Table of Contents

Momuna-Mek

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

[under construction]

The Momuna-Mek family is composed of nine languages spoken …

Subclassification

The internal classification of Momuna-Mek is as follows:

Momuna-Mek

Momuna

Mek

East Mek

West Mek

Sources

[under construction]

History of classification

[under construction]

Bromley (1966-1967) …

Voorhoeve (1975: 398) states that “[Somohai's] closest relationships appear to be with the Ok languages and the languages of the Dumut sub-family of the Awyu-Dumut family.” This is consistent with our findings inasmuch as there is no indication that the Mek languages were considered in Voorhoeve's analysis.

Wurm (1982: 187) …

Historical phonology

[under construction]

Proto-Momuna-Mek had 14 consonants and at least 8 vowels as follows:

*m *n
*p *t *s *k *kʷ
*b *d *g *gʷ
*w *l *j
*i *u
*e̝ *o̝
*a

In addition to the simple vowels given above, eight diphthongs are found as follows:

*e̝ⁱ *o̝ᵘ
*ɛⁱ *ɔᵘ
*aⁱ *aᵘ
*aᵋ *aᵓ

…:

…:

…:

…:

…:

Initial consonants correspond as follows:

Mom.-Mek Momuna Mek
*…

Medial consonants correspond as follows:

Mom.-Mek Momuna Mek
*-…-

Final consonants corerspond as follows:

Mom.-Mek Momuna Mek
*-…

Vowels and diphthongs corerspond as follows:

Mom.-Mek Momuna Mek
*…

These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with Momuna attestations drawn from Reimer (1986, CITE.)


Any consonant can occur initially.

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

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*m- m *m
child *me̝ *me̝
vein/tendon *… mɛrɛ *m[e̝/ɛ]l-m[e̝/ɛ]l
bird *mak *mak
opp.-sex sib. *makal *makal
mother's br. *mɒm *mam
python sp. *… monu *m[ɛ/a]no̝
spittle/saliva*mɒk *mag[a]
rain *mɔk mɒ̀ *m[ɔ/o̝]k
wasp/bee *mɔg *mɔŋ
breast *mɔᵘm mɒ̃̀ᵘ *mɔᵘm

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

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*n- n *n
1 sg. *na na *na
rattan/vine*n[ɒ/ɔ]g nɒ̀
body/trunk *nɔg *nɔŋ

Initial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is lost in Momuna as it is in most Mek languages:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*p- ø *p
joy (?) *pin *pin
hit/kill*pɔ- ɒ- *pɔ-(b)
wing *p[ɔ]l ɒ́ᵘ *pɔl

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

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*t- t *t
hand *tɛ tɛ́ *tɛ
stand
palm/sole*tɒg *taŋ
mountain *t… tɒᵘ *t[ɔ/o̝][k/g]o̝
3 pl. *tun *tun
wound *tutu tutu [CV]*tutu

Initial laminal voiceless /*s/ is retained as such in both subgroups:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*s- s *s
name *si *si
tail feather(s)*… *… *…

Intiial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*k- k *k
thigh *k…
flower*k… *k₁[ɛ/aⁱ]t
2 sg. *kɒn *kan
bone *k… kòdɒ̀

Initial rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ … :

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*kʷ- w
night *… wi *…
cassowary*… witi *kʷ[e̝/ɛ]t
pig *… wɒ́

… /*kʷ/ … :

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*kʷ-
sweat *kʷitin
left *… *kʷan[i/e̝][m/ŋ]
penis/vagina*… kʷàˈté*kʷat

Initial bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is retained as such in both subgroups:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*b- b *b
earthworm *bVt[e̝/ɛ]batɛ *b[e̝/ɛⁱ]te̝
sago *b[e̝/ɛ] *bɛ
go/walk *bɒ- bɒ- *ba-(n)
lip(s) *bɒm *bam
pandanus fruit*bɒn bɒ́ *ban
flame *b… *bɔg
hot/warm *bɔᵘb bɒᵘ [CV]*bɔᵘbo̝
fly (n.) *bo̝m *bo̝m
sit/stay *bu- bu- *bu-(g)
turtle *… buo *b[o̝ᵘ]m

Initial apical voiced stop /*d/ is retained as such in both subgroups:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*d- d *d
eat/drink *… de- *…
cloud/fog *de̝b de [CV] *de̝b
exchange *dɛ- *dɛ-(g)
change/trade *da- da- *da-(n)
burn/roast *dɒ- *da-(b)
dig/plant *dɔ- dɒ- *dɔ-(g)
egg/fruit/seed*… dɒko ~ dɒku*…
index finger *dVm[u] *do̝m
vomit *du- du- *du-(g)

Initial velar voiced stop /*g/ is devoiced to /k/ in Momuna. merging with with the reflexes of initial voiceless /*k/ (above):

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*g- k *g
stone *… *gɛⁱl
affine *… *gɛ
dog *gɒm kɒ̀ *gam
tree/wood *gɒl kɒ̀ *gal
joint/node*go̝g *go̝ŋ
be dark *gunu-(g) *gunu-(g)

Initial rounded velar voiced stop /*gʷ/ is devoiced to /*kʷ/ in Momuna:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*gʷ- *gʷ
sugarcane*gʷɛⁱ kʷɛⁱ *gʷɛⁱ

Initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ is retained as such in both subgroups:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*w- w *w
ripe *wVsi wàsì *we̝ⁱ[t/s]i
big/many *wɛⁱk *wɛⁱk
yam *wan[i] wani *wan[i/ɛⁱ/aⁱ]
hand drum*wɒsu *wasu

Initial apical non-stop /*l/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*l- d *l
arrow sp.*li *li

Initial palatal non-stop /*j/ is generally retained as such in both subgroups:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*j- j *j
foot/leg *j[a/ɒ]n *jan
axe *… *…
leg/bone *… jɒku *…
tooth/sharp *jo̝ *jo̝
bone needle *… *jo̝m
speech/voice*jo̝ᵘb jo *jo̝ᵘb[o̝]

… /*j/ …:

Momuna-Mek MomunaMek
*j- i *j
parent-in-law*j[a/ɒ][l]m[ɒ]limo *jalmal

…/*j/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*j- j
blood*jo̝ne̝g *e̝ne̝ŋ

Medial consonants …

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

Momuna-Mek MomunaMek
*-m- m *m
louse *ami ˈámì *ami
parent-in-law*j[a/ɒ][l]m[ɒ]limo *jalmal

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

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-n-
python sp.*… monu *m[ɛ/a]no̝
yam *wan[i] wani *wan[i/ɛⁱ/aⁱ]
blood *jo̝ne̝g *e̝ne̝ŋ

Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*-t-
eye *ɒtig ɒtù *atiŋ
earthworm*… batɛ *b[e̝/ɛⁱ]t[e̝/ɛ]
wound *tutu tutu [CV]*susu
cassowary*… witi *kʷ[e̝/ɛ]t

Medial laminal voiceless /*s/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-s- s -s
ripe *wVsi wàsì *we̝ⁱsi
hand drum*wɒsu *wasu

Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-k-
opp.-sex sib.*makal *makal

…/*k/ …:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*-k-
net bag *… ɒko *ak
egg/fruit/seed*… dɒko ~ dɒku*…
leg/bone *… jɒku *…

Medial bilabial voiced stop /*b/ …

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-b-

Medial apical voiced stop /*d/ …:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*-d- d [ɾ]*d
elbow/knee*uduk udu [CV] *udug
bone *… kodɒ

Medial velar voiced stop /*g/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-g-

Medial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-w-

Medial apical non-stop /*l/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-l-
cockatoo

Medial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-j-

Final consonants …

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

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-m *m
taro *ɒm ɒ́ *am
mother's br. *mɒm *mam
breast *mɔᵘm mɒ̃̀ᵘ *mɔᵘm
lip(s) *bɒm *bam
fly (n.) *bo̝m *bo̝m
turtle *b… buo *b[o̝ᵘ]m
tail feather(s)*… *… *…
dog *gɒm kɒ̀ *gam

Final apical nasal /*n/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-n *n
river *in ĩ́ *in
joy (?) *pin *pin
pandanus fruit*bɒn bɒ́ *ban
3 pl. *tun *tun
2 sg. *kɒn *kan
2 pl. *… *…
night *… wi *…
sweat
foot/leg *j[a/ɒ]n *jan

Final velar nasal /*ŋ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-ŋ

Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-t

Final laminal voiceless /*s/ …

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-s -

Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*-k ø *-k
elbow/knee*uduk udu [CV]*uduk
bird *mak *mak
rain *mɔk mɒ̀ *m[ɔ/o̝]k
big/many *wɛⁱk *wɛⁱk

Final bilabial voiced stop /*b/ …

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*-p ø *-p
cloud/fog*de̝p de [CV]*de̝p

… final /*b/ …

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*-b/… ø *-bo̝
hot/warm *bɔᵘb bɒᵘ [CV]*bɔᵘbo̝
speech/voice*jo̝ᵘb jo *jo̝ᵘb[o̝]

Final apical voiced stop /*d/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-d

Final velar voiced stop /*g/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*-g ø
eye *ɒtig ɒtù *atiŋ
wasp/bee *mɔg *mɔŋ
ratan/vine*n[ɒ/ɔ]g nɒ̀
body/trunk*nɔg *nɔŋ
palm/sole *tɒg *taŋ
joint/node*go̝g *go̝ŋ
pig *… wɒ́
blood *jo̝ne̝g *e̝ne̝ŋ

Final apical non-stop /*l/ …:

Momuna-Mek MomunaMek
*-l ø *l
opp.-sex sib.*makal *makal
wing *p[ɔ]l ɒ́ᵘ *pɔl
thigh *k…
stone *… *gɛⁱl
tree/wood *gɒl kɒ̀ *gal
parent-in-law*j[a/ɒ][l]m[ɒ]limo *jalmal

Vowels and diphthongs …

High front vowel /*i/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*i i *i
name *si *si
night *… wi *…
arrow sp.*li *li
joy (?) *pin *pin

According to Reimer (CITE,) Momuna front and back vowels are prohibited from cooccuring in the same morpheme in the Balim River dialect from which her materials were drawn. This rule suggests Momuna /u/ in the following to result from this harmony rule:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*i/ɒC_u *i
eye*ɒtig ɒtù *atiŋ

Reimer (CITE) mentions also an “anti-harmony rule” in the Rekai River dialect, such that high back rounded vowel /*u/ is replaced by high front /i/ if there is a rounded back vowel in an adjacent syllable; thus the village [sumɒ] is called instead [simɒ] while the language [mɒmuna] is called [mɒmina]. In light of the example above, it seems probable that these are the more original forms, as Mek has no harmony rule which might account for this discrepancy.

High back rounded vowel /*u/ …:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*u u *u
sit/stay *bu- bu- *bu-(g)
vomit *du- du- *du-(g)
3 pl. *tun *tun
2 pl. *… *…
wound *tutu tutu [CV]*tutu
hand drum*wɒsu *wasu

High mid fron vowel /*e̝/ …::

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*e̝ e *e̝

High mid back rounded vowel /*o̝/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*o̝
tooth/sharp*jo̝ *jo̝

Low mid front vowel /*ɛ/…:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek

Low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
ɒ
hit/kill *pɔ- ɒ- *pɔ-(b)
dig/plant*dɔ- dɒ- *dɔ-(g)
rain *mɔk mɒ̀ *m[ɔ/o̝]k
wing *p[ɔ]l ɒ́ᵘ *pɔl

Low back rounded vowel /*ɒ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
ɒ *a
go/walk *bɒ- bɒ- *ba-(n)
burn/roast *dɒ- *da-(b)
taro *ɒm ɒ́ *am
mother's br. *mɒm *mam
spittle/saliva*mɒk *mag[a]
lip(s) *bɒm *bam
pandanus fruit*bɒn bɒ́ *ban
palm/sole *tɒg *taŋ
2 sg. *kɒn *kan
dog *gɒm kɒ̀ *gam
tree/wood *gɒl kɒ̀ *gal
eye *ɒtig ɒtù *atiŋ
hand drum *wɒsu *wasu
net bag *… ɒko *ak

Low central vowel /*a/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*a a *a
1 sg. *na na *na
change/trade*da- da- *da-(n)
bird *mak *mak
louse *ami ˈámì *ami
yam *wan[i] wani *wan[i/ɛⁱ/aⁱ]

…:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek

… /*o̝ᵘ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*o̝ᵘ o *o̝ᵘ
speech/voice*jo̝ᵘb jo *jo̝ᵘb[o̝]

…:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*ɛⁱ ɛⁱ*ɛⁱ
sugarcane*gʷɛⁱ kʷɛⁱ *gʷɛⁱ

… /*ɔᵘ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomuna Mek
*ɔᵘ ɒᵘ *ɔᵘ
breast *mɔᵘm mɒ̃̀ᵘ *mɔᵘm
hot/warm*bɔᵘb bɒᵘ [lcv]*bɔᵘbo̝

… /*aⁱ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*aⁱ aⁱ*aⁱ
father*aⁱ áⁱ *aⁱ

… /*aᵘ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*aᵘ *aᵘ
grandmother*aᵘ *aᵘ

… /*aᵋ/ …:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek
*aᵋ ɛ *aᵋ
hand*tɛ tɛ́ *tɛ

…:

Momuna-MekMomunaMek

Pronouns

[under construction]




Verbal morphology

[under construction]