Mbahaam-Iha
Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute
Publication
Timothy Usher and Antoinette Schapper 2018. “The lexicons of the Papuan languages of the Onin Peninsula and their influences” NUSA 64: 39-63.
Situation
[under construction]
The Mbahaam-Iha family is composed of two languages, Mbahaam (Bahaam, Baham, Mbahám) and Iha, spoken … Onin peninsula in the northwestern portion of the larger Bomberai peninsula … Fakfak regency of Indonesia's West Papua Province. …enclave in the Kaimana regency …
Subclassification
The internal classification of Mbahaam-Iha is as follows:
Mbahaam-Iha
Mbahaam
Iha
Sources
[under construction]
Robidé van der Aa (1879: 342-347) … comparative terms for Kapauer
Bastian (1885) …
le Cocq d'Armandville (1903) Kapaur (unobtained)
Meyer (1908) Kapaur (unobtained)
Coenen (1953) grammar of Ihandin (unobtained)
Galis (1955) comparative vocabularies for Kapaur and Báham
Anceaux (1956) (unobtained)
Anceaux (1958) … comparative terms for …
Smits and Voorhoeve (1998: 22-233) comparative vocabularies for Horabena (Baham) after Woelders, Mambunibuni after van Beek, Patimuni after an unspecified source, an unspecified variety of Baham after Anceaux and for Kapaur (Iha) after two unspecified sources, Kapaur after Anceaux, Sipatnanam after a patrol officer, Sum after van Beek, Degen after Hindom, Tetar after Saras, Dunaweria after Hindon, Nambuktep and Pikpik after van Beek, Wayati and an unspecified variety after Anceaux and an unspecified variety of Iha after a government officer
Greenberg (n.d.) … after Anceaux (n.d.)
Voorhoeve (1975: 101-102) 40 comparative terms for Iha and Baham after Anceaux
Flassy, Ruhukael and Rumbrawer (1984) grammar of Mbahaam of Sanggram village
Flassy, Ruhukael and Rumbrawer (1987) phonology and (pp. 108-148) extensive comparative vocabulary for Bahaam of Sanggram village
Flassy and Animung (1992) grammar and (pp. 79-110) extensive comparative vocabulary for Iha
Flassy (2002) Mbahaam inflections (unobtained)
Husin (2009) morphology and (pp. 43-50) vocabulary of Baham Patimuni
Narfafan (2009) phonology of Iha (unobtained)
Donohue (2010) … comparative terms for Iha of Homor Kopma village and for Mbáhám of Wos and Wéremú villages
Donohue (2013) sketch phonology of Iha
Cottet (2015) phonology of Mbahám
Historical phonology
[under construction]
Proto-Mbahaam-Iha had 14 consonants and 5 vowels as follows:
*m | *n | |||
*p | *t | *s | *k | *kʷ |
*mb | *nd | *ŋg | *ŋgʷ | |
*w | *r | *j |
*i | *u | |
*ɛ | *ɔ | |
*a |
In addition to the simple vowels given above, two diphthongs are found as follows:
*ⁱɛ |
*ɛⁱ |
Apical non-stop /*r/ does not generally occur initially in native words.
A lateral non-stop /l/ is found only in loans, primarily from local Austronesian languages. It's not clear that this phoneme was established by the time of Proto-Mbahaam-Iha. Proto-West Bomberai distinguished /*l/ from /*r/, but these original phonemes have fallen together as /*r/ in Mbahaam-Iha.
The majority of Mbahaam-Iha roots are consonant-final. Only a subset of consonants is known to occur finally:
*m | *n | |||
*p | *t | *s | *k | [*kʷ] |
*ŋg [ŋ] | ||||
*r |
Vowel-initial roots exist but are markedly uncommon. Comparative evidence suggests that at least some roots which once had initial vowels have lost them in Mbahaam-Iha, leading for example to the formation of diphthongs in /*mɛⁱn/ “louse” and/*ŋgɛⁱn/ “skin” reflecting /*amin/ and /*aŋgin/ respectively.
Consonant clusters do not occur within roots. However, because most roots have both initial and final consonants, they are very common in compounds.
Stress is contrastive. The majority of disyllables take final stress, a fact no doubt connected to the loss of erstwhile initial vowels and the predominance of consonant final roots.
…
Initial consonants correspond as follows:
Mbah.-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*m- | m | m |
*n- | n | n |
*p- | p | p |
*t- | t | t |
*s- | s | h |
*k- | k | k |
*kʷ- | ||
*mb- | mb | mb |
*nd- | nd | nd |
*ŋg- | ŋg | ŋg |
*ŋgʷ- | ŋgʷ | |
*w- | w | w |
*j- |
Medial consonants correspond as follows:
Mbah.-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*-m- | m | m |
*-n- | n | n |
*-p- | p [b] | p [b] |
*-t- | t [d] | t [d] |
*-s- | s | h |
*-k- | k [k g] | k [k g] |
*-kʷ- | ||
*-mb- | mb | mb |
*-nd- | nd | nd |
*-ŋg- | ŋg | ŋg |
*-ŋgʷ- | ||
*-w- | w | w |
*-r- | r | r |
*-j- |
Consonant clusters correspond as follows:
Mbah.-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*-C-p- | Cp [pː] | Cp [p] |
*-C-t- | Ct [tː] | Ct [t] |
*-C-s- | h | h |
*-C-k- | Ck [kː] | Ck [k] |
Final consonants correspond as follows:
Mbah.-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*-m | m | m |
*-n | n | n |
*-p | p | p |
*-t | t | t |
*-s | s | h |
*-k | k | k |
*-kʷ | k | |
*-ŋg | ŋg [ŋ] | ŋg [ŋ] |
*-r | r [r ø] | r |
Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:
Mbah.-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*i | i | i |
*u | u | u |
*ɛ | ɛ | ɛ |
*ɔ | ɔ | ɔ |
*ɔ/Cʷ w_ | ᵘɔ | ɔ |
*a | a | a |
*a/_Ci | a | ɛ |
*a/_Cʷ w | ɔ a | a ɔ |
*ⁱɛ | ⁱɛ | ɛ |
*ɛⁱ | i | ɛⁱ |
These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with Iha attestations drawn from Flassy and Animung (1992) and Mbahaam (Bahaam) from Flassy, Ruhukael and Rumbrawer (1984, 1987) unless otherwise indicated.
Any consonant can occur initially.
Initial bilabial nasal /*m/ is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*m- | m | m | |
3 pl. | *mi | mi | |
star fruit | *miri-miri | miri-miri | miri-miri |
louse | *mɛⁱn | miːn | mɛin |
sit | *mɛˈsɛn | mɛhɛːn | mɛhɛn |
neck/throat | *m[ɛ]s[ɛ]k | maha-kajs | mɛhɛk |
song | *mɛˈrɛs | mɛrɛːs | mɛrɛh |
voice/language | *mak | maːq | maq |
ginger | *maŋg-maŋg | maŋ-maŋ | maŋ-maŋ |
sow | *mɔs | mɔːs | mɔh |
… /*m/ … outcomparison …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*m- | m | n | |
banana | *mɔŋgʷɔ | muŋguɔ | nɔŋbɔ |
… /*m/ … metathesis …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*m- | -m- | m- | |
chin | *muˈnduk (?) | nd(u)muːk | munduk |
… /*m/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*m- | ø | m | |
mouth | *[mi]ˈsin | sin | mihin |
Initial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*n- | n | n | |
1 pl. poss. | *ni- | ni- | |
corpse | *ˈniti | niːti | nidi |
name | *nⁱɛ | nʲiɛ | nɛ |
stairs/ladder | *nⁱɛŋg | nʲijɛŋ | nɛŋ |
older sister | *nan | nan | |
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha | nɛmɛ-har |
younger sib | *naka | naqa | naka ~ naga |
eat | *nawa | nɔwa | nɔwa ~ nawa- |
… /*n/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*n- | n | ø | |
hide | *ˈniŋgis | niːŋgis | ŋgihi |
Initial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*p- | p | p [~ -b-] | |
smile | *p[i]ˈri | priː | pri-bri |
earwax | *pɛk | pɛk-pɛk | -bɛk |
fish trap | *pɛr | pɛːr | pɛr |
diarrhoea | *pɛˈrɛs-pɛˈrɛs | prɛs-prɛs | p(ɛ)rɛh-p(ɛ)rɛh |
say/speak | *paˈrɛ | parɛː | prɛ |
son's wife | *ˈpam[ɔ/u] | paːmɔ | pamu |
skin | *pak | paːk | pak |
palm/sole | *p[a]ˈram | praːm | pram |
stingray | *pɔt-pɔt | pɔt-pɔːt | pɔt-pɔt |
root | *pur | puːr | pur |
Initial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*t- | t | t | |
thigh | *t[iˈw]ɔn | tʲuɔn | tʲɔn |
mountain | *tiri | ||
drum | *tir-ˈtir | ti-tiːr | ti-tir |
pointed | *tɛp | tɛːb-tɛb | tɛp |
fence | *tap | taːp | tap |
hand | *tan | tan | |
heavy | *taˈŋgⁱɛr | taŋgiːjɛr | tɛŋgɛr |
twig/tendril | *t[a]ˈrar | traːr | trar |
spittle/saliva | *tɔp | tɔp | tɔp |
sit | *tɔt-ˈtɔtɔm | tɔ-tɔːdɔm | tɔ-tɔdɔm |
hit/chop | *tɔs | tɔːs | tɔh |
bone | *ˈtɔkar | tɔ(ː)qar | tɔqar |
block | *(tɔk-)ˈtɔkɔm | (tɔk-)tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
elbow | *tɔŋgʷɔn | tuŋgʷɔn | tɔŋmbɔn |
woman/female | *t[ɔ/u]mb[ɔ/u]r | tumbu- | (tɔ-)tɔmbɔr |
ridgepole(s) | *tum-ˈtumbis | tum-tuːmbis | tum-tumbih |
mountain | *tumb[ɛ]r | tumbɛr | |
five | *tuˈmbu | tmbuː | tumbu |
… /*t/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*t- | t | ø | |
cluster/bunch | *[ˈtɛ]rɛm | tɛːrɛm | rɛm |
Initial laminal voiceless /*s/ is deoccluded to /h/ in Iha:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*s- | s | h | |
garden | *siriˈjɛt | sirjɛːt | hiriɛt |
open | *s[i/ɛ]ˈŋgⁱɛk | siŋgjɛːk | hɛŋgɛk |
sand | *sɛˈmɛŋg | smɛːŋ | hɛmɛŋ |
hot | *sɛp | sɛːp | hɛp |
black | *sɛˈnɛk | snɛ-h(ɛ)nɛk | hɛnɛk |
thin/flat | *sɛˈkɛt-sɛkɛt | sɛqɛː-hɛqɛ | hɛgɛ-hɛgɛ(t) |
sick/ill | *sɛrɛrɛ | sɛrɛrɛ | hɛrɛrɛ |
umbilicus | *ˈsɛjim | sɛːjn | hɛin ~ hɛim |
fish | *ˈsɛjir | sɛj(i)r | hɛir |
cockroach | *saˈŋgʷɔn | saŋgʷɔːn | hambɔn |
trade | *saˈrɛⁱ[k] | sriː | hɛrɛik |
younger | *ˈs[ɔ/u]mbi[t] | sɔːmbit ~ suːmbit | hɔmbi |
comb | *suˈwɛr | suwɛːr | huwɛr |
… /*s/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*s- | s | h s | |
breast | *sɔn | sɔːn | hɔn ~ sɔn |
Initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is generally retained as such in both languages. …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*k- | k [k q] | k [k q] | |
2 pl. | *ki | ki- | ki |
die | *kimi | kimi- | |
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn |
water | *kiˈra | krija | kara |
face | *kɛˈmɛⁱr | kmiːr | kɛmɛir |
sweet | *kɛˈmɛŋg | kmɛːŋ | kɛmɛŋ |
see | *kɛn- | knaː ~ qɛnaː | kɛnɛ-t |
know | *kɛˈndɛ | kɛndɛː ~ qɛndɛ | kɛndɛ |
old woman | *ˈkɛsik | kɛːhik | kɛ-kɛhik |
sun | *kaˈminV | kamiːni | kimina |
yawn | *kam-kamar | kam-kamar | kam-kamar |
wing | *ˈkamɛn | kaːmɛn | … |
moon | *kaˈpas | kabaːs | kabah |
sneeze | *kaˈpasi | kabaːi | kabah(i) |
head | *kaˈnda | kndaː | kanda |
sharp | *kaˈŋgap | kaŋgaːp | kaŋgap |
kunai grass | *kaˈŋgʷam | kɔŋgʷaːm | kambam |
vagina | *kar | kaːr | kar |
flooring | *kar-ˈkarɛn | ka-kaːran | ka-karɛn |
seed | *ˈkajis | kajs ~ kais | kɛih |
torch | *kajiˈwɔr | kajɔːr | kɛ(i)wɔr |
cook/cooked | *ˈkajir | qaj | kɛir |
shoot | *kaˈjir | kaːj | kɛiːr |
cross-cousin | *kɔ[wa]ˈr[a/ɔ]p | kɔwara(ː)p | kɔrɔp |
hear | *kɔmɛn | kɔmɛnaː | k(ɔ)mɔn |
raw | *kɔˈŋgɔr | kɔŋgɔː | |
snake/python | *ˈk[ɔw]us | kuːs | kɔuh |
grub | *k[ɔ/u]s- k[ɔ/u]sum | kus-kus | kɔ-kɔhum |
sweat | *kutuˈruk | kuduruːk | kuduruk |
… /*k/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*k- | k | ø | |
pig | *[ku]ˈndur | kunduːr | ndur |
Initial rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*kʷ- | |||
boil (n.) | *kʷiˈrɛmbus | kurʲɛːmbus | pirɛmbuh |
stem | *kʷiˈraŋg | kurijɛːŋ | pɛraŋ |
bark (of dog) | *kʷiˈjɛ[n/ŋg] | kpʷjɛːn | piɛŋ |
reed(s) | *kʷiˈja-kʷiˈja | kpʷja-wja | pia-wia |
nut | *kʷiˈjarɛn | kpʷjaːrɛn | -piarɛn ~ piar |
village | *kʷⁱɛs | kpʷjɛs | pɛh |
ear | *kʷⁱɛr | kpʷujɛr | pɛr |
nest | *kʷ[ɛ]ˈr[i/ɛ] | kpʷrɛ | pɛiri ~ pɛri |
foot/claw | *ˈkʷɛji[t/s] | kpʷɛjt | pɛih |
ten | *kʷaˈra | kpʷraː | para |
carry | *kʷ[a/ɔ]ˈrɔk | karɔːq (?) | pɔrɔk |
knife | *kʷɔt | kuɔt | pɔt |
good | *ˈkʷɔsi | kpʷɔːhi | pɔhi |
… /*kʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*kʷ- | |||
cheek | *kʷakɔr | paqɔr (?) | pagɔr |
Initial bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*mb- | mb | mb [mb b] | |
sugarcane | *mbɛs | mbɛːs | mbɛh |
star/firefly | *mbap | mbap(-mbap) | mbap |
thick | *mbaˈŋgɔr | mbaŋgɔːr | mbaŋgɔr |
Initial apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*nd- | nd [nd nt] | nd [nd nt] | |
sago flour | *ˈndana | ndaːna | ndana |
sugar palm | *ndaˈŋgʷɔm | ndaŋgɔːm | ndambɔm |
loft/attic | *ndaˈram | ndraːm | ndaram |
shoot (n.) | *ndum | ntuːm | ndum |
mud | *ndus | ||
sleepy | *ndura | ndura | ndura ~ ntura |
Initial velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ŋg- | ŋg [ŋg g] | ŋg [ŋg g] | |
skin | *ŋgɛⁱn | ŋgɛin | |
lontar palm | *ŋgɛCturV | ŋgutura | ŋgɛturi |
cloth sp. | *ŋgVˈrɛk | ŋgrɛk | ŋgrɛq |
weave/sew | *ˈŋgɛjit | ŋgɛːjt ~ ŋgɛit | ŋgɛit |
thatch | *ŋgaˈmb[u]r[a] | (ŋ)gambuːra | ŋgambar |
Jew's harp | *ŋgaˈsim | ŋgahiːm | ŋgɛhim |
land snail | *ŋgaˈwarambuk | (ŋ)gʷaːrambuk | ŋgawarambuk |
four | *ŋgaˈra | … | ŋgara |
crow | *ŋgɔ[wa]ras | ŋgʷaras | gɔrah |
raft | *ˈŋguwas | ŋguːwas | ŋguwah |
… /*ŋg/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ŋg- | ŋg [ŋk] | ŋg [ŋk] | |
gravel | *ŋgawarɛˈrɛː | ŋkwarɛrɛ | ŋkawarɛrɛ |
Initial rounded velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋgʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ŋgʷ- | |||
thorn | *ŋgʷɛm | … | mbɛm |
snore | *ˈŋgʷɔr[ɔ/u]s | ŋgruːs | mbɔrɔh |
bee | *ˈŋgʷ[ɔ/u]n[a] | ŋguːna | mbɔn |
Initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*w- | w | w | |
brother's wife | *wiˈnat | winʲaːt | winʲat |
tree | *wiˈra | wurʲaː ~ wɛrʲaː | wɛrɛ ~ wrɛ |
blood | *wⁱɛk | wijɛk | wɛk |
go | *wɛs | wɛs ~ wɛːs | wɛh |
earthquake | *wɛŋg-ˈwɛŋg | wɔŋ-wɛːŋ | wɛŋ-wɛŋ |
smallpox | *wanɛn-wanɛn | wanɛŋ-wanɛŋ | wanan-wanan |
3 pl. | *wat | -waːt | wat |
day | *waŋgis | wɛŋgih | |
stone | *war | waːr | war |
bite | *waˈrik | wariːk | wɛrik |
sell | *waˈrɛk | warɛːq | warɛk |
clan/relatives | *wɔˈtɔwur | wɔdɔːw | wɔdɔur |
breath | *ˈwɔsɔ[wu] | wɔhɔw | wɔhɔ |
sky | *wɔŋg | wuɔŋ | wɔŋ |
tail | *wɔr | wuɔr | wɔr |
When followed by high back round vowel /*u/, initial /*w/ is dropped in Mbahaam:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*w-/_u | ø | w | |
egg | *wun | uːn | wun |
Apical non-stop /*r/ does not generally occur initially in native words, though some examples of initial /r/ are found in loans from Austronesian languages (below.) There is one possible counterexample:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*r- | r | r | |
drink | *ˈr[ɔ/u]s | ruːs | rɔh |
Initial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*j- | j | j | |
wave(s) | *ˈjɛːmbar | jɛːmba | jɛmbɛr |
light (weight) | *ˈjɛrɔŋg | jɛːrɔŋ | jɛ-jɛrɔŋ |
bracelet | *ˈjana | jaːna | jana |
One example suggests that initial /*j/ can be realized as a palatalized stop [dʲ] in Iha:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*j- | j | j [j dʲ] | |
plains/wide | *ˈjɔ[wu]n | jɔwn ~ jɔun | dʲɔn ~ jɔn |
In two examples, both initial /*j/ and the vowel which follows are elided in Iha in what is probably best regarded as syllable loss (below) rather than an irregular reflex of /*j/:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*jV- | jV | ø | |
dog | *jaˈmbar | jambaːr | mbiar |
canoe | *jaˈr[a] | jaraː ~ jarɛː | dʲa |
In two examples which must be assumed to share a common root, Mbahaam's initial /j/ is inexplicably absent from its Iha equivalent:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*[j]- | j | ø | |
row | *[j]aˈrɛk[ɛt] | jarɛːqɛt | arɛk |
paddle | *[j]aˈrɛk-as | jarɛːqas | arɛgah |
Any consonant can occur medially.
Medial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-m- | m | m | |
son's wife | *ˈpam[ɔ/u] | paːmɔ | pamu |
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha | nɛmɛ-har |
sea snail | *ˈndɔman | ndɔːman | ndɔman |
sand | *sɛˈmɛŋg | smɛːŋ | hɛmɛŋ |
die | *kimi | kimi- | |
sweet | *kɛˈmɛŋg | kmɛːŋ | kɛmɛŋ |
sun | *kaˈminV | kamiːni | kimina |
wing | *ˈkamɛn | kaːmɛn | … |
yawn | *kam-kamar | kam-kamar | kam-kamar |
hear | *kɔmɛn | kɔmɛnaː | k(ɔ)mɔn |
Medial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-n- | n | n | |
see | *kɛn- | knaː ~ qɛnaː | kɛnɛ-t |
sago flour | *ˈndana | ndaːna | ndana |
black | *sɛˈnɛk | snɛ-h(ɛ)nɛk | hɛnɛk |
sun | *kaˈminV | kamiːni | kimina (?) |
brother's wife | *wiˈnat | winʲaːt | winʲat |
smallpox | *wanɛn-wanɛn | wanɛŋ-wanɛŋ | wanan-wanan |
bracelet | *ˈjana | jaːna | jana |
Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-p- | p [b β] | p [b] | |
tinea | *ɔˈpɔk | (ɔ)bɔːk | bɔk |
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn |
moon | *kaˈpas | kabaːs | kabah |
sneeze | *kaˈpasi | kabaːi | kabah(i) |
When medial /*p/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-p-/C_ | p | p | |
stingray | *pɔt-pɔt | pɔt-pɔːt | pɔt-pɔt |
… /*p/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-p-/C_ | p | p | |
coconut shell | [*saCparaCta] | saprata | haparata |
pinch | [*kʷaCˈpis] | kpʷapiːs | papih |
paddle | [*ˈjaCpɛt] | jaːpɛt | japɛt |
Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-t- | t [d] | t [d] | |
tree/wood | *aˈtɔkʷ | adɔ(ː)q ~ adɔq | adɔp |
chest | *ˈpatin | -paːdin | |
corpse | *ˈniti | niːti (?) | nidi |
sit | *tɔt-ˈtɔtɔm | tɔ-tɔːdɔm | tɔ-tɔdɔm |
sweat | *kutuˈruk | kuduruːk | kuduruk |
clan/relatives | *wɔˈtɔwur | wɔdɔːw | wɔdɔur |
When medial /*t/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-t-/C_ | t | t | |
drum | *tir-ˈtir | ti-tiːr | ti-tir |
sit | *tɔt-ˈtɔtɔm | tɔ-tɔːdɔm | tɔ-tɔdɔm |
block | *tɔk-ˈtɔkɔm | tɔk-tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
… /*t/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-t-/C_ | t | t | |
coconut shell | [*saCparaCta] | saprata | haparata |
squash | [*saˈmbiCtV] | sambiːti | hambita ~ hambitɛ |
lontar palm | [*ŋgɛCturV] | ŋgutura | ŋgɛturi |
Medial laminal voiceless /*s/ is deoccluded to /h/ in Iha and sporadically to [h] or zero [ø] in Mbahaam:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-s- | s [s h ø] | h | |
sit | *mɛˈsɛn | mɛhɛːn | mɛhɛn |
neck/throat | *m[ɛ]s[ɛ]k | maha-kajs | mɛhɛk |
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha ~ namij-ɛ | nɛmɛ-har |
woman/female | *t[ɔ/u]mb[ɔ/u]r- sar | tumbu-hɔr ~ tumbuw-ɔ | tɔmbɔ-har ~ tamba-har |
old woman | *ˈkɛsik | kɛːhik | kɛ-kɛhik |
sneeze | *kaˈpasi | kabaːi | kabah(i) |
grub | *k[ɔ/u]s- k[ɔ/u]sum | kus-kus | kɔ-kɔhum |
Jew's harp | *ŋgaˈsim | ŋgahiːm | ŋgɛhim |
good | *ˈkʷɔsi | kpʷɔːhi ~ kuos-kuos | pɔhi |
breath | *ˈwɔsɔ[wu] | wɔhɔw | wɔhɔ |
When medial /*s/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-s-/C_ | s [h] | h | |
thin/flat | *sɛˈkɛt-sɛkɛt | sɛqɛː-hɛqɛ | hɛgɛ-hɛgɛ(t) |
Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-k- | k [k q g ɣ] | k [k q g] | |
younger sib | *naka | naqa | naka ~ naga |
bone | *ˈtɔkar | tɔ(ː)qar | tɔqar |
block | *tɔk-ˈtɔkɔm | tɔk-tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
thin/flat | *sɛˈkɛt-sɛkɛt | sɛqɛː-hɛqɛ | hɛgɛ-hɛgɛ(t) |
cheek | *kʷakɔr | paqɔr | pagɔr |
spoon | *ˈwɔk[ij]as | wɔːqas | wɔgijah |
paddle | *[j]aˈrɛk-as | jarɛːqas | arɛgah |
When medial /*k/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-k-/C_ | |||
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn |
flooring | *kar-ˈkarɛn | ka-kaːran | ka-karɛn |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-k-/C_ | |||
deceive | [*naCˈkira] | nakiːra | nakira |
Medial rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-kʷ- | k [q] | [p] | |
enemy/evil | *ˈakʷɔrɔwu | aːqrɔw ~ aːqrɔu | pɔrɔuw |
one | *ɔkʷɔ[nɔ] | ɔqɔnɔ | pɔ |
… /*kʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-kʷ- | [w] | [w] | |
reed(s) | *kʷiˈja-kʷiˈja | kpʷja-wja | pia-wia |
… /*kʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*-kʷ-/C_ | ||
*… |
Medial bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-mb- | mb | mb | |
woman/female | *t[ɔ/u]mb[ɔ/u]r | tumbu- | (tɔ-)tɔmbɔr |
ridgepole(s) | *tum-ˈtumbis | tum-tuːmbis | tum-tumbih |
mountain | *tumb[ɛ]r | tumbɛr | |
five | *tuˈmbu | tmbuː | tumbu |
younger | *ˈs[ɔ/u]mbi[t] | sɔːmbit ~ suːmbit | hɔmbi |
thatch | *ŋgaˈmb[u]r[a] | (ŋ)gambuːra | ŋgambar |
land snail | *ŋgaˈwarambuk | (ŋ)gʷaːrambuk | ŋgawarambuk |
boil (n.) | *kʷiˈrɛmbus | kurʲɛːmbus | pirɛmbuh |
wave(s) | *ˈjɛːmbar | jɛːmba | jɛmbɛr |
dog | *jaˈmbar | jambaːr | mbiar |
Medial apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-nd- | nd | nd | |
needle | *iˈnd[ɔ/u]p | induːp | indɔp |
chin | *muˈnduk (?) | nd(u)muːk | munduk |
know | *kɛˈndɛ | kɛndɛː ~ qɛndɛ | kɛndɛ |
head | *kaˈnda | kndaː | kanda |
pig | *[ku]ˈndur | kunduːr | ndur |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*… | j | nd | |
child | *… | mɛjaː ~ mɛ(j)a | manda |
eye | *… | k(i)jɛp | kɛndɛp |
Medial velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-ŋg- | ŋg | ŋg | |
thick | *mbaˈŋgɔr | mbaŋgɔːr | mbaŋgɔr |
hide | *ˈniŋgis | niːŋgis | ŋgihi |
heavy | *taˈŋgⁱɛr | taŋgiːjɛr | tɛŋgɛr |
open | *s[i/ɛ]ˈŋgⁱɛk | siŋgjɛːk | hɛŋgɛk |
sharp | *kaˈŋgap | kaŋgaːp | kaŋgap |
raw | *kɔˈŋgɔr | kɔŋgɔː | |
day | *waŋgis | wɛŋgih |
Medial rounded velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋgʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-ŋgʷ- | ŋgʷ | ||
banana | *mɔŋgʷɔ | muŋguɔ | nɔŋbɔ |
elbow | *tɔŋgʷɔn | tuŋgʷɔn | tɔŋmbɔn |
sugar palm | *ndaˈŋgʷɔm | ndaŋgɔːm | ndambɔm |
cockroach | *saˈŋgʷɔn | saŋgʷɔːn | hambɔn |
kunai grass | *kaˈŋgʷam | kɔŋgʷaːm | kambam |
Medial bilabial non-stop /*w/ has been found …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-w- | w | w | |
eat | *nawa | nɔwa | nɔwa ~ nawa- |
comb | *suˈwɛr | suwɛːr | huwɛr |
gravel | *ŋgawarɛˈrɛː | ŋkwarɛrɛ | ŋkawarɛrɛ |
land snail | *ŋgaˈwarambuk | (ŋ)gʷaːrambuk | ŋgawarambuk |
raft | *ˈŋguwas | ŋguːwas | ŋguwah |
… medial /*w/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-w- | ø | w | |
torch | *kajiˈwɔr | kajɔːr | kɛ(i)wɔr |
… medial /*w/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-ɔwu- | ɔu ɔw | ɔu ɔuw | |
enemy/evil | *ˈakʷɔrɔwu | aːqrɔw ~ aːqrɔu | pɔrɔuw |
clan/relatives | *wɔˈtɔwur | wɔdɔːw | wɔdɔur |
*-ɔwu- | ɔu ɔw | ɔ | |
breath | *ˈwɔsɔ[wu] | wɔhɔw | wɔhɔ |
plains/wide | *ˈjɔ[wu]n | jɔwn ~ jɔun | dʲɔn ~ jɔn |
*-ɔwu- | uː | ɔu | |
snake/python | *ˈk[ɔw]us | kuːs | kɔuh |
*-[ɔ/u]- | uː u | ɔ | |
needle | *iˈnd[ɔ/u]p | induːp | indɔp |
woman/female | *t[ɔ/u]mb[ɔ/u]r | tumbu- | (tɔ-)tɔmbɔr |
grub | *k[ɔ/u]s- k[ɔ/u]sum | kus-kus | kɔ-kɔhum |
snore | *ˈŋgʷɔr[ɔ/u]s | ŋgruːs | mbɔrɔh |
bee | *ˈŋgʷ[ɔ/u]n[a] | ŋguːna | mbɔn |
drink | *ˈr[ɔ/u]s | ruːs | rɔh |
*-[ɔ/u]- | ɔː uː | ɔ | |
younger | *ˈs[ɔ/u]mbi[t] | sɔːmbit ~ suːmbit | hɔmbi |
Medial apical non-stop /*r/ is very common. It is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-r- | r | r | |
enemy/evil | *ˈakʷɔrɔwu | aːqrɔw ~ aːqrɔu | pɔrɔuw |
star fruit | *miri-miri | miri-miri | miri-miri |
song | *mɛˈrɛs | mɛrɛːs | mɛrɛh |
smile | *p[i]ˈri | priː | pri-bri |
diarrhoea | *pɛˈrɛs-pɛˈrɛs | prɛs-prɛs | p(ɛ)rɛh-p(ɛ)rɛh |
say/speak | *paˈrɛ | parɛː | prɛ |
palm/sole | *p[a]ˈram | praːm | pram |
mountain | *tiri | ||
cluster/bunch | *[ˈtɛ]rɛm | tɛːrɛm | rɛm |
twig/tendril | *t[a]ˈrar | traːr | trar |
loft/attic | *ndaˈram | ndraːm | ndaram |
sleepy | *ndura | ndura | ndura ~ ntura |
garden | *siriˈjɛt | sirjɛːt | hiriɛt ~ hidiɛt (?) |
sick/ill | *sɛrɛrɛ | sɛrɛrɛ | hɛrɛrɛ |
trade | *saˈrɛⁱ[k] | sriː | hɛrɛik |
water | *kiˈra | krija | kara |
flooring | *kar-ˈkarɛn | ka-kaːran | ka-karɛn |
cross-cousin | *kɔ[wa]ˈr[a/ɔ]p | kɔwara(ː)p | kɔrɔp |
sweat | *kutuˈruk | kuduruːk | kuduruk |
lontar palm | *ŋgɛCturV | ŋgutura | ŋgɛturi |
cloth sp. | *ŋgVˈrɛk | ŋgrɛk | ŋgrɛq |
thatch | *ŋgaˈmb[u]r[a] | (ŋ)gambuːra | ŋgambar |
gravel | *ŋgawarɛˈrɛː | ŋkwarɛrɛ | ŋkawarɛrɛ |
land snail | *ŋgaˈwarambuk | (ŋ)gʷaːrambuk | ŋgawarambuk |
four | *ŋgaˈra | … | ŋgara |
crow | *ŋgɔ[wa]ras | ŋgʷaras | gɔrah |
boil (n.) | *kʷiˈrɛmbus | kurʲɛːmbus | pirɛmbuh |
stem | *kʷiˈraŋg | kurijɛːŋ | pɛraŋ |
nut | *kʷiˈjarɛn | kpʷjaːrɛn | -piarɛn ~ piar |
nest | *kʷ[ɛ]ˈr[i/ɛ] | kpʷrɛ | pɛiri ~ pɛri |
ten | *kʷaˈra | kpʷraː | para |
carry | *kʷ[a/ɔ]ˈrɔk | karɔːq | pɔrɔk |
snore | *ˈŋgʷɔr[ɔ/u]s | ŋgruːs | mbɔrɔh |
tree | *wiˈra | wurʲaː ~ wɛrʲaː | wɛrɛ ~ wrɛ |
bite | *waˈrik | wariːk | wɛrik |
sell | *waˈrɛk | warɛːq | warɛk |
light (weight) | *ˈjɛrɔŋg | jɛːrɔŋ | jɛ-jɛrɔŋ |
row | *[j]aˈrɛk[ɛt] | jarɛːqɛt | arɛk |
paddle | *[j]aˈrɛk-as | jarɛːqas | arɛgah |
… medial /*r/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-r- | r | d | |
canoe | *jaˈr[a] | jaraː ~ jarɛː | dʲa |
Medial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-j- | |||
umbilicus | *ˈsɛjim | sɛːjn | hɛin ~ hɛim |
fish | *ˈsɛjir | sɛj(i)r | hɛir |
garden | *siriˈjɛt | sirjɛːt | hiriɛt |
seed | *ˈkajis | kajs ~ kais | kɛih |
torch | *kajiˈwɔr | kajɔːr | kɛ(i)wɔr |
cook/cooked | *ˈkajir | qaj | kɛir |
shoot | *kaˈjir | kaːj | kɛiːr |
weave/sew | *ˈŋgɛjit | ŋgɛːjt ~ ŋgɛit | ŋgɛit |
bark (of dog) | *kʷiˈjɛ[n/ŋg] | kpʷjɛːn | piɛŋ |
reed(s) | *kʷiˈja-kʷiˈja | kpʷja-wja | pia-wia |
nut | *kʷiˈjarɛn | kpʷjaːrɛn | -piarɛn ~ piar |
foot/claw | *ˈkʷɛji[t/s] | kpʷɛjt | pɛih |
Final consonants …
Final bilabial nasal /*m/ is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-m | m | m | |
palm/sole | *p[a]ˈram | praːm | pram |
cluster/bunch | *[ˈtɛ]rɛm | tɛːrɛm | rɛm |
sit | *tɔt-ˈtɔtɔm | tɔ-tɔːdɔm | tɔ-tɔdɔm |
sugar palm | *ndaˈŋgʷɔm | ndaŋgɔːm | ndambɔm |
loft/attic | *ndaˈram | ndraːm | ndaram |
shoot (n.) | *ndum | ntuːm | ndum |
kunai grass | *kaˈŋgʷam | kɔŋgʷaːm | kambam |
Jew's harp | *ŋgaˈsim | ŋgahiːm | ŋgɛhim |
thorn | *ŋgʷɛm | … | mbɛm |
In one example, final /*m/ is realized as apical /*n/ (below) because it is assimilated to following root-initial /*t/ in a phrase:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-m/_(t) | ø | Vm | |
umbilicus | *ˈsɛjim | sɛːjn tarɛ | hɛin (tarɛ) ~ hɛim (tarɛ) |
… /*m/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-Vm | ø | Vm | |
block | *(tɔk-)ˈtɔkɔm | (tɔk-)tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
grub | *k[ɔ/u]s- k[ɔ/u]sum | kus-kus | kɔ-kɔhum |
Final apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-n | n | n | |
1 pl. incl. | *in | un(-duː) | in |
1 sg. | *[a/ɔ]n | an(duː) | ɔn |
mouth | *[mi]ˈsin | sin | mihin |
louse | *mɛⁱn | miːn | mɛin |
sit | *mɛˈsɛn | mɛhɛːn | mɛhɛn |
chest | *ˈpatin | -paːdin | |
older sister | *nan | nan | |
thigh | *t[iˈw]ɔn | tʲuɔn | tʲɔn |
hand | *tan | tan | |
elbow | *tɔŋgʷɔn | tuŋgʷɔn | tɔŋmbɔn |
sea snail | *ˈndɔman | ndɔːman | ndɔman |
cockroach | *saˈŋgʷɔn | saŋgʷɔːn | hambɔn |
breast | *sɔn | sɔːn | hɔn ~ sɔn |
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn |
wing | *ˈkamɛn | kaːmɛn | … |
flooring | *kar-ˈkarɛn | ka-kaːran | ka-karɛn |
skin | *ŋgɛⁱn | ŋgɛin | |
nut | *kʷiˈjarɛn | kpʷjaːrɛn | -piarɛn |
unripe | *ˈkʷɛn-kʷɛn | kpʷɛ(ː)n-kpʷɛn | pɛn-pɛn |
egg | *wun | uːn | wun |
plains/wide | *ˈjɔ[wu]n | jɔwn ~ jɔun | dʲɔn ~ jɔn |
In one example, final /*n/ has become velar /ŋg/ [ŋ] in Mbahaam, probably due to the influence of following /*w/ in reduplication:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-n/_w | ŋg [ŋ] | n | |
smallpox | *wanɛn-wanɛn | wanɛŋ-wanɛŋ | wanan-wanan |
Final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-p | p | p | |
needle | *iˈnd[ɔ/u]p | induːp | indɔp |
star/firefly | *mbap | mbap(-mbap) | mbap |
fence | *tap | taːp | tap |
spittle/saliva | *tɔp | tɔp | tɔp |
hot | *sɛp | sɛːp | hɛp |
sharp | *kaˈŋgap | kaŋgaːp | kaŋgap |
cross-cousin | *kɔ[wa]ˈr[a/ɔ]p | kɔwara(ː)p | kɔrɔp |
… final /*p/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-p | p [b] | p | |
pointed | *tɛp | tɛːb-tɛb | tɛp |
Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ is uncommon. It is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-t | t | t | |
stingray | *pɔt-pɔt | pɔt-pɔːt | pɔt-pɔt |
garden | *siriˈjɛt | sirjɛːt | hiriɛt |
excrement | *kɔt | kɔt | |
knife | *kʷɔt | kuɔt | pɔt |
weave/sew | *ˈŋgɛjit | ŋgɛːjt ~ ŋgɛit | ŋgɛit |
brother's wife | *wiˈnat | winʲaːt | winʲat |
3 pl. | *wat | -waːt | wat |
… final /*t/ and /*s/ (below) …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-[t/s]/b> | t | h | |
foot/claw | *ˈkʷɛji[t/s] | kpʷɛjt | pɛih |
… /*t/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-[t]/b> | t | ø | |
younger | *ˈs[ɔ/u]mbi[t] | sɔːmbit ~ suːmbit | hɔmbi |
… /*t/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-t | ø | t ø | |
thin/flat | *sɛˈkɛt-sɛkɛt | sɛqɛː-hɛqɛ | hɛgɛ-hɛgɛ(t) |
Final laminal voiceless /*s/ is deoccluded to /h/ in Iha:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-s | s | h | |
fruit | *is | is ~ ih (?) | |
song | *mɛˈrɛs | mɛrɛːs | mɛrɛh |
sow | *mɔs | mɔːs | mɔh |
diarrhoea | *pɛˈrɛs-pɛˈrɛs | prɛs-prɛs | p(ɛ)rɛh-p(ɛ)rɛh |
sugarcane | *mbɛs | mbɛːs | mbɛh |
hit/chop | *tɔs | tɔːs | tɔh |
ridgepole(s) | *tum-ˈtumbis | tum-tuːmbis | tum-tumbih |
mud | *ndus | ||
moon | *kaˈpas | kabaːs | kabah |
seed | *ˈkajis | kajs ~ kais | kɛih |
excrement | *kɔt | kɔt | |
snake/python | *ˈk[ɔw]us | kuːs | kɔuh |
crow | *ŋgɔ[wa]ras | ŋgʷaras | gɔrah |
raft | *ˈŋguwas | ŋguːwas | ŋguwah |
boil (n.) | *kʷiˈrɛmbus | kurʲɛːmbus | pirɛmbuh |
village | *kʷⁱɛs | kpʷjɛs | pɛh |
snore | *ˈŋgʷɔr[ɔ/u]s | ŋgruːs | mbɔrɔh |
go | *wɛs | wɛs ~ wɛːs | wɛh |
day | *waŋgis | wɛŋgih | |
spoon | *ˈwɔk[ij]as | wɔːqas | wɔgijah |
drink | *ˈr[ɔ/u]s | ruːs | rɔh |
paddle | *[j]aˈrɛk-as | jarɛːqas | arɛgah |
… /*s/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-s | s | h | |
hide | *ˈniŋgis | niːŋgis | ŋgihi |
Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ is generally retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-k | k [k q] | k [k q] | |
cooked/ripe | *iˈpⁱɛk | ibijɛk ~ ibjɛk | bɛk |
tinea | *ɔˈpɔk | (ɔ)bɔːk | bɔk |
neck/throat | *m[ɛ]s[ɛ]k | maha-kajs | mɛhɛk |
voice/language | *mak | maːq | maq |
chin | *muˈnduk (?) | nd(u)muːk | munduk |
earwax | *pɛk | pɛk-pɛk | -bɛk |
skin | *pak | paːk | pak |
open | *s[i/ɛ]ˈŋgⁱɛk | siŋgjɛːk | hɛŋgɛk |
black | *sɛˈnɛk | snɛ-h(ɛ)nɛk | hɛnɛk |
old woman | *ˈkɛsik | kɛːhik | kɛ-kɛhik |
sweat | *kutuˈruk | kuduruːk | kuduruk |
cloth sp. | *ŋgVˈrɛk | ŋgrɛk | ŋgrɛq |
land snail | *ŋgaˈwarambuk | (ŋ)gʷaːrambuk | ŋgawarambuk |
carry | *kʷ[a/ɔ]ˈrɔk | karɔːq | pɔrɔk |
blood | *wⁱɛk | wijɛk | wɛk |
bite | *waˈrik | wariːk | wɛrik |
sell | *waˈrɛk | warɛːq | warɛk |
… final /*k/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-[k] | ø | k | |
trade | *saˈrɛⁱ[k] | sriː | hɛrɛik |
Final rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ has been found in only one example, in which it …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-kʷ | k [q] | p | |
tree/wood | *aˈtɔkʷ | adɔ(ː)q ~ adɔq | adɔp |
Anterior voiced prenasalized stops /*mb *nd/ do not appear finally.
Final velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ is realized as velar nasal [ŋ] in both languages. That [ŋg] is an allophone of /*ŋg/ is confirmed by Cottet's (2015: 68-69) statement that [ŋ] appears only in final position, and when followed by a vowel initial suffix is realized as [ŋg]:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-ŋg | ŋg [ŋ] | ŋg [ŋ] | |
ginger | *maŋg-maŋg | maŋ-maŋ | maŋ-maŋ |
stairs/ladder | *nⁱɛŋg | nʲijɛŋ | nɛŋ |
sand | *sɛˈmɛŋg | smɛːŋ | hɛmɛŋ |
sweet | *kɛˈmɛŋg | kmɛːŋ | kɛmɛŋ |
stem | *kʷiˈraŋg | kurijɛːŋ | pɛraŋ |
earthquake | *wɛŋg-ˈwɛŋg | wɔŋ-wɛːŋ | wɛŋ-wɛŋ |
sky | *wɔŋg | wuɔŋ | wɔŋ |
light (weight) | *ˈjɛrɔŋg | jɛːrɔŋ | jɛ-jɛrɔŋ |
One example, perhaps in error, is ambiguous between final apical nasal /*n/ (above) and velar voiced prenazalized stop /*ŋg/ [*ŋ]:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-[n/ŋg] | n | ŋg [ŋ] | |
bark (of dog) | *kʷiˈjɛ[n/ŋg] | kpʷjɛːn | piɛŋ |
Rounded velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋgʷ/ has not been found finally.
Bilabial non-stop /*w/ does not appear finally.
Final apical non-stop /*r/ is very common. It is …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*-r | r [r ø] | r | |
fish trap | *pɛr | pɛːr | pɛr |
root | *pur | puːr | pur |
thick | *mbaˈŋgɔr | mbaŋgɔːr | mbaŋgɔr |
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha | nɛmɛ-har |
drum | *tir-ˈtir | ti-tiːr | ti-tir |
heavy | *taˈŋgⁱɛr | taŋgiːjɛr | tɛŋgɛr |
twig/tendril | *t[a]ˈrar | traːr | trar |
bone | *ˈtɔkar | tɔ(ː)qar | tɔqar |
woman/female | *t[ɔ/u]mb[ɔ/u]r | tumbu- | (tɔ-)tɔmbɔr |
woman/female | *t[ɔ/u]mb[ɔ/u]r- sar | tumbu-hɔr ~ tumbuw-ɔ | tɔmbɔ-har ~ tamba-har |
mountain | *tumb[ɛ]r | tumbɛr | |
fish | *ˈsɛjir | sɛj(i)r | hɛir |
comb | *suˈwɛr | suwɛːr | huwɛr |
face | *kɛˈmɛⁱr | kmiːr | kɛmɛir |
yawn | *kam-kamar | kam-kamar | kam-kamar |
vagina | *kar | kaːr | kar |
torch | *kajiˈwɔr | kajɔːr | kɛ(i)wɔr |
cook/cooked | *ˈkajir | qaj | kɛir |
shoot | *kaˈjir | kaːj | kɛiːr |
raw | *kɔˈŋgɔr | kɔŋgɔː | |
pig | *[ku]ˈndur | kunduːr | ndur |
ear | *kʷⁱɛr | kpʷujɛr | pɛr |
cheek | *kʷakɔr | paqɔr | pagɔr |
stone | *war | waːr | war |
clan/relatives | *wɔˈtɔwur | wɔdɔːw | wɔdɔur |
spoon | *ˈwɔk[ij]as | wɔːqas | wɔgijah |
tail | *wɔr | wuɔr | wɔr |
wave(s) | *ˈjɛːmbar | jɛːmba | jɛmbɛr |
dog | *jaˈmbar | jambaːr | mbiar |
Palatal non-stop /*j/ does not appear finally.
Vowels and diphthongs …
High front vowel /*i/ in simple environments is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*i | i | i | |
3 pl. | *mi | mi | |
1 pl. poss. | *ni- | ni- | |
2 pl. | *ki | ki- | ki |
fruit | *is | is ~ ih | |
smile | *p[i]ˈri | priː | pri-bri |
corpse | *ˈniti | niːti | nidi |
mountain | *tiri | ||
die | *kimi | kimi- | |
mouth | *[mi]ˈsin | sin | mihin |
drum | *tir-ˈtir | ti-tiːr | ti-tir |
hide | *ˈniŋgis | niːŋgis | ŋgihi |
star fruit | *miri-miri | miri-miri | miri-miri |
In two Mbahaam free pronouns, high front /*i/ has become high back rounded /u/ due to the influence of the following optional suffix [-duː -ju]:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*i | u | i | |
1 pl. incl. | *in | un(-duː) | in |
2 pl. | *ki | ku-ju | ki |
… /*i/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*i/uC_ | i | i | |
ridgepole(s) | *tum-ˈtumbis | tum-tuːmbis | tum-tumbih |
… /*i/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*i/_C… | i | i | |
needle | *iˈnd[ɔ/u]p | induːp | indɔp |
… /*i/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*iˈCɛ | |||
boil (n.) | *kʷiˈrɛmbus | kurʲɛːmbus | pirɛmbuh |
*iˈCa | |||
brother's wife | *wiˈnat | winʲaːt | winʲat |
*iˈCa | |||
water | *kiˈra | krija | kara |
*iˈCa | |||
stem | *kʷiˈraŋg | kurijɛːŋ | pɛraŋ |
*iˈCa | |||
tree | *wiˈra | wurʲaː ~ wɛrʲaː | wɛrɛ ~ wrɛ |
*iˈCa | |||
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha ~ nami-hɛ | nɛmɛ-har |
*iˈjɛ | |||
bark (of dog) | *kʷiˈjɛ[n/ŋg] | kpʷjɛːn | piɛŋ |
*iˈja | |||
reed(s) | *kʷiˈja-kʷiˈja | kpʷja-wja | pia-wia |
nut | *kʷiˈjarɛn | kpʷjaːrɛn | -piarɛn ~ piar |
… /*i/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*i/aC_Ca | i | ɛ | |
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha | nɛmɛ-har |
High back rounded vowel /*u/ in simple environments is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*u | u | u | |
root | *pur | puːr | pur |
shoot (n.) | *ndum | ntuːm | ndum |
mud | *ndus | ||
egg | *wun | uːn | wun |
five | *tuˈmbu | tmbuː | tumbu |
chin | *muˈnduk (?) | nd(u)muːk | munduk |
pig | *[ku]ˈndur | kunduːr | ndur |
sweat | *kutuˈruk | kuduruːk | kuduruk |
… /*u/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*u/_Ca | u | u | |
sleepy | *ndura | ndura | ndura ~ ntura |
raft | *ˈŋguwas | ŋguːwas | ŋguwah |
Mid front vowel /*ɛ/ in simple environments is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ | ɛ | ɛ | |
earwax | *pɛk | pɛk-pɛk | -bɛk |
fish trap | *pɛr | pɛːr | pɛr |
sugarcane | *mbɛs | mbɛːs | mbɛh |
pointed | *tɛp | tɛːb-tɛb | tɛp |
hot | *sɛp | sɛːp | hɛp |
thorn | *ŋgʷɛm | … | mbɛm |
go | *wɛs | wɛs ~ wɛːs | wɛh |
know | *kɛˈndɛ | kɛndɛː ~ qɛndɛ | kɛndɛ |
sit | *mɛˈsɛn | mɛhɛːn | mɛhɛn |
song | *mɛˈrɛs | mɛrɛːs | mɛrɛh |
diarrhoea | *pɛˈrɛs-pɛˈrɛs | prɛs-prɛs | p(ɛ)rɛh-p(ɛ)rɛh |
cluster/bunch | *[ˈtɛ]rɛm | tɛːrɛm | rɛm |
sand | *sɛˈmɛŋg | smɛːŋ | hɛmɛŋ |
black | *sɛˈnɛk | snɛ-h(ɛ)nɛk | hɛnɛk |
sweet | *kɛˈmɛŋg | kmɛːŋ | kɛmɛŋ |
cloth sp. | *ŋgVˈrɛk | ŋgrɛk | ŋgrɛq |
unripe | *ˈkʷɛn-kʷɛn | kpʷɛ(ː)n-kpʷɛn | pɛn-pɛn |
sick/ill | *sɛrɛrɛ | sɛrɛrɛ | hɛrɛrɛ |
thin/flat | *sɛˈkɛt-sɛkɛt | sɛqɛː-hɛqɛ | hɛgɛ-hɛgɛ(t) |
… /*ɛ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ | ɔ | ɛ | |
earthquake | *wɛŋg-ˈwɛŋg | wɔŋ-wɛːŋ | wɛŋ-wɛŋ |
Mid front /*ɛ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/_Ci | ɛ | ɛ | |
umbilicus | *ˈsɛjim | sɛːjn | hɛin ~ hɛim |
fish | *ˈsɛjir | sɛj(i)r | hɛir |
old woman | *ˈkɛsik | kɛːhik | kɛ-kɛhik |
weave/sew | *ˈŋgɛjit | ŋgɛːjt ~ ŋgɛit | ŋgɛit |
*ɛ/iC_ | ɛ | ɛ | |
garden | *siriˈjɛt | sirjɛːt | hiriɛt |
Mid front /*ɛ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/uC_ | ɛ | ɛ | |
mountain | *tumb[ɛ]r | tumbɛr | |
comb | *suˈwɛr | suwɛːr | huwɛr |
Mid front /*ɛ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/_Cu | u | ɛ | |
lontar palm | *ŋgɛCturV | ŋgutura | ŋgɛturi |
Mid front /*ɛ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/_Cɔ | ɛ | ɛ | |
light (weight) | *ˈjɛrɔŋg | jɛːrɔŋ | jɛ-jɛrɔŋ |
*ɛ/ɔC_ | ɛ | ɔ | |
hear | *kɔmɛn | kɔmɛnaː | k(ɔ)mɔn |
Mid front /*ɛ/ cooccurs freely with preceding low central vowel /*a/ without change in either language:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/_Ca | ɛ | ɛ | |
wave(s) | *ˈjɛːmbar | jɛːmba | jɛmbɛr |
*ɛ/aC_ | ɛ | ɛ | |
say/speak | *paˈrɛ | parɛː | prɛ |
wing | *ˈkamɛn | kaːmɛn | … |
sell | *waˈrɛk | warɛːq | warɛk |
gravel | *ŋgawarɛˈrɛː | ŋkwarɛrɛ | ŋkawarɛrɛ |
nut | *kʷiˈjarɛn | kpʷjaːrɛn | -piarɛn |
In one example, mid front /*ɛ/ has become low central /a/ in Iha, perhaps due to the influence of following /*a/ in reduplication:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/aC_ | ɛ | a | |
smallpox | *wanɛn-wanɛn | wanɛŋ-wanɛŋ | wanan-wanan |
In another, also a reduplication, mid front /*ɛ/ becomes /a/ in Mbahaam:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛ/aC_ | a | ɛ | |
flooring | *kar-ˈkarɛn | ka-kaːran | ka-karɛn |
Mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ in simple environments is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɔ | ɔ | ɔ | |
sow | *mɔs | mɔːs | mɔh |
spittle/saliva | *tɔp | tɔp | tɔp |
hit/chop | *tɔs | tɔːs | tɔh |
breast | *sɔn | sɔːn | hɔn ~ sɔn |
excrement | *kɔt | kɔt | |
tinea | *ɔˈpɔk | (ɔ)bɔːk | bɔk |
raw | *kɔˈŋgɔr | kɔŋgɔː | |
stingray | *pɔt-pɔt | pɔt-pɔːt | pɔt-pɔt |
one | *ɔkʷɔ[nɔ] | ɔqɔnɔ | pɔ |
sit | *tɔt-ˈtɔtɔm | tɔ-tɔːdɔm | tɔ-tɔdɔm |
block | *(tɔk-)ˈtɔkɔm | (tɔk-)tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
Mid back rounded /*ɔ/ cooccurs freely with high front vowel /*i/ without change in either language:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɔ/_Ci | ɔ | ɔ | |
good | *ˈkʷɔsi | kpʷɔːhi | pɔhi |
*ɔ/iC_ | ɔ | ɔ | |
thigh | *t[iˈw]ɔn | tʲuɔn | tʲɔn |
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn |
Mid back rounded /*ɔ/ cooccurs freely with low central vowel /*a/ without change in either language:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɔ/_Ca | ɔ | ɔ | |
bone | *ˈtɔkar | tɔ(ː)qar | tɔqar ~ tɔgar ~ tɔqɔr |
sea snail | *ˈndɔman | ndɔːman | ndɔman |
crow | *ŋgɔ[wa]ras | ŋgʷaras (?) | gɔrah |
*ɔ/aC_ | ɔ | ɔ | |
tree/wood | *aˈtɔkʷ | adɔ(ː)q ~ adɔq | adɔp |
thick | *mbaˈŋgɔr | mbaŋgɔːr | mbaŋgɔr |
sugar palm | *ndaˈŋgʷɔm | ndaŋgɔːm | ndambɔm |
cockroach | *saˈŋgʷɔn | saŋgʷɔːn | hambɔn |
cheek | *kʷakɔr | paqɔr | pagɔr |
When /*ɔ/ is preceded by a rounded velar stop /*kʷ *ŋgʷ/ or bilabial non-stop /*w/ , it is often realized with a high rounded onset [ᵘɔ] in Mbahaam. The resulting pattern is parallel to that of front falling diphthong /*ⁱɛ/ (below,) but is predictable by environment:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɔ/kʷ_ | ᵘɔ [uɔ] | ɔ | |
knife | *kʷɔt | kuɔt | pɔt |
*ɔ/ŋgʷ_ | ᵘɔ | ɔ | |
banana | *mɔŋgʷɔ | muŋguɔ | nɔŋbɔ |
elbow | *tɔŋgʷɔn | tuŋgʷɔn ~ tuŋguwɔn | tɔŋmbɔn |
*ɔ/w_ | ᵘɔ [uɔ] | ɔ | |
sky | *wɔŋg | wuɔŋ | wɔŋ |
tail | *wɔr | wuɔr | wɔr |
thigh | *t[iˈw]ɔn | tʲuɔn | tʲɔn |
When /*ɔ/ is followed by /*ŋgʷ/ …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɔ/_ŋgʷ | ᵘɔ | ɔ | |
banana | *mɔŋgʷɔ | muŋguɔ | nɔŋbɔ |
elbow | *tɔŋgʷɔn | tuŋgʷɔn | tɔŋmbɔn |
Low central vowel /*a/ in simple environments is retained as such in both languages:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*a | a | a | |
voice/language | *mak | maːq | maq |
skin | *pak | paːk | pak |
star/firefly | *mbap | mbap(-mbap) | mbap |
older sister | *nan | nan | |
fence | *tap | taːp | tap |
hand | *tan | tan | |
vagina | *kar | kaːr | kar |
3 pl. | *wat | -waːt | wat |
stone | *war | waːr | war |
younger sib | *naka | naqa | naka ~ naga |
sago flour | *ˈndana | ndaːna | ndana |
head | *kaˈnda | kndaː | kanda |
four | *ŋgaˈra | … | ŋgara |
ten | *kʷaˈra | kpʷraː | para |
bracelet | *ˈjana | jaːna | jana |
palm/sole | *p[a]ˈram | praːm | pram |
twig/tendril | *t[a]ˈrar | traːr | trar |
loft/attic | *ndaˈram | ndraːm | ndaram |
moon | *kaˈpas | kabaːs | kabah |
sharp | *kaˈŋgap | kaŋgaːp | kaŋgap |
ginger | *maŋg-maŋg | maŋ-maŋ | maŋ-maŋ |
yawn | *kam-kamar | kam-kamar | kam-kamar |
When low central /*a/ is followed by high front /*i/ or front diphthongs /*ⁱɛ *ɛⁱ/ in the next syllable, it is fronted and raised to merge with mid front /ɛ/ in Iha:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*a/_Ci | a | ɛ | |
chest | *ˈpatin | -paːdin | |
seed | *ˈkajis | kajs ~ kais | kɛih |
cook/cooked | *ˈkajir | qaj | kɛir |
shoot | *kaˈjir | kaːj | kɛiːr |
Jew's harp | *ŋgaˈsim | ŋgahiːm | ŋgɛhim |
day | *waŋgis | wɛŋgih | |
bite | *waˈrik | wariːk | wɛrik |
sun | *kaˈminV | kamiːni | kimina (?) |
man/male | *nami-sar | nami-ha ~ nami-hɛ | nɛmɛ-har |
torch | *kajiˈwɔr | kajɔːr | kɛ(i)wɔr |
*a/_Cⁱɛ | a | ɛ | |
heavy | *taˈŋgⁱɛr | taŋgiːjɛr | tɛŋgɛr |
*a/_Cɛⁱ | ø | ɛ | |
trade | *saˈrɛⁱ[k] | sriː | hɛrɛik |
A number of exceptions are probably all loans, especially given their frequent cooccurrence with what would otherwise have to be reconstructed as consonant clusters in compounds:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*a/_Ci | a | a | |
fat/grease | [*ˈmaji[m/n]] | maːjm ~ maːim mɛːjm ~ mɛːm | main |
war | [*kaˈmbir] | kambiːr | kambir |
pinch | [*kʷaCˈpis] | kpʷapiːs | papih |
squash | [*saˈmbiCtV] | sambiːti | hambita ~ hambitɛ |
deceive | [*naCˈkira] | nakiːra | nakira |
breadfruit | [*kaˈmandi] | kamaːndi | kamandi |
Another may be immune to the raising and fronting of /*a/ because following /*i/ is destressed and optionally dropped in Iha:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*a/_Ci | a | a | |
sneeze | *kaˈpasi | kabaːi | kabah(i) |
…
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*a/_ŋgʷ | a | a | |
cockroach | *saˈŋgʷɔn | saŋgʷɔːn | hambɔn |
*a/_ŋgʷ | ɔ | a | |
kunai grass | *kaˈŋgʷam | kɔŋgʷaːm | kambam |
*a/_w | ɔ | ɔ a | |
eat | *nawa | nɔwa | nɔwa ~ nawa- |
*a/_w | ø | a | |
gravel | *ŋgawarɛˈrɛː | ŋkwarɛrɛ | ŋkawarɛrɛ |
land snail | *ŋgaˈwarambuk | (ŋ)gʷaːrambuk | ŋgawarambuk |
…
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*… | ||
*… |
In three Iha pronouns, a vowel which outcomparison both to Kalamang and to Timor-Alor-Pantar suggests to have been /*a/ and is reflected by /a/ in Mbahaam becomes mid back rounded /ɔ/ in Iha. No explanation for this discrepancy is offered here:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*[a/ɔ] | a | ɔ | |
3 sg. | *m[a/ɔ] | -mɔ | |
2 sg. | *k[a/ɔ] | -kɔ | |
1 sg. | *[a/ɔ]n | an(-duː) | ɔn |
Front falling diphthong /*ⁱɛ/ is merged with mid front vowel /ɛ/ in Iha:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ⁱɛ | ⁱɛ [iɛ ijɛ jɛ] | ɛ | |
name | *nⁱɛ | nʲiɛ | nɛ |
stairs/ladder | *nⁱɛŋg | nʲijɛŋ | nɛŋ |
village | *kʷⁱɛs | kpʷjɛs | pɛh |
ear | *kʷⁱɛr | kpʷujɛr | pɛr |
blood | *wⁱɛk | wijɛk | wɛk |
cooked/ripe | *iˈpⁱɛk | ibijɛk ~ ibjɛk | bɛk |
open | *s[i/ɛ]ˈŋgⁱɛk | siŋgjɛːk | hɛŋgɛk |
heavy | *taˈŋgⁱɛr | taŋgiːjɛr | tɛŋgɛr |
Front rising diphthong /*ɛⁱ/ is merged with high front vowel /i/ in Mbahaam:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*ɛⁱ | i | ɛⁱ | |
louse | *mɛⁱn | miːn | mɛin |
skin | *ŋgɛⁱn | ŋgɛin | |
face | *kɛˈmɛⁱr | kmiːr | kɛmɛir |
trade | *saˈrɛⁱ[k] | sriː | hɛrɛik |
…
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*… | ||
*… |
… syllable loss ….
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*VC | VC | C | |
cooked/ripe | *iˈpⁱɛk | ibijɛk ~ ibjɛk | bɛk |
enemy/evil | *ˈakʷɔrɔwu | aːqrɔw ~ aːqrɔu | pɔrɔuw |
tinea | *ɔˈpɔk | (ɔ)bɔːk | bɔk |
one | *ɔkʷɔ[nɔ] | ɔqɔnɔ | pɔ |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*jVC | jVC | C | |
dog | *jaˈmbar | jambaːr | mbiar |
canoe | *jaˈr[a] | jaraː ~ jarɛː | dʲa |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*CVC | CVC | C | |
cluster/bunch | *[ˈtɛ]rɛm | tɛːrɛm | rɛm |
*CVC | C | CVC | |
mouth | *[mi]ˈsin | sin | mihin |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*… | |||
block | *tɔk-ˈtɔkɔm | tɔk-tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
grub | *k[ɔ/u]s- k[ɔ/u]sum | kus-kus | kɔ-kɔhum |
… reduplication …:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | |
*CVC-CVC | |||
ginger | *maŋg-maŋg | maŋ-maŋ | maŋ-maŋ |
stingray | *pɔt-pɔt | pɔt-pɔːt | pɔt-pɔt |
drum | *tir-ˈtir | ti-tiːr | ti-tir |
unripe | *ˈkʷɛn-kʷɛn | kpʷɛ(ː)n-kpʷɛn | pɛn-pɛn |
*CVCV-CVCV | |||
star fruit | *miri-miri | miri-miri | miri-miri |
*CVC-CVCVC | |||
sit | *tɔt-ˈtɔtɔm | tɔ-tɔːdɔm | tɔ-tɔdɔm |
block | *tɔk-ˈtɔkɔm | tɔk-tɔk | tɔk-tɔkɔm |
ridgepole(s) | *tum-ˈtumbis | tum-tuːmbis | tum-tumbih |
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn |
yawn | *kam-kamar | kam-kamar | kam-kamar |
flooring | *kar-ˈkarɛn | ka-kaːran | ka-karɛn |
grub | *k[ɔ/u]s- k[ɔ/u]sum | kus-kus | kɔ-kɔhum |
*CVCVC- CVCVC | |||
diarrhoea | *pɛˈrɛs-pɛˈrɛs | prɛs-prɛs | p(ɛ)rɛh-p(ɛ)rɛh |
thin/flat | *sɛˈkɛt-sɛkɛt | sɛqɛː-hɛqɛ | hɛgɛ-hɛgɛ(t) |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha |
*… | ||
*… |
Pronouns
[under construction]
Proto-Mbahaam-Iha free propnouns are reconstructed as follows, with Mbahaam attestations drawn from Flassy, Ruhukael and Rumbrawer (1984: 48-49, 1987: 94-96) and Iha from Flassy and Animung (68-69.) Since Iha's postposed possessors are derived from the original free pronouns, they are presented here alongside the nominative forms:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | Iha | |
free | possessive | |||
1 sg. | *[a/ɔ]n | an(-duː) | ɔn | -ɔn |
2 sg. | *k[a/ɔ] | [tow ~ touw] | kɔ | -kɔ |
3 sg. | *m[a/ɔ] | [kpʷaw] | [mi] | -mɔ |
1 pl. excl. | [*mbi] | — | bi ~ mbi | — |
1 pl. incl. | *in | un(-duː) | in | -in |
2 pl. | *ki | ku-ju | ki | -ki |
3 pl. | *mi; *wat | kinɛ-waːt [maŋgaː] | wat | -mi |
Outcomparison both to Kalamang and to Timor-Alor-Pantar suggests the vowel in the singular forms to have been low central /*a/; why this has become mid back rounded /ɔ/ in Iha is unexplained. Iha's third person postposed possessors are the original roots, with plural /*mi/ having replaced /*m[a/ɔ] in the free form.
Mbahaam has two posessive contructions, inalienable and alienable, which continue elements of the prpto-West Bomberai system, and hence that of proto-Mbahaam-Iha as well. Inalienable possessors are as follows:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | |
1 sg. inal. | *… | nɔm |
2 sg. inal. | *… | tɔm |
3 sg. inal. | *… | kam |
1 pl. inal. | *… | nim |
2 pl. inal. | *… | kim |
3 pl. inal. | *… | kin |
Mbahaam alienable possessors are as follows:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | |
1 sg. al. | *… | |
2 sg. al. | *… | |
3 sg. al. | *… | |
1 pl. al. | *… | |
2 pl. al. | *… | |
3 pl. al. | *… |
Verbal morphology
[under construction]
…
Loans from Austronesian languages
[under construction]
… with Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (PMP) forms drawn from Blust (CITE) … Only those loans found in both Mbahaam and Iha, in Mbahaam or Iha and another West Bomberai language or are fairly basic vocabulary are presented here:
PMP | Indonesian | … | [Mbahaam-Iha] | Mbahaam | Iha | |
smoke | *ma-qasu | — | … | [*masi] | — | mahi |
bark cloth | *malaw | — | … | [*mar] | maːr | mar |
stingray | *paʁih | pari | … | [*ˈpari] | paːri | pari |
navel | *pusəɡʲ | pusar ~ pusat | … | [*pusar] | — | puhar |
spear | *bətuŋ | — | … | [*mbɛCˈtun] | mbɛtuːn | mbɛtun |
rice | *bəʁas | beras | … | [*pasa] | paha | paha |
stone | *batu | batu | … | [*paCti] | — | pati |
pay | *bayaɖ | bajar | … | [*pɛˈjɛr] | pɛjɛːr | pɛjɛr |
bow | *busuʁ | busur | … | [*mbus[ɛ]r] | — | mpuhɛr |
crocodile | *buqaja | buaja | … | [*pijawa] | — | piawa |
coconut | *niuʁ | — | … | [*nɔwur] | nɔwr ~ nɔur | nɔur |
island | *nusa | nusa | … | [*nus[ɛ/a]] | nuwɛː | nɔha |
three | *təlu | — | … | [*tɛri] | — | tɛri |
rope | *talih | tali | … | [*taˈrɛ] | tarɛ ~ tarɛː | tarɛ |
long time/old | *tuqah | tua | … | [*tɔˈwɔ] | tɔwɔː | tɔwɔ |
durian | *duʁi-an | durian | … | [*ndulan] | dulan | dulan |
comb | *sisir | sisir | … | [*sisir] | hihir | |
sea (strait) | *səlat | selat | … | [*sɛˈlat] | sɛlaːt | sɛlat |
outrigger | *saʁəman | — | … | [*ˈsamɛr] | saːmɛr | hamɛr |
door | … | … | … | [*…] | kɛnʲɛmbuk | kɛmbuŋ |
lime | *qapuʁ | kapur | … | [*kap…] | kabʷɔr | kɔbuk ~ kɔbɔuŋ |
salt | *qasiʁa | — | … | [*ˈsira] | siːra | hira ~ tira |
headrest | *qalunan | — | … | [*nununa] | nununa | nununa |
rudder | *qulin | — | … | [*ˈuni] | uːni | uni |
mango | *wai | — | … | [*wawa] | wawa | wɔwa |
honey | *wani | — | … | [*wani[ja]] | — | wɛna |
mortar | *lusuŋ | lesuŋ | … | [*rɔsum] | rɔsum ~ rɔhu | rɔhum |
…
Indonesian | … | [Mbahaam-Iha] | Mbahaam | Iha | |
earring | antiŋ | … | *kʷⁱɛr [andin] | kpʷɛːr-ɛndin | pɛr-andin |
plate | piŋgan | … | [*piŋgɛn] | piŋgɛn | piŋgɛ |
cassava | beŋgala | … | [*paŋgala] | pa(ŋ)gala | paŋgalah |
tobacco | tembakaᵘ | … | [*taˈmbaCki] | tambaːki | — |
gecko | tokek ~ toke | … | [*ˈtɔCki] | tɔki-tɔːki | — |
ring | tʃintʃin | … | [*ndija[jɛ]n] | dʲaɛn | ndian |
…
… | [Mbahaam-Iha] | Mbahaam | Iha | |
goat | … | [*nɛk] | nɛːk | nɛk |
dance | … | [*nasula] | nasula | nahula |
gunpowder | … | [*sinijajir] | sinʲai | hinʲiɛr |
cat | … | [*ˈsiCka] | siːka | sika |
palm wine | … | [*s[a]kuɛr] | — | saguɛr |
trousers | … | [*suŋga-suŋga] | suŋga-suŋga | huŋ-huŋgɛ ~ huŋ-huŋga |
fish net | … | [*suˈwɛlat] | suwɛːlat | suwɛlat |
mat | … | [*kaliˈlipan] | kaliliban | kɛlipan |
iron | … | [*kuˈmu[ŋg]] | kumuːŋ | kumu |
bamboo | … | [*wam[ɛ]] | wamɛ | — |
hornbill | … | [*waˈmɔr] | wamɔːr | wamar |
clothes | … | [*ˈlandan] | laːndan | landan |
hammer | … | [*ˈrɛsɛ[n/t]] | rɛːhɛn | rɛhɛt |
turmeric | … | [*ˈramɛs] | raːmɛs | ramɛh |
…
In addition to these … According to Cottet (2015: 9-10) speakers of Bedoanas (Kambran,) Arokwanas (Yarik) and Mbaruan claim to have been originally Mbahaam who adopted an Austronesian language upon their migration northward to the Berau coast, while Arguni speakers descend from the original Austronesian stock … with Onin, Sekar, Kambran and Yarik attestations drawn from Donohue (2010) and Arguni from Narfafan (2011):
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | Onin | Sekar | Arguni | Kambran | |
sweet potato | [*siawi (?)] | sʲaɔw | sʲɛi | siˈapi | siˈabi | — | — |
drum | *tir-ˈtir | ti-tiːr | ti-tir | ? | ˈtitir | ? | titir |
…:
Mbahaam-Iha | Mbahaam | Iha | Onin | Sekar | Arguni | Kambran | |
louse | *mɛⁱn | miːn | mɛin | imín | — | — | — |
sago flour | *ˈndana | ndaːna | ndana | — | ˈdana | ˈndan | ndan |
fish | *ˈsɛjir | sɛj(i)r | hɛir | saˈi | saˈi | sajr | sai |
mosquito | *kip-ˈkipɔn | ki-kiːbɔn | ki-kibɔn | — | ˈkifɪn | — | — |
knife | *kʷɔt | kuɔt | pɔt | — | — | ʔuˈwot | ˈuwot |
house | [*wiri] | — | wiri | — | — | — | ˈwidi |
axe | *ˈwɛwas | wɛːwas | wɛwa | ˈwewa | ˈwewa | ˈwewe | — |
…