Tebi-Towe

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

[under construction]

The Terbi-Towe family consists of two languages, Tebi, also known as Dubu, and Towe (Towei,) spoken …

Subclassification

The internal classificaiton of Tebi-Towe is as follows:

Tebi-Towe

Tebi

Towe

Sources

[under construction]

Anceaux (Smits and Voorhoeve 1994) 104 comparative terms for Dubu of Afi village, Tobima of Dubu village after Walton, Dubu after D.A. Mallo and Towei after D.A. Mallo

Galis (1956: appendix 1-12, i.e. 85-97) … comparative terms for Doeboe and Towei

Voorhoeve (1971: 98-109) 84 comparative terms for Dubu after Galis (1956)

Voorhoeve (1975: 114) 37 comparative terms for Dubu and Towei after Galis (1956)

Wambaliau (2004) … comparative terms for Towe of Towe Hitam village

Im (2005) … comparative terms for Tebi of Dubu village

HIstory of classification

[under construction]

Voorhoeve (1971: …) … (1975: …) … Wuerm (1982: …) …


Foley (2018: …) …

HIstorical phonology

[under construction]

Proto-Tebi-Towe had perhaps 12 consonants and 5 vowels as follows:

*m *n
*p *t *k
*s
*r
*w *l *j
*i *u
*e *o
*a

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

*eⁱ *oᵘ
*aⁱ *aᵘ

Tebi-Towe lacks phonemic voiced stops because Pauwasi River prenasalized voiced stops have been both denasalized and devoiced.

The distinction between apical non-stops /*r/ and /*l/ is unusual for New Guinean languages.

There re no final consonants.

Consonant clusters are found in onsets. Observed consonant cluters include:

*w *r *l
*… *… *… *…

Initial consonants correspond as follows:

Tebi-Towe Towe Tebi
*m- m m
*n- n n
*ŋ- ŋ n
*p- p p
*t- t t
*k- k k
*ɸ- ɸ ɸ
*s- s s
*w- w w
*j- j j

Medial consonants correspond as follows:

Tebi-Towe Towe Tebi
*-m- m m
*-n- n n
*-nV ŋ nV
*-p- p p
*-p-/NV_
*-t- t t
*-t-/NV_ nd nd
*-k-
*-k-/NV_ ŋg ŋg
*-ɸ- ɸ ɸ
*-s- s s
*-r-
*-w- w w
*-l- j
*-j- j j

Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:

Tebi-Towe Towe Tebi
*i
*u
*e
*o
*a
*eⁱ
*oᵘ
*aⁱ
*aᵘ

These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with Towe attestations drawn from … and Tebi from … and ….


Any consonant can occur initially except for apical non-stops /*r *l/.

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

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*m- m m m m m m
louse *mi mi mi ˈmi mi mi mi
mosquito *mVmV meme- mem- muˈmi mimi mimi mimi
flesh/meat*meⁱpi meiːp míbi
bad *mene meŋ- ˈməne
nose *menri mendri mendri minˈdi məndi məndi mendi
head *mendini mendiŋ- mindi- ~minde-mindin-
~ mendinin-
məndini
~ məndidi-
məndini
~ mɛndi-
mendeni
~ mendini-
short *mendV meˈnda- mənde
inside *meŋge meg- ˈmɛŋgɛ
neck *meŋga… mɛngabere məŋgabini mɛŋgafînî meŋguigo
liver *meŋgani mɛˈŋgaŋ meˈŋgani
language *ma maː maː
who? *ma ma-de maː-dé
breast *mamV maˈmu mamo mamu mamũ mamu mamo
sun/moon *ma[p] ˈmap -map maː ~ -ma ma ma ma
arrow *mani maˈni mani
bandicoot *mawi mawi
green/blue*moŋgwar[u]moŋkor moŋgor muŋgʷaˈru moŋgɔr moŋgwar moŋguː
tree *mu -mu -ˈmumu momuŋ

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

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm Walton Anceaux Mallo
*n- n nn n n n
house *neme neˈme nəˈme
child *nemarekinemaˈrek nəmargi
mother*na naː ˈnaː
dry *noŋgwanijoŋgoŋ (?)nukwenoŋgʷaˈnɨnoŋguanenuŋgwaninuŋwani
1 pl. *nu nu nu nuˈmu nəmu numu- nu-

Initial velar nasal /*ŋ/ is merged with the reflexes of apical nasal /*n/ in Tebi:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*ŋ- ŋ ŋ [n ŋg g]nn n n
eat/drink*ŋeⁱ ŋei ne- ~ ge ne nî ~ ninɛ ~ -ninie ~ -ni
wep/cry *ŋeⁱ ˈŋei -ŋgei -ˈna’-nɛ -ne -nei
excrement*ŋeme ŋeme neˈme
1 sg. *ŋo ŋo nŋgo no no nok

In one examples where initial/*ŋ/ is followed immediately by lateral non-stop /*l/ in a cluster, it is realized as prenasalized or plain voiced stop [ŋg g] in both languages:

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*ŋ-/_lŋ [g] ŋ [g]ŋ [ŋg]ŋ [ŋg]ŋ [g]ŋ [k] (?)
one*ŋlo ge- ~ -giegio- ŋglo uŋgoro golɔ klo-

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

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam ToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*p- p pp p p p
ant *pe pe-
tie *petV peti- pəˈde
tree kangaroo*pesi peˈsi piˈsi
cold *peka peka pega paka pəka -pka
3 sg./pl. *pejaᵘ pijau ~ -ˈpeja pɛˈa peao piau
wind *poɸike peˈɸik pofi ˈpɔfˈgɛpəfəkepofəkɛ pofiki-
foot/leg *pu pu- po- pú- pu- pu- po-
bow *pri pri pli
red *plaⁱ pie peai pra prae pərai peai

In one example, root-initial /*p/ is sometimes realized as voiced [b] because it is the second member of a compound:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton AnceauxMallo
*p- p [p b] p [b]p p p [b]
elbow/knee*parini pˈeriŋ ~ -ˈbariŋ
~ -ˈbariŋ
-bori -páːlini
~ -ˈpaləni
-parini -balini

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

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton AnceauxMallo
*t- t t t t t t
sky *ti ti ˈti
forest *tepa teˈpa
knife *tepa teˈpa
leaf *teɸV teɸe tefe teˈfe təfi təfu tefi
earth/ground *tete ʈeˈʈé tede teˈdeʔ tede tede tɛtu
hair/feather(s)*teke tiːk teke -ˈtɛgɛ ~ ˈtage-təke -tɛkɛ -tke
axe *teka teˈka
white *teli dei (?)teˈri ter ter teri
hit *tari dari- (?) ˈtaˈri
goanna *tawa taˈwa
man/person *toŋgwarVtokʷar ~ towartokwoartɔˈŋgaːr teŋgwartuŋgwartoŋkwar
yrllow *tVkVr[e]tokoˈre tukʰər
tail *tumu tum- tum- túmú təmu tumu -tumu

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

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*k- k k k k k k
weeping/crying*keme kemi keme- kem- kəmə- kəmə- keme-
die *kema kemá kema kma kəma kəmah kmaː
when? *kema kema kma-
name *keni keiŋ kin kni kəni kinî kini
machete *kenemba keneˈmba
woman *keke keke keke kɛˈgɛ kege kɛkɛ keki
lime *kVlV kei
lie down/sleep*kale ˈkaje kei gari
come *kwaro koro- kaːɭœ ~ ˈkalú-koarɔ kwalɔ klawai
cloud *koᵘ kuː kuː kow ku kau
leech *kole kʷije kɔˈlɛ
stone *kola kla kora kwola kola
rain *kweⁱ kʷé kʷɛ kʰwi kʰwi kwei
wing *k[w]amu kam- kʷaˈmu
outside *kwali kwai- kʷali-
search/seek *kwall kwaj- kʷaˈli
two *kre ker- kra- kre kr kər kre
teeth/mouth *krV k(e)re- - kro-ker- ~ kero-klé ~ kle- krî ~ kri-kəli ~ kɛlɛ-kli-
cough *krVma kroma- ˈkluma’
sit *kru kru- -ˈklu- -gry -kru

Initial bilabial voiceless fricative /*ɸ/ is retained as uch in both languages. often realized as labiodental [f]:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*ɸ- [ɸ f] [f] [f] [ɸ f][f] [f]
hear *ɸeⁱ fi- fei fi fi fi fei
ear *ɸa ɸa- fa- fa fa fa faʔa
fence *ɸa faː fa
smoke *ɸat[e] ˈɸat -fade -faˈre -far -far -far
blow *ɸalo -fiˈe ˈfaˈro
2 sg. *ɸo fo [check source]ɸo fo
hot *ɸVfakle fieke fefeki ˈfufagleɸəɸəgre fofaqəlifafaklai
stab *ɸro fro- fro
fly (v.)*ɸruka… furuˈkati ˈfrugar
arm/hand*ɸlo ɸi- fio- flɔː- ɸoro folo folo

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

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im WaltonAnceauxMallo
*s- s s s s s s
skin/bark *seri sir ~ ˈsirser siˈri ~ ˈsiriseri sir sere
dog *saⁱ saj sa
worm *s[o]mondo somoˈndo
wallaby *sukuisi sukuˈsi suiˈsi
long *suru suru- suru-
shoot/kill*sra sera sra

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

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam ToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*w- w ww w w w
fire/wood *we we we- wɛː ~ wɛ- ui wi- weː ~ we
thorn/sharp *weni wiŋ ~ weiŋ- wɛˈnɛ ~ ˈwəne
night *weri weri wuˈli wəri wəli weli
burn (intr.)*wa wa- -wa -wa ~ –wá- -ua -wa -wa
taro/garden *waɸo waɸo ~ waˈfo wafo ~ ˈwaf-
ashes *waɸu ˈwafu wafeawáfu uafu wafuw wafu
sick/ill *wandi wadi- ˈwaˈndi
above *wole wi- wole

There are no unambiguous examples of lateral non-stop /*l/ in initial position, though some examples of medial /*l/ may arise from the vowel prosthesis in Tebi (below.)

Initial palatal non-stop /*j/ is retained as such in both languages. It appears that Pauwasi River initial /*j/ has been lost before front vowels (cf. “eye” below) and thus is attested here only when followed by low central vowel /*a/:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*j- j j j
bite *ja
insect/td>*jani jaŋ -ia -(j)aˈni
five *jane jaŋ- ˈjanə- ianɛŋ

Any consonant can occur medially except for velar nasal / *ŋ/.

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

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-m- m m m m m m
mosquito *mVmV meme- mem- muˈmi mimi mimi mimi
num. suffix (?)*-make -ˈmak -ˈmage ~ -maˈge
bird *olumu jumu jemu lúmú ərəmu ~ -rumlumu ~ -lumuolmu ~ -lmu
breast *mamV maˈmu mamo mamu mamũ mamu mamo
house *neme neˈme nəˈme
child *nemareki nemaˈrek nəmargi
tail *tumu tum- tum- túmú təmu tumu -tumu
worm *s[o]mondo somoˈndo
excrement *ŋeme ŋeme neˈme
weeping/crying *keme kemi keme- kem- kəmə- kəmə- keme-
die *kema kemá kema kma kəma kəmah kmaː
when? *kema kema kma-
cough *krVma kroma- ˈkluma’
wing *k[w]amu kam- kʷaˈmu

Medial apical nasal /*n/ is as a matter of principle retained as such in both lanuages:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-n- n n
arrow *mani maˈni mani
machete*kenemba keneˈmba

Most examples of medial /*n/ followed by a final vowel are reduced to /ŋ/ in Towe with loss of the final vowel. The fact that all of these examples have front vowels [i e] in Tebi allows for the alternative interpretation that these segments /*nV/ should be reconstructed as merely final /*n/:

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-nV ŋ ŋ [n k] nV nV nV nV
egg *alani jeŋ ɟek aːlaˈni arane alani
bad *mene meŋ- ˈməne
head *mendini mendiŋ- mindi- ~minde-mindin-
~ mendinin-
məndini
~ məndidi-
məndini
~ mɛndi-
mendeni
~ mendini-
liver *meŋgani mɛˈŋgaŋ meˈŋgani
elbow/knee *parini pˈeriŋ ~ -ˈbariŋ
~ -ˈbariŋ
-bori -páːlini
~ -ˈpaləni
-parini -balini
right hand *ɸlo-ndinifi-ndiŋ flo-tiˈni
dry *noŋgwani joŋgoŋ nukwe noŋgʷaˈnɨ noŋguane nuŋgwani nuŋwani
name *keni keiŋ kin kni kəni kinî kini
thorn/sharp*weni wiŋ ~ weiŋ- wɛˈnɛ ~ ˈwəne
insect/td> *jani jaŋ -ia -(j)aˈni
five *jane jaŋ- ˈjanə- ianɛŋ

Velar nasal /*ŋ/ has not ben found to occur medially, unless the examlpes given with final segment /*nV/ above are taken to represent it.

Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-p- p p [b]
father's father*ape aˈbe
father *apa aˈba
flesh/meat *meⁱpi meiːp míbi
forest *tepa teˈpa
knife *tepa teˈpa

… [*mb] …

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-mb-/NV_mb
machete*kenemba keneˈmba

Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/… :

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam ToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-t- t [t d] t [d]t [t]t [t]t [t]
interrogative *-te -ˈde -dé ~ -dɛ-te -ti -te
mother's mother*ataᵘ atau ˈada
tie *petV peti- pəˈde
smoke *ɸat[e] ˈɸat -fade-faˈre -far -far -far
earth/ground *tete ʈeˈʈé tede teˈdeʔ tede tede tɛtu

… [*nd] …:

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-nd-/NV_
head *mendini mendiŋ- mindi- ~minde-mindin-
~ mendinin-
məndini
~ məndidi-
məndini
~ mɛndi-
mendeni
~ mendini-
short*mendV meˈnda- mənde
worm *s[o]mondo somoˈndo

… [nd] …:

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam ToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*(-)nd-nd t
right hand*ɸlo-ndini fi-ndiŋ flo-tiˈni
locative *-nde -ˈnte ~ ˈnde ~ -nɖe -ˈnde ~ -ndɨ
sick/ill *wandi wadi- ˈwaˈndi

Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-k- k k k [g] k […]k […]k […]
num. suffix (?)*-make -ˈmak -ˈmage ~ -maˈge
cold *peka peka pega paka pəka -pka
wind *poɸike peˈɸik pofi (?)ˈpɔfˈgɛ pəfəke pofəkɛ pofiki-
hot *ɸVfakle fieke fefeki ˈfufagle ɸəɸəgre fofaqəli fafaklai
fly (v.) *ɸruka… furuˈkati ˈfrugar
hair/feather(s)*teke tiːk teke -ˈtɛgɛ ~ ˈtage -təke -tɛkɛ -tke
axe *teka teˈka
yrllow *tVkVr[e]tokoˈre tukʰər
wallaby *sukuisi sukuˈsi suiˈsi (?)
woman *keke keke keke kɛˈgɛ kege kɛkɛ keki

Medial bilabial voiceless fricative /*ɸ/ is retained as such in both languages, often realized as labiodental [f]:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-ɸ- ɸ f
dig *aɸo aɸo- afo
wind *poɸike peˈɸik pofi ˈpɔfˈgɛ pəfəke pofəkɛ pofiki-
hot *ɸVfakle fieke fefekiˈfufagle ɸəɸəgrefofaqəlifafaklai
leaf *teɸV teɸe tefe teˈfe təfi təfu tefi
taro/garden*waɸo waɸo ~ waˈfo wafo ~ ˈwaf-
ashes *waɸu ˈwafu wafea wáfu uafu wafuw wafu

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

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-s- s s
tree kangaroo*pesi peˈsi piˈsi

… [*ŋg] …:

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-ŋg-/NV_
inside *meŋge meg- ˈmɛŋgɛ
neck *meŋga… mɛngabere məŋgabinimɛŋgafînîmeŋguigo
liver *meŋgani mɛˈŋgaŋ meˈŋgani
green/blue*moŋgwar[u] moŋkor moŋgor muŋgʷaˈrumoŋgɔr moŋgwar moŋguː
dry *noŋgwani joŋgoŋ nukwe noŋgʷaˈnɨnoŋguane nuŋgwani nuŋwani

… [*ŋg] …:

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*(-)ŋg-/ŋg ŋg
burn (tr.)*we-ŋgaᵘ we-ŋgao ˈwe-ŋga

… [*ŋg] …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton AnceauxMallo
*-ŋg-
man/person*toŋgwarVtokʷar ~ towartokwoar tɔˈŋgaːrteŋgwartuŋgwartoŋkwar
three *sVŋgle seŋgie- seŋsie (?)ˈsiŋgri siŋgr səŋgər siŋkre

Medial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-w- w
bandicoot*mawi mawi
goanna *tawa taˈwa

Medial rhotic non-stop /*r/… :

Tebi-Towe Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-r-
net bag *ara aˈra aˈla
urine *aro ˈaro aˈlo-
roof *aro -ˈor -aˈlo
green/blue *moŋgwar[u]moŋkor moŋgor muŋgʷaˈru moŋgɔr moŋgwar moŋguː
elbow/knee *parini pˈeriŋ ~ -ˈbariŋ
~ -ˈbariŋ
-bori -páːlini
~ -ˈpaləni
-parini -balini
bow *pri pri pli
stab *ɸro fro- fro
fly (v.) *ɸruka… furuˈkati ˈfrugar
child *nemareki nemaˈrek nəmargi
hit *tari dari- ˈtaˈri
yrllow *tVkVr[e] tokoˈre tukʰər
man/person *toŋgwarV tokʷar ~ towar tokwoar tɔˈŋgaːr teŋgwar tuŋgwar toŋkwar
skin/bark *seri sir ~ ˈsir ser siˈri ~ ˈsiri seri sir sere
long *suru suru- suru-
shoot/kill *sra sera sra
come *kwaro koro- kaːɭœ ~ ˈkalú- koarɔ kwalɔ klawai
two *kre ker- kra- kre kr kər kre
teeth/mouth*krV k(e)re- - kro- ker- ~ kero-klé ~ kle- krî ~ kri-kəli ~ kɛlɛ-kli-
cough *krVma kroma- ˈkluma’
sit *kru kru- -ˈklu- -gry -kru
night *weri weri wuˈli wəri wəli weli

… /*r/… :

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-nr-ndr ndrndndnd nd
nose*menri mendri mendri minˈdiməndi məndi mendi

Medial lateral non-stop /*l/ is palatalized and deoccluded to palatal /j/ in Towe:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*-l- j j [j ɟ][l r][r] [l] [l]
cassowary *[i]leⁱ jei le
see *ale ji- ji aˈɭe are ali- ale-
near *alekV jeˈke argi
egg *alani jeŋ ɟek aːlaˈni arane alani
bird *olumu jumu jemu lúmú ərəmu ~ -rumlumu ~ -lumuolmu ~ -lmu
red *plaⁱ pie peai pra prae pərai peai
blow *ɸalo -fiˈe ˈfaˈro
hot *ɸVfakle fieke fefeki ˈfufagle ɸəɸəgre fofaqəli fafaklai
arm/hand *ɸlo ɸi- fio- flɔː- ɸoro folo folo
white *teli dei teˈri ter ter teri
one *ŋlo ge- ~ -giegio- ŋglo uŋgoro golɔ klo-
lime *kVlV kei
lie down/sleep*kale ˈkaje kei gari
leech *kole kʷije kɔˈlɛ
stone *kola kla kora kwola kola
above *wole wi- wole

Medial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam ToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*-j- j j
water *aje ejé eje a ae a ai
3 sg./pl.*pejaᵘ pijau ~ -ˈpeja pɛˈapeao piau

… vowels and diphthongs …

High front vowel /*i/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*i
*…

High back rounded vowel /*u/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*u
*…

Mid fron vowel /*e/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*…-
*e

Mid back rounded vowel /*o/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*o
*…

Low central vowel /*a/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*a
*…

… /*eⁱ/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamTowei Dubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im Walton Anceaux Mallo
*eⁱ
eye *eⁱ e- ei əj ii ei
hear *peⁱ fi- fei fi fi fi fei
eat/drink *ŋeⁱ ŋei ne- ~ gene nî ~ ninɛ ~ -ninie ~ -ni
wep/cry *ŋeⁱ ˈŋei -ŋgei -ˈna’-nɛ -ne -nei
rain *kweⁱ kʷé kʷɛ kʰwi kʰwi kwei
flesh/meat*meⁱpi meiːp míbi
cassowary *[i]leⁱ jei le

… /*oᵘ/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*oᵘ
cloud*koᵘ kuː kuː kow ku kau

… /*aⁱ/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*aⁱ
dog*saⁱ saj sa
red*mblaⁱ pie peai pra prae pərai peai

… /*aᵘ/ …:

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam ToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
*aᵘ
mother's mother*ataᵘ atau ˈada
3 sg./pl. *mbejaᵘ pijau ~ -ˈpeja pɛˈapeao piau
burn (tr.) *-ŋgaᵘ -ŋgao -ŋga

Pronouns

[under construction]

Free pronouns for Tebi and Towe are given as follows, with …

Tebi-ToweTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe Hitam Towei DubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau Mallo Im WaltonAnceauxMallo
1 sg.*ŋo ŋo nŋgo no no nok
2 sg.*ɸo fo [check source]ɸo fo ?
3 sg.*pejaᵘ pijau ~ -ˈpeja? pɛˈapeao piau ?
1 pl.*…
2 pl.*…
3 pl.*…

Verbal morphology

No information about the verbal morphology of any South Pauwasi River languages is currently available to us.

Loans to and from neighboring languages

[under construction]



Tebi in particular shares a number of words with Emem (Emumu) of the East Pauwasi River family. … with Emem attestations from Yuruf village drawn from Lebold and Lee (2016: 24-31):

Emem Tebi
Yuruf Dubu
LeboldIm
grandchild amamu amˈamu
rattan/ropetaŋkɨ ˈtaŋgɛ ~ taŋgi-
crocodile ˈwu
belly ˈjaɭɨ jaˈlí

Emem has in turn borrowed from Tebi, with the following term for “bird” found in three of Lebold and Lee's four villages, with Yambraf Dua's [and] continuing the native East Pauwasi /*and/:

Tebi-ToweEmem Emem Emem Emem
Yuruf Umuaf Yambraf DuaSemografi
LeboldLeboldLebold Lebold
bird*olumu ɔˈɭumuɔˈɭumu[and] ɔˈɭumu

… regional …:

Towe Towe Tebi Tebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubu Dubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
sweet potatosipro soˈbro

… Indonesian …:

IndonesianTowe Towe TebiTebi Tebi Tebi
Towe HitamToweiDubuDubu Afi ?
Wambaliau MalloIm WaltonAnceauxMallo
ricenasi nasi nasi