Namla-Tofanma

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

[under construction]

The Namla-Tofanma family consists of two languges, Namla and Tofanma (Tofamna,) spoken … Indonesia's Papua province.

Subclassification

The internal classification of Namla-Tofanma is as follows:

Namla-Tofanma

Namla

Tofanma

Sources

[under construction]

Anceaux (Smits and Voorhoeve 1994) … after Mallo

Galis (1956: appendix 1-12, i.e. 85-97) … comparative terms for Tofamna (Tofanma)

Voorhoeve (1971: 98-109) … comparative terms for Tofamna after …

Voorhoeve (1975: 116) 36 comparative terms for Tofamna after Galis (1956)

Lee (2005) … comparative terms for Namla

Menanti (2005) 245 comparative terms for Sembramtəla of Tefalma (Tofanma I) village

Wambaliau (2005: 24-27) 245 comparative terms for Tofanma after Menanti

HIstory of classification

[under construction]

HIstorical phonology

[under construction]




















… initial consonants …

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*m- m m m
flesh/meat*mi míː miː̀ ~ -mi -mi
know *misi misjɛ mɪsili
nose *me̝ndi mənɖi- mɪnt̪ɪ mniti
night *me̝ntV ˈməˈnʈa min- menti-
see *mɛsV mɛs- mæsijɔ mes-
language *mæ maː
here *mæ ma- me-
bamboo *ma… mai máɪ
sit *mato̝ mɔtɔ- matu
bandicoot *m[a]wi mɑˈwi
this *mV ma mɔ̃
breast *mo̝m ˈmɔ̀mú muː mo
tail *mVndu ˈmənɖu- muntʷu- muntuo
child *mlæ mɭa ~ mla-ˈmlɛ ~ məlɛ
~ m̩læ- ~ məlæ-

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*n- n n n
wind *ninimbi ˈniŋimbí ninpi nembi
hold *niŋgi ˈniŋgi- niŋgǐ
house *n… nei ni
near *nmV neˈmei nəmi-
two *nɛne̝ neˈne næni neni
1 sg. *næ neː ni-
hair/feather(s)*nam ˈnaɑːm ~ -námnɑ̌ ~ -na -na
dry *nVŋg… nɔŋkʷé
dry *nVŋg… nɔŋkʷé
1 pl. *n[o̝/u] ŋu ~ nu- (?)
sky *nmlV nəmlɔu nəmlɔ

Initial bilabial voicelss stop /*p/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*p- f f f
give *pænV faníli- ~ fɑ́n-vænə- (?)
sago flour*po̝ fo fu
blow *po̝li foli-mbɛ̌ fuli
sit/stay *pRo̝ fro- fru-

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla TofanmaTofanma
Namla Tefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*t- t [t ʈ]t t
speak *tæl[i/e̝] tiˈɭ- tæli
knife *te̝pa tèṕá tipɑ
mosquito*tɛkɛ təˈkè tekeʔ tek
fence *tæ ta te
yellow *tVklV ʈɔˈkle
urine *tu ˈtu ˈtʊ
wet *tuku tuˈgu tugu-

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*s- s s s
cough *sVpɛ supɛ̌ sjɔpɛ
laugh *se̝lV seˈla-sili
worm *s… sənʈɔ̀
that/there*sæ sa seː
eat/drink *sæ sa- se- ~ si-se-

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*k- k k k
seven *kVmbV kəmbəi- kimpi
head *kɛmblæ ˈkəmpɭa- kemble- kemble
burn (tr.)*kæ ka- kɛ- -ke-
tongue *kVŋgo̝ku ˈkãŋkòkú kuŋguːkugoŋgogok
cloud *k… ˈkurê (?)kou kou
bow *kulV kuˈlu kuli
one *knano̝ knɔˈnɔ kənʌnu kenano
three *kli kɭí kəli kli

One apparent counterexample is found also in Towe [kenemˈba] and may simply be in error:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*k- kø
machete*knVpa knepánʌpɑ

Initial bilabial prenasalized voiced stop /*mb/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*mb- mb [mb mp b] mb [mb mp b] mb [b]
pig *mbe̝ mbe ᵐpí
ant *mbe̝ mpé mpisɛ
mount./village*mbe̝kle̝ mbeˈkle-~békɭɛ-
~-mbekɭɛ́-~békle-
mpikli-
~ mbikəli
bekli
root *mbæke̝ -pike (?) mpæki ~ mbæki
below/low *mbale̝ mbaɭí ~ baˈɭè mbɑli ~ mbali-
left *mb… ˈmbɔkeja- bɑgi-
foot/leg *mbu mbu-
louse *mble̝ ble ᵐpili vli
stab *mblæ mbɭa- mpəle

One example with initial voiceless [p] in both families is proabbly a loan from Tebi-Towe:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*P- pp
tree kangaroo*Pæsi pisi pæsi

Initial apical prenasaized voiced stop /*nd/ is retained as such in both languages, often as devoiced [nt nʈ nt̪]:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*nd- nd [nt nʈ nd d] nd [nt nt̪ nd d d̪]nd [nt d]
mother's m.*ndi ˈdi- di-
tooth *nde̝me̝ ˈdəmə- ⁿt̪ɪmi deme
bone *nda nʈɑː~-nʈɑ~-nʈáː~-ntánt̪ɑ ~ –ntɑ nta
mud *ndo̝ku ˈnʈɔkú ˈnt̪uku
kunai grass*nduku ˈntukuˈɭú ˈntukʷɑfi
split (tr.)*ndRe̝kæ ndrɛ̀ká- d̪riːke-

Initial velar prenasalized voiced stop /*ŋg/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*ŋg- ŋg [ŋg ŋk]ŋg [ŋg ŋk]
excrement *ŋg… ŋgeí ŋgi
over there*ŋgasu ksu- (?) ŋkɑsuʔ
roof *ŋgum ŋkum ŋku

Initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*w- w [w β] w [w v] w
thorn/sharp*wi ˈwi ~ -βí vi
fire *wV wɔː ~ wy- ve ~ væ- we
swim *wæli wili- væli-
hear *waR/td> waˈr- vɑr- war-
walk/go *wV wú- ~ -wo- ~ -u-wɑ- ~ vɑ- ~ -wɔwo-
2 sg. *wV ˈwu- wɔː wa-

Initial apical non-stop /*l/ is retained as such in both languages:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*l- l [l ɭ] l l
star *lVndim ləˈnʈim lint̪i linti
egg/seed *le̝ le liː
new *læki liˈki lǣkɪ̌ loki
blood *læke̝ ˈləke ~ lyke
~ -ˈliki
lǽkɪ̂ ~ lǽkîlaki
man/person *læ lɑː ~ -ˈɭɑ lɛː ~ -lɛ
husband *lVŋgV lɔŋkɔ leŋgwa-
tree *la ˈɭɑ- ~ ˈlɑ- lɑ̌ ~ læ- la-
rain *lam lam lɑ̃ la
mouth/lip(s)*lɔ ˈɭò- lɔ-
hand/finger *lo̝ -ɭɔ lu- ~ ru- lu- ~ lo-

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla TofanmaTofanma
Namla Tefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*j- j j j
eye *j… jei jei
come *jæ jaː- ~ -jɑ- jɛ- -je
arm/hand *ja ˈjà- ~ ˈjɑː- ~ ˈjɑ-
five *jani jani- jɑni-
sago porridge*jasi jɑˈsi jɑːsi
earth/ground *j… jaɔ jɑi jai
dig *jo̝ko̝li jɔkɔˈli- jukuli
tired *jumbe̝ne̝ juˈmbənɛ jumbini-

… medial consonants …

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla TofanmaTofanma
Namla Tefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-m- m m m
mother *[a]mi ˈɑmi
near *nmV neˈmeinəmi-
net bag*nmæ nəˈmá nəmɛ
sky *nmlV nəmlɔunəmlɔ
tooth *nde̝me̝ ˈdəmə-ⁿt̪ɪmi deme

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla TofanmaTofanma
Namla Tefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-n- n n n
give *pænV faníli- ~ fɑ́n-vænə-
wind *ninimbi ˈniŋimbí (?) ninpi nembi (?)
two *nɛne̝ neˈne næni neni
machete*knVpa knepá nʌpɑ
one *knano̝ knɔˈnɔ kənʌnu kenano
five *jani jani- jɑni-
tired *jumbe̝ne̝ juˈmbənɛ jumbini-

Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is retained as such in both languages, unlike root-initial /*p/ which is fricated to [f] (above):

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-p- pp
father's f.*api ˈɑpi-ǎpi
father *apa ˈɑpa ˈɑpɑ
knife *te̝pa tèṕá tipɑ
cough *sVpɛ supɛ̌sjɔpɛ
machete *knVpa knepánʌpɑ

A number ofTofanma words have a medial labidental fricative [f]. Many of these are loans from Yetfa to the south (below,) in which the reflex of South Pauwasi River medial /*p/ as /ɸ/ is regular.

Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ has been found in only one word, in which it is retained as such in both languages:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-t- tt
sit*matu mɔtɔ-matu

Medial laminal voicelss /*s/ is retained as such in both languages:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-s- ss s
know *misi misjɛmɪsili
see *mɛsV mɛs- mæsijɔ mes-
tree kangaroo*Pæsi pisi pæsi
over there *ŋgasu ksu- ŋkɑsuʔ
sago porridge*jasi jɑˈsijɑːsi

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-k- k k k
mount./village*mbe̝kle̝ mbeˈkle-~békɭɛ-
~-mbekɭɛ́-~békle-
mpikli-
~ mbikəli
bekli
root *mbæke̝ -pike mpæki ~ mbæki
left *mb… ˈmbɔkeja- bɑgi-
mosquito *tɛkɛ təˈkè tekeʔ tek
yellow *tVklV ʈɔˈkle
wet *tuku tuˈgu tugu-
mud *ndo̝ku ˈnʈɔkú ˈnt̪uku
kunai grass *nduku ˈntukuˈɭú ˈntukʷɑfi
split (tr.) *ndRe̝kæ ndrɛ̀ká- d̪riːke-
tongue *kVŋgo̝ku ˈkãŋkòkú kuŋguːku goŋgogok
new *læki liˈki lǣkɪ̌ loki
blood *læke̝ ˈləke ~ lyke
~ -ˈliki
lǽkɪ̂ ~ lǽkî laki
dig *jo̝ko̝li jɔkɔˈli- jukuli

Medial bilabial prenasalized voiced stop /*mb/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-mb- mb [mb mp]mb [mb mp]mb [mb]
six *VmbV oombu- ʌumpɑʔ
wind *ninimbi ˈniŋimbí ninpi nembi
seven*kVmbV kəmbəi- kimpi
head *kɛmblæ ˈkəmpɭa- kemble- kemble
tired*jumbe̝ne̝ juˈmbənɛ jumbini-

Medial apical presnasalized voiced stop /*nd/ is retained as such in both languages, often as devoiced [nt nʈ nt̪]:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-nd- nd [nd nɖ nʈ]nd [nt nt̪]nd [nt]
nose *me̝ndi mənɖi- mɪnt̪ɪ mniti (?)
night*me̝ntV ˈməˈnʈa min- (?) menti-
tail *mVndu ˈmənɖu- muntʷu- muntuo
star *lVndim ləˈnʈim lint̪i linti

Medial velar prenasalized voiced stop /*ŋg/ :

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-ŋg- ŋg [ŋg ŋk]ŋg [ŋg]ŋg [ŋg]
hold *niŋgi ˈniŋgi- niŋgǐ
dry *nVŋg… nɔŋkʷé
tongue *kVŋgo̝ku ˈkãŋkòkú kuŋguːku goŋgogok
husband*lVŋgV lɔŋkɔ leŋgwa-

Root-medial bilabial non-stop /*w/ has been found in only one word which may be a loan from or to Towe:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-w- w
bandicoot*m[a]wi mɑˈwi

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-l- l [l ɭ] l [l] l
outside *ɛli eli- ɛli-
fly (v.) *VRilæ- ɛrila- rile-
child *mlæ mɭa ~ mla- ˈmlɛ ~ məlɛ
~ m̩læ- ~ məlæ-
mount./village*mbe̝kle̝ mbeˈkle-~békɭɛ-
~-mbekɭɛ́-~békle-
mpikli-
~ mbikəli
bekli
below/low *mbale̝ mbaɭí ~ baˈɭè mbɑli ~ mbali-
louse *mble̝ ble ᵐpili vli
stab *mblæ mbɭa- mpəle
sky *nmlV nəmlɔu nəmlɔ
blow *po̝li foli-mbɛ̌ fuli
speak *tæl[i/e̝] tiˈɭ- tæli
yellow *tVklV ʈɔˈkle
laugh *se̝lV seˈla- sili
head *kɛmblæ ˈkəmpɭa- kemble- kemble
bow *kulV kuˈlu kuli
three *kli kɭí kəli kli
dig *jo̝ko̝li jɔkɔˈli- jukuli

… [r] …which we show here as <R&gt. It is suspected that this <*R&gt is really the root-medial allophne of voiceless stop /*t/ as otherwise medial /*t/ (above) is markedly uncommon:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-R- [r] [r] [r]
fly (v.) *VRilæ- ɛrila- rile-
sit/stay *pRo̝ fro- fru-
split (tr.)*ndRe̝kæ ndrɛ̀ká-d̪riːke-
hear *waRV waˈr- vɑr- war-

Palatal non-stop /*j/ has not been found to occur medially.


Only one consonant, bilabial nasal /*m/, occurs finally.

Final bilabial nasal /*m/ is lost in Tofanma with nasalization of the preceding vowel, although nasalization is not consisently indicated in Menanti's Tofanma and is not indicated at all in Mallo's:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*-m m Ø Ø
hair/feather(s)*nam ˈnaɑːm ~ -námnɑ̌ ~ -na-na
roof *ŋgum ŋkum ŋku
star *lVndim ləˈnʈim lint̪i linti
rain *lam lam lɑ̃ la

One example in which /*m/ disappears in Tofanma is given with a final vowel in Lee's Namla, but it might be asked if this isn't a doublet borrowed from Tebi [mamu] (Im 2006) or simply in error, especially as final /*m/ characterizes also East Pauwasi River and South Pauwasi River forms:

Namla-TofanmaNamla TofanmaTofanma
Namla Tefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*-m mV (?)Ø Ø
breast*mo̝m ˈmɔ̀mú muː mo

… vowels and diphthongs…

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*i i i i
flesh/meat *mi míː miː̀ ~ -mi-mi
mother's m. *ndi ˈdi- di-
thorn/sharp *wi ˈwi ~ -βívi
three *kli kɭí kəli kli
know *misi misjɛ mɪsili
hold *niŋgi ˈniŋgi- niŋgǐ
wind *ninimbi ˈniŋimbí ninpi nembi
nose *me̝ndi mənɖi- mɪnt̪ɪ mniti
blow *po̝li foli-mbɛ̌fuli
dig *jo̝ko̝li jɔkɔˈli- jukuli
outside *ɛli eli- ɛli-
swim *wæli wili- væli-
mother *[a]mi ˈɑmi
father's f. *api ˈɑpi- ǎpi
bandicoot *m[a]wi mɑˈwi
five *jani jani- jɑni-
sago porridge*jasi jɑˈsi jɑːsi

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

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*u u u u
foot/leg *mbu mbu-
urine *tu ˈtu ˈtʊ
roof *ŋgum ŋkum ŋku
wet *tuku tuˈgu tugu-
kunai grass*nduku ˈntukuˈɭúˈntukʷɑfi
bow *kulV kuˈlu kuli
tired *jumbe̝ne̝ juˈmbənɛ jumbini-
tail *mVndu ˈmənɖu- muntʷu- muntuo
mud *ndo̝ku ˈnʈɔkú ˈnt̪uku
tongue *kVŋgo̝ku ˈkãŋkòkú kuŋguːku goŋgogok
over there *ŋgasu ksu- ŋkɑsuʔ

High mid front vowel /*e̝/ is raised and merged with the reflexes of /*i/ in modern Tofanma. Variant reflexes [e i] in Mallo's vocabulary shows this merger to have been completed only very recently:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*e̝ e [e ɛ ə] i [i] e̝ [e i]
pig *mbe̝ mbe ᵐpí
ant *mbe̝ mpé mpisɛ
egg/seed *le̝ le liː
louse *mble̝ ble ᵐpili vli
tooth *nde̝me̝ ˈdəmə- ⁿt̪ɪmi deme
mount./village*mbe̝kle̝ mbeˈkle-~békɭɛ-
~-mbekɭɛ́-~békle-
mpikli-
~ mbikəli
bekli

High mid back rounded vowel /*o̝/ is raised and merged with the reflexes of /*u/ in modern Tofanma. Variant reflexes [o u] in Mallo's vocabulary shows this merger to have been completed only very recently:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*o̝ o [o ɔ]u [u]o̝ [o u]
sago flour *po̝ fo fu
hand/finger*lo̝ -ɭɔ lu- ~ ru-lu- ~ lo-
sit/stay *pRo̝ fro- fru-
breast *mo̝m ˈmɔ̀mú muː mo

Low mid front vowel /*ɛ/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanma Tofanma
NamlaTefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
ɛ […]ɛ […]
*…

Low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ is uncommon. It is …:

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
mouth/lip(s)*lɔ ˈɭò- lɔ-

Low mid central vowel /*æ/ …:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
a ɛ [ɛ e æ] ɛ […]
language *mæ maː
here *mæ ma- me-
1 sg. *næ neː ni- (?)
fence *tæ ta te
that/there *sæ sa seː
eat/drink *sæ sa- se- ~ si- (?) se-
burn (tr.) *kæ ka- kɛ- -ke-
man/person *læ lɑː ~ -ˈɭɑ lɛː ~ -lɛ
come *jæ jaː- ~ -jɑ- jɛ- -je
child *mlæ mɭa ~ mla- ˈmlɛ ~ məlɛ
~ m̩læ- ~ məlæ-
stab *mblæ mbɭa- mpəle
net bag *nmæ nəˈmá nəmɛ
give *pænV faníli- ~ fɑ́n-vænə- (?)
split (tr.)*ndRe̝kæ ndrɛ̀ká- d̪riːke-
head *kɛmblæ ˈkəmpɭa- kemble- kemble

In one recurring correspondence, Namla has high front [i] while Tofanma has low front [æ]… This pattern is tentatively reconstructed with /*æ/ because it is very common and there are otherwise no examples of /*æ/ followed by /*i *e̝/:

Namla-Tofanma Namla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*æ/_Ci Ce̝i æ a (?)
tree kangaroo*Pæsi pisi pæsi
swim *wæli wili- væli-
new *læki liˈki lǣkɪ̌ loki (?)
speak *tæl[i/e̝] tiˈɭ- tæli
root *mbæke̝ -pike (?) mpæki ~ mbæki
blood *læke̝ ˈləke ~ lyke
~ -ˈliki
lǽkɪ̂ ~ lǽkî laki

Low central vowel /*a/ is not nearly as common as /*æ/ (above/) It is retained as such in both languages:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*a a a [a ɑ] a
bone *nda nʈɑː~-nʈɑ~-nʈáː~-ntánt̪ɑ ~ –ntɑ nta
tree *la ˈɭɑ- ~ ˈlɑ- lɑ̌ ~ læ- la-
arm/hand *ja ˈjà- ~ ˈjɑː- ~ ˈjɑ-
hair/feather(s)*nam ˈnaɑːm ~ -nám nɑ̌ ~ -na -na
rain *lam lam lɑ̃ la
father *apa ˈɑpa ˈɑpɑ
hear *waRV waˈr- vɑr- war-
father's f. *api ˈɑpi- ǎpi
five *jani jani- jɑni-
sago porridge *jasi jɑˈsi jɑːsi
over there *ŋgasu ksu- (?) ŋkɑsuʔ
below/low *mbale̝ mbaɭí ~ baˈɭè mbɑli ~ mbali-
knife *te̝pa tèṕá tipɑ
machete *knVpa knepá nʌpɑ

When followed by high mid back rounded /*o̝/ in the following syllable, /*a/ is backed and rounded to [ɔ] in Namla:

Namla-TofanmaNamla Tofanma Tofanma
Namla Tefalma ?
Lee Menanti Mallo
*a/_Co̝ … [ɔ]a [ɑ ʌ]a
sit*mato̝ mɔtɔ- matu
one*knano̝ knɔˈnɔ kənʌnu kenano

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*…
*…

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*…
*…

Namla-TofanmaNamlaTofanmaTofanma
NamlaTefalma?
Lee MenantiMallo
*…
*…

Pronouns

[under construction]




Verbal morphology

No information on Namla-Tofanma verbal morpholgy is currently availabe to us.

Loans to and from neighboring languages

[under construction]



Tofanma has borrowed a number of terms from Yetfa to the south, with Yetfa attestations drawn from Kim (2006.) None of the words below are found in Namla. According to Kim, some Yetfa speakers live in the Tofanma Dua village in the Tofanma language region:

Yetfa Yetfa Tofanma
TerfonesTofanma DuaTefalma
Kim Kim Menanti
rat -ˈnapki napki ˈnɑpəgi
night tuɸu tufu t̪ufumɑ
canoe kuɸ koɸ kʌfu
sweet potatokliŋkai kleŋgai kleŋkɑi ~ kleŋkɑɪ

Namla shares a few terms with Poule (a.k.a. Molof,) with Poule attestations drawn from Rumaropen (2005.) The direction of borrowing isn't immediately clear:

Poule Poule Namla
Molof Waley Namla
Rumaropen Rumaropen Lee
pathmɪtnínə mɪtnínə miˈtu
sun nemáːn nemáːn ˈnəˈmane
washjoɭ- ~ -joɭɨ-joɭ- ~ -joɭɨ-jɔˈɭi-

… Some of these matches may well be legitimate mutual retentions:

Namla-TofanmaPoule Poule
Molof Waley
RumaropenRumaropen
language*mæ maː maː
urine *tu
egg *le̝ ɭɪː liː