Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute
[under construction]
The North Digul River family is comprised of … languages spoken along northerly tributaries of the Digul and Eilanden Rivers, just southwest of New Guinea's central cordillera, in the Merauke Regency of Indonesia's Papua province.
The internal classification of North Digul River is as follows:
North Digul River
Awbono-Bayono
Becking and Dawi Rivers
Becking River
Dawi River
Baas (1981) Tsakwambo (unobtained)
Versteeg (1983) Tsawkwambo (unobtained)
van Enk and de Vries (1997) grammar and large vocabulary of Korowai and comparative vocabularies of Korowai and Kombai
Donohue (n.d.) unpublished survey vocabularies of Awbono and Bayono, provided in comparative spreadsheet form by Paul Whitehouse via the Summer Institute of Linguistics
Wilbrink (2004) 240 comparative terms for Korowai of (pp. 103a-103f) Ajak, Danowage, and Yaniruma villages, (pp. 104a-104f) Mabul and Snimburu, (pp. 105a-105e) Miwagé, (pp. 106a-106f) Burukmakok after de Vries and an unspecified version of Korowai which appears to be the same underlying material as found in Hughes' (2009: 27-37) Abiowage, along with (pp. 105a-105e) 240 comparative terms for Densar and for (pp. 108a-108f) Awbono and Enamesi/Swesu/Bayono after Menanti and for Kovojab after de Vries
Hischier (2006: 11) 27 words of Kopayap (thanks to Harald Hammarström for calling our attention to the existence and identity of this attestation)
Hughes (2009: 27-37) 239 comparative terms for Korowai of Abiowage village, Komyandaret of Danokit and Tsaukambo of Waiburu
de Vries (2012) comparison of Baas' (1981) Tsaukambo and Korowai
Veldhuizen unpublished survey vocabularies for two dialects of Korowai, provided in comparative spreadsheet form by Paul Whitehouse via the Summer Institute of Linguistics
[under construction]
Proto-North Digul River had perhaps 15 or 16 consonants and 6 vowels as follows:
| *m | *n | |||
| *p | *t | *s | *k | [*kᵂ] |
| *b | *d | *dz | *g | |
| *nd | *ŋg | |||
| *w | *ɾ | *j |
| *i | *u | |
| *e̝ | *o̝ | |
| *ɔ | ||
| *a |
…
Initial consonants correspond as follows:
| North Digul | A-B | B-D |
| *m- | *m | *m |
| *n- | *n | *n |
| *p- | *p | *p |
| *t- | *t | *t |
| *s- | *s | *s |
| *k- | *k | *k |
| *b- | *b | *b |
| *d- | *d | *d |
| *dz- | *dz | |
| *g- | *g | *g |
| *w- | *w | *w |
| *j- | *j | *j |
Medial consonants correspond as follows:
| North Digul | A-B | B-D |
| *-m- | *m | *m |
| *-n- | *n | *n |
| *-p- | *p | *p |
| *-t- | *t | |
| *-s- | ||
| *-k- | *ø | *k |
| *-b- | *b | *b |
| *-d- | *ɾ | *l |
| *-nd- | *d | *nd |
| *-ŋg- | *n | *ŋg |
| *-w- | *w | *w |
| *-ɾ- | *ɾ | *ø |
| *-j- | *j | *j |
Final consonants correspond as follows:
| North Digul | A-B | B-D |
| *-m | *N | *m |
| *-n | *N | *n |
| *-p | *C | *p |
| *-t | *C | *t |
| *-s | ||
| *-k | *C | *k |
| *-ɾ | *ø | *l |
Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:
| North Digul | A-B | B-D |
| *i | *i | *i |
| *u | *u | *u |
| *e̝ | *e̝ | *e̝ |
| *o̝ | *o̝ | *o̝ |
| *ɔ | *ɔ | *ɔ |
| *a | *a | *a |
| *… | ||
| *… | ||
| *… |
These correspondences are exemplified as follows.
For clarity, our presentation is divided into three sections, beginning with initial and medial consonants, followed by final consonants, then vowels and diphthongs.
Initial and medial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *m- | *m | *m | |
| drink | *mi- | *mi- | |
| star | *min | *minɔp | |
| vein | *me̝t | *me̝t | |
| side | *me̝ɾe̝n | *me̝n | |
| dog | *me̝jan | *me̝jan | |
| hot | *mamun | *mamun | |
| ant | *m[a/ɔ]kmuk | *mamuC | *mɔkmuk |
| mother's br. | *mɔm | *mɔm | |
| body hair | *mo̝k | *mo̝C | *mo̝k |
| *-m- | *m | *m | |
| do/make | *-mɔ- | *-mɔ- | *-mɔ- |
| hot | *mamun | *mamun | |
| ant | *m[a/ɔ]kmuk | *mamuC | *mɔkmuk |
| blow | *po̝mɔ- | *po̝mɔ- | *po̝mɔ- |
| crocodile | *sɔmaⁱ[t/l] | *sɛmi[C] | *sɔmaⁱ[t/l] |
| wash/bathe | *sumɔ- | *sumV- | *sumɔ- |
| die | *k[a/ɔ]mi- | *kami- | *kɔmi- |
| weep/cry | *jamɔ- | *jamɔ- |
Initial and medial apical nasal /*n/ is generally retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *n- | *n | *n | |
| mother | *ni | *ni | |
| sand | *ne̝nim | *ne̝niN | *ne̝nim |
| 1 sg. poss. | *na- | *na- | |
| rattan/rope | *nan | *naN | *nan |
| 1 pl. | *nak[i/o̝]p | *nako̝p | |
| 1 sg. | *no̝p | *n[o̝]C | *no̝p |
| *-n- | *n | *n | |
| sand | *ne̝nim | *ne̝niN | *ne̝nim |
| egg | *t[e̝/a]ne̝t | *tane̝C | *te̝ne̝t |
| cassowary | *sanip | *saniC | *sanip |
One apparently irregular example …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *n-/nV_ | *N | *n | |
| friend | *ne̝kɔ | *-Nkɔ | *ne̝kɔ |
Initial and medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is fricated to [*ɸ] in both subgroups. It is considered here a stop due to its final reflex (below):
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *p- | *p [ɸ] | *p [ɸ] | |
| name | *pi | *p[ui] | *pi |
| blow | *po̝mɔ- | *po̝mɔ- | *po̝mɔ- |
| wind | *po̝p | *po̝p | |
| sharp | *pu[t/l] | *p[ui]C | *pu[t/l] |
| *-p- | *p [ɸ] | *p [ɸ] | |
| laugh | *se̝s[i/u]po̝- | *se̝supo̝- | *se̝sipo̝- |
Apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *t- | *t | *t | |
| dog | *tit | *tiC | |
| tongue | *te̝p | *te̝bu | *te̝p |
| egg | *t[e̝/a]ne̝t | *tane̝C | *te̝ne̝t |
| mosquito | *t[e̝/a]tun | *ta[t]uN | *te̝tun |
| cuscus | *takip | *taiC | *takip |
| *-t- | *t | ||
| hole | *-tɔp | *-tɔp | |
| mosquito | *t[e̝/a]tun | *ta[t]uN | *te̝tun |
Initial and medial laminal voiceless /*s/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *s- | *s | *s | |
| laugh | *se̝s[i/u]po̝- | *se̝supo̝- | *se̝sipo̝- |
| crocodile | *sɔmaⁱ[t/l] | *sɛmi[C] | *sɔmaⁱ[t/l] |
| cassowary | *sanip | *saniC | *sanip |
| tree kangaroo | *sakɔt | *sɔC | *sakɔt |
| wash/bathe | *sumɔ- | *sumV- | *sumɔ- |
| *-s- | *s | *s | |
| laugh | *se̝s[i/u]po̝- | *se̝supo̝- | *se̝sipo̝- |
Initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *k- | *k | *k | |
| walk/go | *ka- | *ka- | *kai- |
| men's house | *kaⁱm | *kɛN | *kaⁱm |
| skin/bark | *kat | *kaC | *kat |
| tail | *kande̝p | *kade̝C | *kande̝p |
| hornbill | *kawe̝[t/l] | *kawe̝[t/l] | |
| inside | *kaɾo̝p | *kaɾo̝C | *kao̝p |
| white | *kajɔ | *kajɔ | |
| taro | *kaju | *kaju | *kaju |
| die | *k[a/ɔ]mi- | *kami- | *kɔmi- |
| sky | *ko̝t | *ko̝C | *ko̝t |
| bone | *kudɔɾ | *kuɾu | *kɔlɔl |
One example is otherwise similar enough to suggest an irregular change in Awbono-Bayono:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *k-/_Vb | *b | *k | |
| head | *kabe̝jan | *babe̝N | *kabe̝jan |
Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is dropped in Awbono-Bayono:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-k- | *ø | *k | |
| ant | *m[a/ɔ]kmuk | *mamuC | *mɔkmuk |
| 1 pl. | *nak[i/o̝]p | *nako̝p | |
| cuscus | *takip | *taiC | *takip |
| tree kangaroo | *sakɔt | *sɔC | *sakɔt |
| 2 pl. | *gak[i/o̝]p | *gak[i/o̝]p | |
| bamboo knife | *waki | *waki | |
| left | *wakan | *w[a]N | *wakan |
| moon | *wakɔɾ | *wɔ | *wakɔl |
| jungle fowl | *wako̝m | *wako̝m | |
| 3 pl. | *jak[i/o̝]p | *jak[i/o̝]p | |
| dig | *jaku- | *jaku- |
In one example, medial /*k/ is preserved in Awbono-Bayono because the root is preceded by a possessive prefix, resulting in syncope:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *ne̝k/*nV_ | *Nk | *ne̝k | |
| friend | *ne̝kɔ | *-Nkɔ | *ne̝kɔ |
Bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *b- | *b | *b | |
| tortoise sp. | *biɾip | *bip | |
| leaf | *be̝t | *be̝C | *be̝t |
| blunt/dull | *baŋgɔ | *baŋgɔ | |
| bow | *baɾi | *baɾi | *bai |
| wing | *baɾo̝ɾ | *bao̝l | |
| goanna | *bajɔm | *b[a]jɔN | *bajɔm |
| chin/jaw | *bɔn | *bɔN | *bɔn |
| elbow/eight | *bɔŋgo̝p | *bɔno̝C | *bɔŋgo̝p |
| *-b- | *b | *b | |
| head | *kabe̝jan | *babe̝N | *kabe̝jan |
| knee | *gabum | *gabum |
Initial apical voiced stop /*d/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *d- | *d | *d | |
| cloud | *de̝p | *de̝C | *de̝p |
| burn (intr.) | *dɔ- | *dɔ- | *dɔ- |
| sago | *do̝ | *do̝ |
Medial /*d/ appears to have merged with non-stop /*ɾ/ in Awbono-Bayono, but unlike the dropped reflexes of /*ɾ/ (below) it is reflected as /*l/ in Becking and Dawi Rivers:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-d- | *ɾ | *l | |
| earth/ground | *udaC | *uɾaC | *ulaC |
| bone | *kudɔɾ | *kuɾu | *kɔlɔl |
| paddle | *wadup | *waɾuC | *walup |
Verbs which can be prefixed with irrealis /*a-/ are likewise affected:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *d-/(a-)_ | *ɾ | *l | |
| eat | *(a-)de̝- | *ɛɾe̝- | *(a-)le̝- |
| cook/burn | *(a-)du- | *aɾu- | *alu- |
Laminal voiced /*dz/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi |
| *dz- | ||
| *… |
Velar voiced stop /*g/ occurs only initially, where it is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *g- | *g | *g | |
| bamboo pipe | *ge̝t | *ge̝t | |
| 2 sg. poss. | *ga- | *ga- | |
| knee | *gabum | *gabum | |
| 2 pl. | *gak[i/o̝]p | *gak[i/o̝]p | |
| song sp. | *gɔm | *gɔm | |
| 2 sg. | *go̝p | *g[o̝]C | *go̝p |
| louse | *go̝t | *go̝t |
There is no bilabial prenasalized stop /*mb/.
Apical prenasalized stop /*nd/ occurs only medially, where it is denasalized to /*d/ in Awbono-Bayono:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-nd- | *d | *nd | |
| tail | *kande̝p | *kade̝C | *kande̝p |
Velar prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ occurs only medially, where it is somewhat unexpectedly reduced to apical nasal /*n/ in Awbono-Bayono:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-ŋg- | *n | *ŋg | |
| blunt/dull | *baŋgɔ | *baŋgɔ | |
| elbow/eight | *bɔŋgo̝p | *bɔno̝C | *bɔŋgo̝p |
Bilabial non-stop /*w/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *w- | *w | *w | |
| paddle | *wadup | *waɾuC | *walup |
| bamboo knife | *waki | *waki | |
| left | *wakan | *w[a]N | *wakan |
| moon | *wakɔɾ | *wɔC | *wakɔl |
| jungle fowl | *wako̝m | *wako̝m | |
| *-w- | *w | *w | |
| hornbill | *kawe̝[t/l] | *kawe̝[t/l] | |
| breadfruit | *jawɔt | *jawɔC | *jawɔt |
Aapical non-stop /*ɾ/ does not occur initially, because it has been palatalized and deoccluded to merge with /*j/ (below.) Medial /*ɾ/ is retained as such in Awbono-Bayono and dropped in Becking and Dawi Rivers:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-ɾ- | *ɾ | *ø | |
| side | *me̝ɾe̝n | *me̝n | |
| tortoise sp. | *biɾip | *bip | |
| bow | *baɾi | *baɾi | *bai |
| wing | *baɾo̝ɾ | *bao̝l | |
| inside | *kaɾo̝p | *kaɾo̝C | *kao̝p |
One exception follows the unexplained loss of initial /*a/ in Awbono-Bayono, such that medial /*ɾ/ is palatalized and deoccluded to merge with /*j/ as was initial /*ɾ/:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-ɾ- | *j | *ø | |
| thorn | *aɾun | *juN | *aun |
Another indicates a loan from Becking-Dawi into Awbono-Bayono:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-ɾ- | *ø | *ø | |
| shoulder/ten | *maɾin | *maiN | *main |
Palatal non-stop /*j/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *j- | *j | *j | |
| 3 sg. poss. | *ja- | *ja- | |
| weep/cry | *jamɔ- | *jamɔ- | |
| 3 pl. | *jak[i/o̝]p | *jak[i/o̝]p | |
| dig | *jaku- | *jaku- | |
| breadfruit | *jawɔt | *jawɔC | *jawɔt |
| fruit/seed | *jɔp | *jɔp | |
| spouse | *jo̝m | *jo̝N | *jo̝m |
| 3 sg. | *jo̝p | *jo̝C | *jo̝p |
| … | *jo̝k | ||
| *-j- | *j | *j | |
| dog | *me̝jan | *me̝jan | |
| goanna | *bajɔm | *b[a]jɔN | *bajɔm |
| white | *kajɔ | *kajɔ | |
| taro | *kaju | *kaju | *kaju |
Only a restricted set of consonants /*m *n *p *t *s *k *ɾ/ occurs finally. In a regional development shared with Dawi River and Awyu, these are realized as archiphonemes /*N *C/ in Awbono-Bayono.
Final bilabial nasal /*m/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-m | *N | *m | |
| liver | *ɔᵘm | *[u]N | *ɔᵘm |
| mother's br. | *mɔm | *mɔm | |
| goanna | *bajɔm | *b[a]jɔN | *bajɔm |
| sand | *ne̝nim | *ne̝niN | *ne̝nim |
| men's house | *kaⁱm | *kɛN | *kaⁱm |
| knee | *gabum | *gabum | |
| song sp. | *gɔm | *gɔm | |
| jungle fowl | *wako̝m | *wako̝m | |
| spouse | *jo̝m | *jo̝N | *jo̝m |
One Awbono-Bayono form appears to be a reduplication:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-m | *mVN | *m | |
| breast | *am | *amaN | *am |
Final apical nasal /*n/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-n | *N | *n | |
| thorn | *aɾun | *juN | *aun |
| side | *me̝ɾe̝n | *me̝n | |
| dog | *me̝jan | *me̝jan | |
| hot | *mamun | *mamun | |
| chin/jaw | *bɔn | *bɔN | *bɔn |
| rattan/rope | *nan | *naN | *nan |
| mosquito | *t[e̝/a]tun | *ta[t]uN | *te̝tun |
| head | *kabe̝jan | *babe̝N | *kabe̝jan |
| left | *wakan | *w[a]N | *wakan |
Final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-p | *C | *p | |
| wind | *po̝p | *po̝p | |
| tortoise sp. | *biɾip | *bip | |
| elbow/eight | *bɔŋgo̝p | *bɔno̝C | *bɔŋgo̝p |
| 1 pl. | *nak[i/o̝]p | *nako̝p | |
| 1 sg. | *no̝p | *n[o̝]C | *no̝p |
| cuscus | *takip | *taiC | *takip |
| hole | *-tɔp | *-tɔp | |
| cloud | *de̝p | *de̝C | *de̝p |
| cassowary | *sanip | *saniC | *sanip |
| tail | *kande̝p | *kade̝C | *kande̝p |
| inside | *kaɾo̝p | *kaɾo̝C | *kao̝p |
| 2 pl. | *gak[i/o̝]p | *gak[i/o̝]p | |
| 2 sg. | *go̝p | *g[o̝]C | *go̝p |
| paddle | *wadup | *waɾuC | *walup |
| 3 pl. | *jak[i/o̝]p | *jak[i/o̝]p | |
| 3 sg. | *jo̝p | *j[o̝]C | *jo̝p |
One apparent exception may be a compound in Awbono-Bayono (cf. Sawi /sep/):
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-p | *bV | *p | |
| tongue | *te̝p | *te̝bu | *te̝p |
Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-t | *C | *t | |
| vein | *me̝t | *me̝t | |
| leaf | *be̝t | *be̝C | *be̝t |
| dog | *tit | *tiC | |
| egg | *t[e̝/a]ne̝t | *tane̝C | *te̝ne̝t |
| tree kangaroo | *sakɔt | *sɔC | *sakɔt |
| skin/bark | *kat | *kaC | *kat |
| sky | *ko̝t | *ko̝C | *ko̝t |
| bamboo pipe | *ge̝t | *ge̝t | |
| louse | *go̝t | *go̝t | |
| breadfruit | *jawɔt | *jawɔC | *jawɔt |
Final laminal voiceless /*s/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi |
| *-s | ||
| *… |
Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-k | *C | *k | |
| water | *[a/ɔ]k | *ɔC | *ak |
| ant | *m[a/ɔ]kmuk | *mamuC | *mɔkmuk |
| body hair | *mo̝k | *mo̝C | *mo̝k |
| … | *jo̝k |
Final apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *-ɾ | *ø | *l | |
| excrement | *ɔɾ | *o̝ | *ɔl |
| wing | *baɾo̝ɾ | *bao̝l | |
| bone | *kudɔɾ | *kuɾu | *kɔlɔl |
| moon | *wakɔɾ | *wɔ | *wakɔl |
Vowels /*i *u *e̝. *o̝ *ɔ *a/ …
High front vowel /*i/ is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *i | *i | *i | |
| drink | *mi- | *mi- | |
| mother | *ni | *ni | |
| star | *min | *minɔp | |
| dog | *tit | *tiC | |
| tortoise sp. | *biɾip | *bip | |
| sand | *ne̝nim | *ne̝niN | *ne̝nim |
| die | *k[a/ɔ]mi- | *kami- | *kɔmi- |
| bow | *baɾi | *baɾi | *bai |
| bamboo knife | *waki | *waki | |
| cuscus | *takip | *taiC | *takip |
| cassowary | *sanip | *saniC | *sanip |
High back vowel /*u/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *u | *u | *u | |
| earth/ground | *udaC | *uɾaC | *ulaC |
| wash/bathe | *sumɔ- | *sumV- | *sumɔ- |
| mosquito | *t[e̝/a]tun | *ta[t]uN | *te̝tun |
| ant | *m[a/ɔ]kmuk | *mamuC | *mɔkmuk |
| cook/burn | *(a-)du- | *aɾu- | *alu- |
| taro | *kaju | *kaju | *kaju |
| dig | *jaku- | *jaku- | |
| thorn | *aɾun | *juN | *aun |
| hot | *mamun | *mamun | |
| knee | *gabum | *gabum | |
| paddle | *wadup | *waɾuC | *walup |
High mid front vowel /*e̝./is retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *e̝. | *e̝. | *e̝. | |
| vein | *me̝t | *me̝t | |
| tongue | *te̝p | *te̝bu | *te̝p |
| cloud | *de̝p | *de̝C | *de̝p |
| bamboo pipe | *ge̝t | *ge̝t | |
| side | *me̝ɾe̝n | *me̝n | |
| sand | *ne̝nim | *ne̝niN | *ne̝nim |
| dog | *me̝jan | *me̝jan | |
| eat | *(a-)de̝- | *ɛɾe̝- | *(a-)le̝- |
| egg | *t[e̝/a]ne̝t | *tane̝C | *te̝ne̝t |
| tail | *kande̝p | *kade̝C | *kande̝p |
| hornbill | *kawe̝[t/l] | *kawe̝[t/l] | |
| head | *kabe̝jan | *babe̝N | *kabe̝jan |
High mid back vowel /*o̝/…:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *o̝ | *o̝ | *o̝ | |
| sago | *do̝ | *do̝ | |
| body hair | *mo̝k | *mo̝C | *mo̝k |
| wind | *po̝p | *po̝p | |
| 1 sg. | *no̝p | *n[o̝]C | *no̝p |
| sky | *ko̝t | *ko̝C | *ko̝t |
| 2 sg. | *go̝p | *g[o̝]C | *go̝p |
| louse | *go̝t | *go̝t | |
| spouse | *jo̝m | *jo̝N | *jo̝m |
| 3 sg. | *jo̝p | *jo̝C | *jo̝p |
| … | *jo̝k | ||
| laugh | *se̝s[i/u]po̝- | *se̝supo̝- | *se̝sipo̝- |
| elbow/eight | *bɔŋgo̝p | *bɔno̝C | *bɔŋgo̝p |
| wing | *baɾo̝ɾ | *bao̝l | |
| inside | *kaɾo̝p | *kaɾo̝C | *kao̝p |
| jungle fowl | *wako̝m | *wako̝m |
Low mid back vowel /*ɔ/ is generally retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *ɔ | *ɔ | *ɔ | |
| do/make | *-mɔ- | *-mɔ- | *-mɔ- |
| burn (intr.) | *dɔ- | *dɔ- | *dɔ- |
| mother's br. | *mɔm | *mɔm | |
| chin/jaw | *bɔn | *bɔN | *bɔn |
| hole | *-tɔp | *-tɔp | |
| song sp. | *gɔm | *gɔm | |
| fruit/seed | *jɔp | *jɔp | |
| elbow/eight | *bɔŋgo̝p | *bɔno̝C | *bɔŋgo̝p |
| wash/bathe | *sumɔ- | *sumV- | *sumɔ- |
| blow | *po̝mɔ- | *po̝mɔ- | *po̝mɔ- |
| friend | *ne̝kɔ | *-Nkɔ | *ne̝kɔ |
| blunt/dull | *baŋgɔ | *baŋgɔ | |
| white | *kajɔ | *kajɔ | |
| weep/cry | *jamɔ- | *jamɔ- | |
| goanna | *bajɔm | *b[a]jɔN | *bajɔm |
| tree kangaroo | *sakɔt | *sɔC | *sakɔt |
| moon | *wakɔɾ | *wɔ | *wakɔl |
| breadfruit | *jawɔt | *jawɔC | *jawɔt |
…:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *ɔ/_… | *ɛ | *ɔ | |
| crocodile | *sɔmaⁱ[t/l] | *sɛmi[C] | *sɔmaⁱ[t/l] |
Low central vowel /*a/ is generally retained as such in both subgroups:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *a | *a | *a | |
| 1 sg. poss. | *na- | *na- | |
| walk/go | *ka- | *ka- | *kai- (?) |
| 2 sg. poss. | *ga- | *ga- | |
| 3 sg. poss. | *ja- | *ja- | |
| breast | *am | *amaN | *am |
| rattan/rope | *nan | *naN | *nan |
| skin/bark | *kat | *kaC | *kat |
| left | *wakan | *w[a]N | *wakan |
| bow | *baɾi | *baɾi | *bai |
| bamboo knife | *waki | *waki | |
| cuscus | *takip | *taiC | *takip |
| cassowary | *sanip | *saniC | *sanip |
| cook/burn | *(a-)du- | *aɾu- | *alu- |
| taro | *kaju | *kaju | *kaju |
| dig | *jaku- | *jaku- | |
| hot | *mamun | *mamun | |
| knee | *gabum | *gabum | |
| paddle | *wadup | *waɾuC | *walup |
| hornbill | *kawe̝[t/l] | *kawe̝[t/l] | |
| head | *kabe̝jan | *babe̝N | *kabe̝jan |
| wing | *baɾo̝ɾ | *bao̝l | |
| inside | *kaɾo̝p | *kaɾo̝C | *kao̝p |
| jungle fowl | *wako̝m | *wako̝m | |
| blunt/dull | *baŋgɔ | *baŋgɔ | |
| white | *kajɔ | *kajɔ | |
| weep/cry | *jamɔ- | *jamɔ- | |
| goanna | *bajɔm | *b[a]jɔN | *bajɔm |
| breadfruit | *jawɔt | *jawɔC | *jawɔt |
| earth/ground | *udaC | *uɾaC | *ulaC |
| dog | *me̝jan | *me̝jan |
In segments /*akɔ/ where medial /*k/ is regularly dropped, Awbono-Bayono retains only /*ɔ/:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *a/_kɔ | *ø | *a | |
| tree kangaroo | *sakɔt | *sɔC | *sakɔt |
| moon | *wakɔɾ | *wɔ | *wakɔl |
…:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi |
| *… | ||
| *… |
Diphthongs ….
…:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi |
| *… | ||
| *… |
… /*aⁱ/ …:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| *aⁱ | *ɛ | *aⁱ | |
| canoe | *aⁱC | *ɛC | *aⁱC |
| men's house | *kaⁱm | *kɛN | *kaⁱm |
[under construction]
North Digul River free pronouns are reconstructed as follows:
| North Digul | A-B | Becking-Dawi | |
| 1 sg. | *no̝p | *n[o̝]C | *no̝p |
| 2 sg. | *go̝p | *g[o̝]C | *go̝p |
| 3 sg. | *jo̝p | *j[o̝]C | *jo̝p |
| 1 pl. | *nak[i/o̝]p | ? | *nako̝p |
| 2 pl. | *gak[i/o̝]p | ? | *gak[i/o̝]p |
| 3 pl. | *jak[i/o̝]p | ? | *jak[i/o̝]p |