̝
navel*ŋg[o̝/u]m *guN *ŋgo̝m *güm

High mid front vowel /*e̝/ …:

Central Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*e̝₁ *e̝ e *e *e
be *ke̝₁- *ke̝[C]- xe- *ke- *ke-
lie down *ɾe̝₁- *ɾe̝- le- ~ leⁱ-*ɾe-
chest *mbe̝[m/n]
(-man)
*be̝N be-ma [rw]*mb[e̝][m/n]
(-man)
flower *ke̝₁t *ke̝t xe *ket *ket
tree/fire *je̝₁n *je̝N e(n) *jen *yin
bird *je̝₁t *je̝(t) e(l) *jet *yet
urine *je̝₁t *je̝(t) *jet *yet
rope *ke̝₁ke̝₁n *ke̝ke̝n
3 sg. *ɛke̝₁p *ɛke̝ xe *ekep *ɛge
penis *t[e̝/ɛ]ŋge̝₁t *t[e̝/ɛ]ge̝ reˈŋge *teŋget *teget
sharp *[k/ŋg][e̝/ɛ]te̝₁n *k[e̝/ɛ]te̝nŋgere(n) *[k/ŋg]eten *geten/*keten
eat (future)*ande̝₁- *a[n]de̝- ande- *ande-
good *jape̝₁[C] *jaɸe̝ jaɸe

…:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*e̝₂ *e̝ i *e *e
foot *ke̝₂nɔp *ke̝nɔ xino *kenop
ashes *se̝₂na *se̝na rino-xʷari
nape *ŋg[o̝]mbe̝₂n*go̝be̝Ngubin-o *ŋg[o]mben
mosquito*sɒpe̝₂n reɸij-o *sɒpen
sweat *kʷate̝₂n *kʷate̝Nxʷari *kʷaten *koten

…:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*e̝ *e̝ ? *e *e
rainbow *e̝ɾe̝n *e̝ɾe̝n *e̝ɾe̝n *eren/*irin
bamboo *pe̝kɔp *pe̝[j]ɔp *pe̝kɔp
marsupial*ke̝sɔ[t/ɾ] *ke̝sɔ *k[e]so[t/ɾ]
eye *ke̝ɾɔp *ke̝ɾɔ xo-ro ~ xlo-ro*keɾop *kerop
that *ɛwe̝ *ɛwe̝ *ewe *ɛwɛ
enough *kaɾe̝ *xaɾe̝- *kaɾe *xare
spirit *mbake̝t *mbake̝t
lime *kame̝n *xame̝N
friend *kambe̝n *xabe̝N *kamben
saliva *kate̝t *xate̝ *katet *xatet

High mid central rounded vowel /*ɵ̝/ …:

Central Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*ɵ̝ *o̝ u *ɵ̝ *ö *u
dream *ɵ̝ɾ u *ɵ̝ɾ
hair *mɵ̝k *mo̝x *mɵ̝k *möx
1 sg. *nɵ̝p *no̝ nu(ɸ) *nɵ̝p *nop
go up *tɵ̝ɾ *to̝C *tɵ̝ɾ
and/also *-kɵ̝p *-ko̝ -xu *-kɵ̝p
wall *kɵ̝k *kɵ̝k *kük
2 sg. *ŋgɵ̝p *go̝ ŋgu(ɸ) *ŋgɵ̝p *göp
voice/speech *ɾɵ̝k *ɾo̝ lu *ɾɵ̝k *röx/*rux
kunai grass *mbɵ̝p mbuɸ-o *mbɵ̝p
black *mbɵ̝kɵ̝n *bo̝xo̝N
fly (v.) *mbɵ̝ɾɵ̝n *bo̝ɾo̝N *mbɵ̝ɾɵ̝n *börön
fat/grease *tɵ̝kɵ̝ɾ *to̝ko̝ *tɵ̝kɵ̝ɾ
hide *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝k-mɔ- *to̝ɾo̝-mɔ- *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝k-mo- *turuk-mo-
ear *t[u/ɵ̝]ɾɵ̝N *to̝ɾo̝N ru-ro *t[u/ɵ̝]ɾɵ̝n *turun
swallow *mi[m/n] kɵ̝m-*miko̝N *mi[m/n] kɵ̝m-*mi köm-
wing *mb[ɔ]ɾɵ̝ɾ *mboɾɵ̝ɾ
thunder *kVmɵ̝t xumu *komɵ̝t
flesh *kʷandɵ̝ *kʷado̝ ˈxundo *kandɵ̝ *kɔdö
raw/new *aɾɵ̝[n] alu *aɾɵ̝[n]
get up/stand up*matɵ̝ɾ *mato̝[ɾ] maru *matɵ̝ɾ
phlegm *ŋg[a]nɵ̝m *ŋg[a]nɵ̝m —-
chin *ŋgandɵ̝m *gando̝N ŋgandu [rd]*ŋgandɵ̝m *gandöm

High mid back rounded vowel /*o̝/ …:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*o̝ *o̝ u *o̝ *u
louse *[aN]ŋgo̝t *[aŋ]g[o̝]ŋgu *ŋgo̝t *gut
rain *mo̝ɾup muly ~ my*mo̝ɾup
black *ŋgo̝num ŋguny *ŋgo̝num
nose *taŋgo̝t raŋgu *taŋgo̝t
sleep (n.)*kino̝m *ko̝no̝m xunu(m) *kino̝m *kinum
inside *kaɾo̝p xalu(ɸ) *kaɾo̝p

…:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambon Healey
*o̝ *[o̝/u]y *o̝
village*mbo̝tup *b[o̝/u]tu byry *mbo̝tup*bütüp

Low mid front vowel /*ɛ/ …:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
e *e
3 sg. *ɛ- *ɛ- *e- *ɛ-
eat *ɛn- *ɛN- en- *en- *ɛn-
tendon *mɛt *mɛ *met *mɛt
forearm/seven *mbɛn *mben
red *tɛn re(n) *tenop
this *mɛnɛ mene *mene
side *mɛɾɛn *mɛɾɛn
skinny *pɛt-pɛt ɸeɸe *pet-pet
cowrie shell *takɛt raxe *taket
laughter *ambɛn *abɛN *amben
upper arm/nine*ndzapɛt raɸe *ndzapet
ashes *kʷasɛp rino-xʷare*kʷasep *gosop/*kosep

Low mid central vowel /*ɜ/ …:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambonHealey
*a*aa
left *wɜk *wɜ *wak *wa
butterfly*aCpɜp *apɜ *aCpapapaap

Low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ …:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
o *o *o
burn (intr.) *ndɔ- *dɔ- *ndo- *do-
walk/go *kɔ- *xɔ- *ko- *xox-
water *ɔk *ɔxɔ o(x) *ok *ox
mother's br. *mɔm momo(ɸ) *mɔm
hole *tɔp *tɔ ro *top *top
come (imper.) *ndɔ[k] *dɔ *ndɔk
nail *ndɔk *dɔx ndo-ndo *ndɔk
dry *sɔk *sɔ ro-xe *sɔk
blood *ŋgɔm *ŋgɔN ŋgo(m) *ŋgom *gom
song *ŋgɔm ŋgo *ŋgom
wrist/six *ŋgɔn ŋgo(n)
weep/cry *ɾɔm- *ɾɔN- lo- *ɾom- *rom-
fruit/seed *ɾɔp *ɾɔ lo(ɸ) *ɾop *rop
hair/leaf/feather*ɾɔn *ɾɔN lo *ɾon *ron
say/speak *ɾɔk- *ɾɔ[x]- *ɾok- *rox-
roof *mɔndɔm mondo *mondom
lightning *mbɔmba mbomba *mbomba
incorrect *ŋgɔmbam *gɔbaN *ŋgomban *goban
egg *muŋgɔ *mugɔ
dig *kuwɔ- *kuwɔ- xywo-
leg *kVndɔk xuˈndo *kondok
bamboo *pe̝kɔp *pe̝[j]ɔp *pe̝kɔp
foot *ke̝₂nɔp *ke̝nɔ xino *kenop
marsupial *ke̝sɔ[t/ɾ] *ke̝sɔ *k[e]so[t/ɾ]
eye *ke̝ɾɔp *ke̝ɾɔ ˈxo-ro ~ xˈlo-ro*keɾop *kerop
stone *[ɛⁱ]ɾɔp *ɛⁱɾɔ *iɾop *irop
short/blunt *mbaŋgɔ *bagɔ mboŋgo
white *kajɔ *xajɔ
story *matɔm *matom
bird of paradise *pandɔ[ɾ/j] *ɸɔdɔ *pando[ɾ/j] *fadoy
armpit *ta[N]ŋgɔn *tɔ[ŋ]gɔN *taŋgon *tɔgon/*tɔngon
finger *taɾɔn *tɔɾɔN *taɾon
widow *kamɔk *xamɔ *kamok *xamɔk
moon *wakɔɾ *wakoɾ
breadfruit *[ɾ/j]awɔt *[ɾ/j]awɔt *ɾawot *rɔwot/*jɔwot
3 pl. *jakɔp *jɔxɔ *jakɔp *jogup
sick/ill *jambɔɾɔ jamˈbo ~ jambˈlo*jamboɾo

One example …:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambonHealey
*[ɒ/ɔ] a *o
do/make*m[ɒ/ɔ]- *-mɔ- -ma- *-mɔ- *mo-

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*ɔCa *aCa *oCa *ɔCa
far *kɔmam *x[a]maN *komam *xɔman
*aCɔ *ɔCɔ *aCo
bird of paradise*pandɔ[ɾ/j] *ɸɔdɔ *pando[ɾ/j]*fadoy
go (imperative) *na-kɔⁱ *nɔxɔⁱ *na-koⁱ
armpit *ta[N]ŋgɔn *tɔ[ŋ]gɔN *taŋgon *tɔgon/*tɔngon
finger *taɾɔn *tɔɾɔN *taɾon
3 pl. *jakɔp *jɔxɔ *jakɔp *jagup
*aCɔ *aCɔ oCo
short/blunt *mbaŋgɔ *bagɔ mboŋgo
*aCɔ *aCa oCo *aCo *aCɔ
mouth/teeth *maŋgɔt *maga moŋgo-ro*maŋgot *magɔt

It's conceivable that Awyu /*maga/ “tooth” above is a loan from the ultimately cognate Marind-Yaqay /*maŋg[a]t/, which, unlike the other Digul River-Ok forms, specifically means “tooth” rather than “mouth.”

Low central vowel /*a/ is generally preserved as such in all three subgroups:

Central Digul Awyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*a *a *a *a *a *aa
sit/stay *mba- *ba- mba- *mba- *bax-/*bɔx-
1 sg. poss. *na- *na- na- *na- *na
walk/go (fut.) *ka- xa- *ka-
2 sg. poss. *ŋga- *ŋga- *ŋga- *gɔ
house/nest *ap *a a(ɸ) *ap *aap
hear *ndat- *daC- *nd[a]t- *dat-
skin/bark *kat *xa xa *kat *xa(t)
take/hold *ɾap- *ɾa- *ɾap- *rax-/*rap-
woman *ɾan *ɾaN la(n) *ɾan *ran
thumb/five *amba amba-lo(ɸ) *amba-ɾop
dog *aNŋg[a]j *aŋg[i] *aŋgaj *angay
palate *kana[m/n] *xa[na]N *kana[m/n]
snake *ŋgʷati *wati ˈŋgʷari *ŋgʷati **wati
bamboo knife *waki *waki *waxi [rw] *waki *waki
bite *atik- *atiC- *atik- *atik-
sneeze (n.) *asin *asiN *asin *asin
bow *mbandit mbandi [rw] *mbandit
cuscus *takip *takip
night *wamin *wamiN *wamin *wɔmin
egg *wandin indi *wandin
path *jandit *jadi *jandit
male *mbaktim *baxtiN *mbatim *baxtim
head *kambijan *xaⁱbaN xambijã *kambijan *xaiban
buy/sell *taki-mɔ raxi-mo *taki-mɔ
son/child *amut *amut *amut
body *anduɾ *adu *anduɾ *ɔdü
yesterday *aɾup *aɾup
thorn *aɾun aly *aɾun
hot *mamun mamy *mamun
beard *matut *matu *matut *matit
elbow/eight *ŋgambum ŋgamby *ŋgambum
canoe *jahʷun *jaxʷuN jaɸu(n) *japʉn *jofün
eat (future) *a[N]nde̝₁ *a[n]de̝ ande *ande
enough *kaɾe̝ *xaɾe̝- *kaɾe *xare
good *jape̝₁[C] *jaɸe̝ jaɸe
lime *kame̝n *xame̝N
friend *kambe̝n *xabe̝N *kamben
saliva *kate̝t *xate̝ *katet *xatet
sweat *kʷate̝₂n *kʷate̝N xʷari *kʷaten *koten
flesh *kʷandɵ̝ *kʷado̝ ˈxundo *kandɵ̝ *kɔdö
raw/new *aɾɵ̝[n] alu *aɾɵ̝[n]
get up/stand up*matɵ̝ɾ- *mato̝[ɾ]- maru- *matɵ̝ɾ-
chin *ŋgandɵ̝m *gando̝N ŋgandu [rd] *ŋgandɵ̝m *gandöm
crocodile *kajaNmb[ɵ̝/o̝]t*xajambo̝ *kajamb[ɵ̝/u]t*xayambut
nose *taŋgo̝t raŋgu *taŋgut
inside *kaɾo̝p xalu(ɸ) *kaɾup
spirit *mbake̝t *mbake̝t
laughter *ambɛn *abɛN *amben
cowrie shell *takɛt raxe *taket
upper arm/nine *ndzapɛt raɸe *ndzapet
white *kajɔ *xajɔ
vagina *a-tɔp *a-tɔ *a-top *aatop
tie/bind *and[ɔ]p- *and[a/ɔ]C-andaɸe *and[a/o]p- *adɔp-
story *matɔm *matom
mouth/teeth *maŋgɔt *maga moŋgo-ro *maŋgot *magɔt
widow *kamɔk *xamɔ *kamok *xamɔk
moon *wakɔɾ *wakoɾ
breadfruit *[ɾ/j]awɔt *[ɾ/j]awɔt *ɾawot *rɔwot/*jɔwot
sick/ill *jambɔɾɔ jamˈbo ~ jambˈlo*jamboɾo
torch *sijaC *sija riˈja
neck *kVman xuma *k[ɔ]man
lightning *mbɔmba mbomba *mbomba
knowledge *n[ɔ]pam *n[a/ɔ]ɸaN *n[ɔ]pam
far *kɔmam *x[a]maN *komam *xɔman
white *kɔwat xuwar-u *kɔwat(-ɔp)
incorrect *ŋgɔmbam *gɔbaN *ŋgomban *goban

…:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambon Healey
*uwa o *uwa*o
man/person*kuwap *xɔ xo(ɸ) *kuwap *xop

Low back rounded vowel /*ɒ/ is merged with mid back /*ɔ/ in Awyu and with low central /a/ in Kombai:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
a *o
breast *ɒm *ɔm a(m) *ɒm *om
excrement*ɒɾ *ɔɾ a *ɒɾ *or
lip(s) *mbɒn (kat) *mbɔn (xa)mbaŋga [jg]*mbɒn (kat)*bon(-xa)

In one example, /*ɒ/ is fronted to /e/ in Kombai when followed by /*e̝/ in the next syllable:

Central DigulAwyuKombai WambonHealey
*ɒ/_e̝₂ e
mosquito*sɒpe̝₂n reɸij-o*sɒpen

Diphthongs /*uⁱ *ɛⁱ *ɔⁱ *aⁱ *ɔᵘ …/ …:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon Healey
*uⁱ *uⁱ uⁱ
theft *kʷuⁱ *kʷuⁱ xʷuⁱ *kʷ[uj]
*ɛⁱ *ɛⁱ eⁱ *eⁱ (?)
wind *kip[ɛⁱ] *kiɸɛⁱ xiɸeⁱ *kijapoj **kifuy
river *wandɛⁱ *wadɛⁱ wondeⁱ
*ɔⁱ *ɔⁱ *oⁱ
go (imperative)*na-kɔⁱ *nɔxɔⁱ *na-koⁱ
*aⁱ *aⁱ
men's house *kaⁱm *xaⁱN
wallaby *sVmb[a]kaⁱ *sVb[a]xaⁱrombai [rw]
*aⁱ/kʷ_ *ɔⁱ aⁱ *uⁱ
ghost *kʷaⁱ *xɔⁱ xʷaⁱ ~ kʷaⁱ*kuⁱ *xɔxuy
*ɔᵘ *ɔᵘ oʸ oᵘ *o̝ *u *ü *ui
sago *ddɔᵘ *dɔᵘ ndoʸ *ndo̝[…] *du/*dü
milk *kɔᵘn *xɔᵘn *ko̝n *xun
cloud/sky *kɔᵘt *xɔᵘ xoᵘ ~ xoʸ *ko̝t **xuit
placenta *ŋgɔᵘm ŋgoᵘ [rw] *ŋgo̝m
liver *wɔᵘm *wɔᵘN wɔᵘ [jh] *o̝m
husband *(ka-)kɔᵘp *(xa)xɔᵘ *kako̝p **kaxup
sour *tɔᵘŋgi *t[ɔᵘ]ŋgi roᵘŋgi [rw]

Pronouns

[under construction]

Central Digul River free pronouns are reconstructed as follows:

Central DigulAwyu Kombai Wambon
1 sg. *nɵ̝p *no̝ nu(ɸ) *nɵ̝p
2 sg. *ŋgɵ̝p *go̝ ŋgu(ɸ) *ŋgɵ̝p
3 sg. m.*ɛ(-ke̝₁p) *ɛ(-ge̝), *ɛ(-ke̝)xe *ekep
3 sg. f.*jɵ̝p *jɵ̝p
1 pl. *naŋgVp *n[o̝/u]go̝ naŋgu(ɸ)*naŋgVp
2 pl. *ŋgaŋgVp *g[o̝/u]go̝ naŋge(ɸ)*ŋgaŋgVp
3 pl. *ja(-kɔp) *jɔxɔ ja *jakVp



Singular possessive forms are reconstructed as follows:

Central DigulAwyu KombaiWambon
1 sg. poss.*na- *na- na- *na-
2 sg. poss.*ŋga- *ŋga- *ŋga-
3 sg. poss.

Verbal Morphology

[under construction]