Mandobo
Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute
Situation
Mandobo, also known as Dumut, is comprised of at least three closely-related languages or dialects spoken along and to either side of the Mandobo river, called by natives Ndumut, between the Digul river to the west and the Kao to the east in the Indonesia's Papua province, to the south along the Digul, and in an enclave just east of the Fly river across the Papua New Guinea border called Kwem.
Drabbe's (1954, 1959) survey found three dialects of Dumut, the Wambon (Oàmbon) dialect on the upper Mandobo, Rungwanjap (Runggoanjàp) on the middle Mandobo, and Kambom on the lower Mandobo near its confluence with the Digul (1959: 4.) Lebold, Kriens and Susanto (2013) survey a region far to the south, along the east bank of the great bend in the Digul adjacent to Southeast Awyu and Upper Mbian Marind. Surprisingly, Drabbe's (1954) fragmentary attestations of Runggoanjàp apear to be somewhat more phonologically similar to Lebold, Kriens and Susanto's South Mandobo than to Upper Mandobo or to Drabbe's (1959) Kaeti, which is likewise said to be a variety of Rungwanjap spoken along the Marek river, a tributary of the Mandobo.
Jang (2003) distinguishes four divisions of Mandobo, Kokenop Mandobo, Upper Mandobo, Central Mandobo and Mariam Mandobo, based primarily upon materials collected in two unpublished surveys by Farneubun (2002.) Central Mandobo is equivalent to Runggwanyap, while Mariam Mandobo is spoken in Mariam village and in the multilingual village of Kouh in the northwest of the Mandobo region on the east bank of the Digul river. These are in turn broken down into two subgroups, Kokenop and Upper Mandobo and Central and Mariam Mandobo. Jang's Kokenop is closely related to or the same language as Drabbe's (1959) Wambon and de Vries' (1986) Yonggom Wambon, and is not a member of the Mandobo subfamily. Jang's use of the term Upper Mandobo differs from that adopted here, as it includes the village of Winiktit which we presume to be the same Drabbe's (1959: 115) Waniktit; this would explain Jang's finding of an exclusive relationship between the two speech varieties. Since none of Jang's villages are quite on the Mandobo (q.v. 2003: 14,) nor do these languages belong to the Mandobo subfamily, we reserve the term Upper Mandobo to refer to Drabbe's (1954) Wambon (Oámbon) dialect of Dumut.
Subclassification
The internal classification of Mandobo is as follows:
Mandobo
Upper Mandobo
Central Mandobo
Mariam Mandobo
As no Mariam Mandobo is currently available to us, both its status as a distinct language and its placement above relies upon Jang (2003: 23-27.) Nor can we say with certainty whether Drabbe's Kambom is equivalent to Mariam Mandobo, as its location is described as somewhat to the south of Jang's Mariam region (Drabbe 1959: 4, q.v. Jang 2003: 38.)
Central Mandobo may be further broken down by subdialects which differ primarily in their treatment of certain vowels (below,) but only three of these, the Omba dialect as described in Drabbe (1959,) Drabbe's (1954) Runngoanjàp of unspecified location, and that of the southern villages documented in Lebold, Kriens and Susanto (2013) are currently available to us, and Jang's list of subdialects does not purport to be exhaustive. Only five Kwem words are given in Voorhoeve (2001: 372-381;) it seems probable that these represent a variety of Central Mandobo in addition to those listed by Jang.
Sources
van Doorn (1931-1932) 429 comparative terms for Digul Mandobo (Upper Mandobo) published in Stokhof ed. (1982: 141-150)
Drabbe (1954: 162-163) pronouns and (1954: 211- 214) grammar sketch of Oàmbon (Upper Mandobo) of Anggimòp village and Runggoanjàp and (pp. 214-229) 419 comparative terms and (pp. 231-255) 100 comparative terms for Oàmbon Dumùt
Drabbe (1959: 3-108) grammar and (pp. 162-181) 431 comparative terms for Kaeti (Omba Rungwanjap)
Voorhoeve (2001: 372-381) 5 comparative terms for Kwem
Farneubun (2002) Central Digul survey (unobtained)
Farneubun (2002) Mandobo survey (unobtained)
Lebold, Kriens and Susanto (2013: 36-47) 239 comparative terms for Mandobo of Kaisah village and (pp. 48-50) 60 comparative terms for Mandobo of Subur and Aiwat (South Mandobo)
Wester (2014) Awyu-Dumut comparative morphology including (pp. 195-210) 430 comparative terms for (Kaeti) Mandobo after Drabbe (1959: 162-181)
Historical phonology
[under construction]
Proto-Mandobo had 13 consonants and 8 vowels as follows:
*m | *n | |||
*p | *t | *k | *kʷ | |
*mb | *nd | *ŋg | *ŋgʷ | |
*w | *ɾ | *j |
*i | *u | |
*e̝ | *ɵ̝ | *o̝ |
*ɛ | *ɔ | |
*a |
Any consonant can occur initially or medially, except for bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ which has been lenited to non-stop /*w/ or lost in these positions and occurs only root-finally. An unoccluded aspirate /*h/ is found only in loans, where it can reflect either bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ or Marind /*w/ as seen in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo [jahu] “canoe” (cf. Awyu /*jaxʷuN/ where the special phoneme /*xʷ/ indicates a loan from Marind-Yaqay /*iawun/.) Initial prenasalized stops /*mb *nd *ŋg/ are often realized as plain voiced [b d g]. Medial voiceless stops /*t *k/ are sometimes realized as plain voiced [d g].
Only a restricted set of consonants occurs finally:
*m | *n | ||
*p | *t | *k | |
*j |
Consonant clusters occur only in compounds.
A series of changes which might be aptly characterized as the Digul region vowel shift has affected all Mandobo languages to varying extents, with Upper Mandobo being the most conservative and Drabbe's Kaeti, representing the Omba subdialect of Runggwanjap, the most evolved in this respect. This shift has high back vowel /*u/ fronted to high central /ʉ/ and high mid back /*o̝/ raised to /u/, as well as in Mandobo the merger of mid front vowels /*e̝ *ɛ/, resulting in Omba's seven vowels as follows (Drabbe 1959: 7):
i | ʉ | u |
e | ɵ | o |
a |
Since phonetic diphthongs are found primarly word-finally, and some of these are known to result from the palatalization of final apical non-stop /*ɾ/, these are treated as the results of interaction between vowels and non-stops /*w *j/.
Initial and medial consonants correspond as follows:
Mandobo | Upper | Omba | Kaisah |
*m | m | m | m |
*n | n | n | n |
*t | t | t | t |
*k | k | k | k |
*kʷ | kʷ | kʷ | kʷ |
*mb | mb | mb | mb |
*nd | nd | nd | nd |
*ŋg | ŋg | ŋg | ŋg |
*ŋgʷ | ŋgʷ | ŋgʷ | ŋgʷ |
*w | w | w | w |
*ɾ | ɾ | ɾ | ɾ |
*j | j | j | j |
Final consonants correspond as follows:
Mandobo | Upper | Omba | Kaisah |
*-m | m | m | m |
*-n | n | n | n |
*-p | p | p | p |
*-t | t | t | t |
*-k | k | k | k |
*-j | j | ø | ø |
Clusters formed by compounding correspond as follows, with only attested combinations listed:
Mandobo | Upper | Omba | Kaisah |
*-m-m- | |||
*-m-k- | |||
*-m-ɾ- | |||
*-n-m- | |||
*-n-t- | |||
*-n-k- | |||
*… | |||
*… | |||
*… | |||
*… | |||
*… | |||
*… |
Vowels correspond as follows:
Mandobo | Upper | Omba | Kaisah |
*i | i | i | i |
*u | u | ʉ | u |
*e̝ | e | ɛ | ɛ |
*ɵ̝ | u | ɵ | ɵ |
*o̝ | u | u | u |
*o̝/iC_ | u | u | i |
*ɛ | ɛ | ɛ | ɛ |
*ɔ | ɔ | ɔ | ɔ |
*ɔ/_Cɵ̝ | u | ɔ | ɔ |
*ɔ/_Co̝ | u | ɔ | ɔ |
*a | a | a | a |
*a/_Cʷ | ɔ | ɔ | ɔ |
*a/_Ci | a | ɛ | ɛ |
*a/_Cu | a | ɔ | ɔ |
*a/_Co̝ | a | ɔ | ɔ |
*ujɔ | o | ʉjɔ | ijɔ |
*uja | o | ʉja | uja |
These correspondences are examplified as follows, with Oàmbon and Runggoanjàp attestations drawn from Drabbe (1954: 162-163, 211- 214,) Digul Mandobo from van Doorn (1931-1932, printed in Stokhof ed. 1982: 141-150,) Kaeti (Omba) from Drabbe (1959: 162-181) and South Mandobo of Kaisah village from Lebold, Kriens and Susanto (2013: 36-47.) For clarity, our presentation is divided into four sections, beginning with initial and medial consonants, followed by final consonants, then consonant clusters formed by compounding, then vowels.
Initial and medial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all descendants:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*m- | m | m | m | m | m | |
drink | *mi- | mj- | mɪ- | ɛ-mi- | ˈɛ-mi- | |
swallow | *mi[m/n]-kɵ̝m- | ˈmin-komo- | min kɵn- | |||
star/firefly | *min-ɔp | miˈnap | miːnop | minap | ˈminjop̚ | |
bone | *mit-ɔp | miˈrap | mirɔb ~ midop | mirap | mirʲɔp̚ | |
upper limb | *mindin | mindin | mindi | |||
soft | *me̝nap | meˈnap | mɛnap | |||
come | *m[e̝/ɛ]- | mɛ- | ˈmɛ- | |||
gall/bile | *mɛn | mæn | mɛn | |||
this | *mɛnɛ | mɛnɛ | ˈmɛnɛ | |||
young woman | *mɛŋg[ajɛ]t | mæˈŋgat | mɪŋgɪt | mɛŋgᵉɛt | ||
brain/skull | *mɵ̝k | muk | muk ~ mug- | mɵk | mɵk | moq- |
behind | *ma | mɑ̃ | ||||
daughter | *matip | mɛtip | ||||
get up/stand up | *ma-tɵ̝ɾɵ̝- | ˈmatoro | madɔr- | ˈmætɛrɛ- | ˈmotro | |
story/tradition | *matɔm | maːton | ||||
beard | *matut | maːˈtut | madut ~ madʲyt | matit | ||
son | *mandɵ̝p | maːndɛp | ||||
shoulder/ten | *mak | maːk | mɐʔ ~ mak- | mak | maɢ- | |
grandchild | *mak-ɔp | maːˈkap | makɔp | maːgop | maɢop̚ | |
belly | *maŋg-ɔp | maˈŋgap | maˈŋgop | |||
mouth/jaw | *maŋgɔt | maːˈŋkot | mɔŋgɔ- | maŋgot | ˈmaɴɢot | |
mother's br. | *mɔm | mɔm | mom | |||
roof | *mɔndɔm | mɔndɔm | ˈmoːnɖom | |||
young/y. man | *mɔŋgɔp | moŋgop | moŋgop | ˈmoɴɢop | ||
child | *mo̝n | mun | mu | mun | mun | |
rain | *mo̝ɾup | murup | muryp | ˈmurup̚ | ||
*-m- | m | m | m | m | ||
three | *itit-mɔ | iditmɔ | ititmo | ˈidikmʲɔ | ||
drink | *a-mi- | ɛ-mi- | ˈɛ-mi- | |||
smell | *u-mɔ- | u-mo- | ||||
ripe/yellow | *amo̝j | amoj | amui | omu | ˈomu | |
cheek | *amɔkaj | amokaˈjon | amɔkajɔ | amoga | ||
one | *ɔm[ɔ]j | oˈmoj | womɛ | omɛ | ˈɔmɛ | |
extinguish | *o̝taki-mɔ- | utakimo- | utɛgimo- | |||
fly (n.) | *umɔn-ɔp | umoˈnap | umonop (?) | |||
back | *mbu-man | mbuːˈman | bumɐ ~ bumɛ | mbyman | ||
friend | *namɔn-ɔp | naːmoˈnap | namonop | |||
take/marry | *ti-mɔ- | ti-mo- | ti-mɔ- | ti-mo- | ||
drop/discard | *ti-ta-mɔ- | titamo- | ˈtiːtamo- | |||
tendon/vein | *tɛmɛt | tæmæt | tɛmɪt ~ tɪmɪt | tɛmɛt | ||
hide | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝k-mɔ- | turuk-mo- | tɵrɵk-mo- | |||
wash | *tambu-mɔ- | taːmbumo- | tombymo- | |||
dry | *tɔmap | toˈmap | tɔma- | tomap | ||
termite | *tɔmaj | toma | ||||
rat | *t[ɔ]mɔn | tomon | ||||
heart | *ndum-ɾɔp | nduːmaˈrap | dumɔp ~ dʏmarɔp | ndymarop | ||
widow | *kamɔk | kamok | ||||
far | *kɔmam | koman | kɔmaːn | koman | ˈqomaːp̚ | |
neck | *kɔman | koːman | kɔman | koman | ||
thunder | *kɔmɵ̝t | kumut | kumut | komɵt | ||
wrist/six | *kɔmo̝k | komuk | gumuk | komuk | ˈkumuɢ- | |
be sick/ill (?) | *ŋgʷa-mɔ- | ŋgʷamo- | ŋgʷaːmo- | |||
night/dark | *wamin | waˈmin | wami | wɛmin | ˈwɛmin | |
watch/guard | *wɔmɔ- | womo- | ||||
copulate | *ɾe̝[k/ŋg]e̝nde̝- -mɔ- | rekend mo- | rɛŋgɛndɛmo- | |||
break/snap (tr.) | *ɾap-ŋgʷa-mɔ- | ˈroŋgoamo- | roŋgʷaːmo- | |||
break/split (tr.) | *ɾaka-mɔ- | rakamo- | ragaːmo- | |||
two | *ɾo̝mɔ | rumo | rumɔ | rumo | ˈrumɔ | |
gather | *ɾo̝k[o̝]-mɔ- | rukumo- | rurukmo- |
Initial and medial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in all descendants. Root-initial /*n/ is markedly uncommon:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*n- | n | n | n | n | ||
1 sg. | *nɵ̝p | nup | nɵp | nɵp | nup̚ | |
friend | *namɔn-ɔp | naːmoˈnap | namonop | |||
1 pl. | *naŋgup | naŋgup | noŋgyp | noŋgup | ŋoŋɢup (?) | |
knowledge | *nɔwam | noaŋ-gi- | noam gɛ- | ˈnoam | ||
*-n- | n | n | n | n | ||
net bag | *e̝nɔj | ɪnɛ | ˈɛnɔ̃ | |||
older sister | *ani | ˈani | ən-ani | n-ɛni | ||
eat | *ane̝n- | aneŋ- | anɪ- ~ anɛ- | anɛn- | ||
older brother | *ane̝t | aner-ˈap | anɛt | |||
younger brother | *[a]nan | naːn | ənan | anan | ||
grandfather | *[a]kanɔt | nakanɔt | kanot | aɢanɔt | ||
intestines | *aj-mo̝n-ɔp | aː monap (?) | o-munop | ˈɔ-mːunɔp̚ | ||
fly (n.) | *umɔn-ɔp | umoˈnap | umonop (?) | |||
star/firefly | *min-ɔp | miˈnap | miːnop | minap | ˈminjop̚ | |
soft | *me̝nap | meˈnap | mɛnap | |||
this | *mɛnɛ | mɛnɛ | ˈmɛnɛ | |||
yawn | *mbanan | mbanan | mbanɐ | mbanan | ||
friend | *namɔn-ɔp | naːmoˈnap | namonop | |||
fireplace/hearth | *te̝nɔm | tinɔ ~ tɪnɔm | ||||
red | *te̝n-ɔp | teˈnap | tənɔw- | tɛnop | ˈtɛnop̚ | |
mosquito | *taje̝n-ɔp | ˈtaen-ap | taen-ɔp | taᵉn-op | taᵉn-op | |
mouse | *to̝ko̝nap | tugunaːp | tugunaːp | |||
sleep | *kino̝m | kinum | kinum | ˈki(ː)nim | ||
palate | *kana[m/n] | kaːnan | kənaŋ | kanan | ||
big | *kɔn[ɛ]n[i] | ˈkononi | konɛni | ˈkononu | ||
stink | *ŋge̝ne̝n | ŋgenen | kɛnɛ- | ŋgɛnɛn | ||
phlegm | *ŋganɵ̝m | ˈŋganum | kɔnɛ | ŋgonɵm | ||
black/blue | *ŋgo̝num | ŋguˈnum | gunʏn- | |||
heel | *wandano̝ | waːndaːˈnu | wandani | waːndunu | ||
tomorrow | *jane̝n | jaˈnin | jaːnɛn |
Bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ does not occur intially or medially, because it has been lenited to /*w/ or lost in proto-Mandobo.
Initial and medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is retained as such in all descendants. Medially, it is sometimes heard as plain voiced [d]:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*t- | t | t | t | t | t | |
plait | *ti- | ti- | ti- | |||
take/marry | *ti(-mɔ)- | ti-mo- | ti-mɔ- | ti-mo- | ˈtiː- | |
dog | *tit | ti̪t | ||||
drop/discard | *ti-ta-mɔ- | titamo- | ˈtiːtamo- | |||
rattan/rope | *tik | tik | tik ~ ti | tik | tik | |
afterbirth | *tiŋgɔ-ɾɔp | tiŋgorop | ||||
fireplace/hearth | *te̝nɔm | tinɔ ~ tɪnɔm | ||||
red | *te̝n-ɔp | teˈnap | tənɔw- | tɛnop | ˈtɛnop̚ | |
blind | *te̝k | -tek | tɛg-op | |||
leech | *te̝ɾe̝n | teren | tɛrɛn | tɛrɛn | ||
sun | *t[e̝jɛ]t | tet | teiɪt | tᵉɛt | tɛt̚ | |
grasshopper | *t[e̝/ɛ]ɾ[e̝/ɛ] | tɛrɛ | ||||
tendon/vein | *tɛmɛt | tæmæt | tɛmɪt ~ tɪmɪt | tɛmɛt | ||
anus | *tɛn tɔp | tɛn top | tɛn top | |||
areca nut | *tɛt | tɛt | ||||
penis | *tɛŋgɛt | tɛːŋgæt | tɪŋgɪt | tɛŋgɛt | ||
shy/shame | *tɛɾɛŋgɛt | tɛrɛŋgɛt | ||||
fat/grease | *tɵ̝kɵ̝ | ˈtuku | tɵgɵ | |||
wet | *tɵ̝kɵ̝p | tukup | tɵgɵp | ˈtuɢup | ||
go up/above | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝- | toˈro- | tro- | tɵɾɵ- | -ˈtru ~ -turuː | |
ear | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝n-tɔp | toro-ˈtap | turu-tup | |||
hide | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝k-mɔ- | turuk-mo- | tɵrɵk-mo- | |||
throw away | *ta- | -ta- | taː- | -ta- | ||
wash | *tambu(-mɔ)- | taːmbumo- | tombymo- | ɖomb- (?) | ||
palm/sole | *tat | tat | tat | |||
cuscus | *takip | tɛɢip̚ | ||||
cowrie shell | *tak[e̝/ɛ]t | taˈgɛt | ||||
war | *taŋgat | taŋgat | taŋkɪ- | taŋgat | ||
armpit | *taŋgɔn | taːŋgon | taŋkɔ- | tæŋgon | ||
nose | *taŋgo̝t | ta(ː)ŋgut | taŋgut | toŋgut | toŋgut | ˈtoɴɢut̚ |
wild pig | *tawɔn(-ɔp) | taoˈnap | taon | -daonɔp̚ | ||
wife | *taɾip | taːrip | ||||
house/hut | *taɾap | tarap | ˈtərap | |||
cold | *taɾo̝j | təruj | ||||
shoot | *t[a]je̝m- | tɪn- | tᵉɛn- | tʲiam- | ||
mosquito | *taje̝n-ɔp | ˈtaen-ap | taen-ɔp | taᵉn-op | taᵉn-op | |
upper arm/nine | *taje̝t | taːet | ta’ɪt | taɛt | ˈtait | |
dig | *tɔ- | to- | to- | |||
dry | *tɔmap | toˈmap | tɔma- | tomap | ||
termite | *tɔmaj | toma | ||||
rat | *t[ɔ]mɔn | tomon | ||||
larynx | *tɔkɔ-ɾɔp | tokoˈrap | tɔgɔɾɔp | togorop | ||
tell | *tɔk-mɔ- | tokmo- | tokmo- | |||
mouse | *to̝ko̝nap | tugunaːp | tugunaːp | |||
expel from body | *tu- | tu- | ty- | ty- | ||
banana | *tut | tyt | ||||
*-t- | t | t [t d] | t | t | t | |
hole | *-tɔp | -top | -tɔp | -top | -top | -top̚ |
cassowary | *itit | itit | ||||
three | *itit-mɔ | iditmɔ | ititmo | ˈidikmʲɔ | ||
earth/ground | *itiwaj | itiˈwae | ɪtɪwɐ | itiwa | iˈtiwa | |
see | *[i/e̝]t[i/e̝]k-jɔ- | eteko- | itigⁱo- | ˈitigio- | ||
father | *ati | n-aːˈti | n-adi | n-ɛti | n-æti | |
bite | *ati[k-m]ɔ- | atiŋgomo- | ||||
spirit/soul | *ate̝[t/ɾ]-ɔp | ateˈrap | aːtɛrop | |||
tail of bird | *ataɾɔn | etaˈron | ataron | |||
spider | *ato̝wan | otugan | ||||
extinguish | *o̝taki-mɔ- | utakimo- | utɛgimo- | |||
daughter | *matip | mɛtip | ||||
get up/stand up | *ma-tɵ̝ɾɵ̝- | ˈmatoro | madɔr- | ˈmætɛrɛ- | ˈmotro | |
story/tradition | *matɔm | maːton | ||||
beard | *matut | maːˈtut | madut ~ madʲyt | matit | ||
male | *mbatim | mbɛtin | ||||
finger/claw | *mbatit | badi- | mbɛtit | ˈbeti- | ||
thick | *mbatut | mbaˈtut | mbotyt | |||
house/village | *mbo̝tup | butup | butyp ~ budyp | mbutyp | ||
drop/discard | *ti-ta-mɔ- | titamo- | ˈtiːtamo- | |||
tired | *ke̝te̝wa | ketewæ | kɛtɛwa | |||
unripe/raw | *ke̝tɔt | keˈtot | ketor | kɛtot | ||
spear | *ke̝jate̝ | keate | kⁱate | |||
revenge | *ke̝jat-ɔn | ketan | kᵉaton | |||
saliva/spittle | *kate̝t | katet ~ kaːtæt | katɪt- | katɛt | ||
skin/bark | *kɔtaj | koˈtae | kotɛ ~ kodɛ | kota | ˈkotaʔ ~ -qotaʔ | |
goura pigeon | *ko̝taj | kuˈtae | kutɛ | kutᵉa | ||
sharp | *ŋge̝te̝n | ŋgete | ŋgɛtɛn | ˈgeten | ||
ashes | *kʷate̝p | kotep | kʷatɛb ~ kʷatɪb | kotɛp | ||
sweat | *kʷate̝n | kʷaːtæn | kʷadɛ ~ kʷatɪn | kotɛn | ||
snake | *ŋgʷati | ŋgʷaːti | ŋgʷɛti | ŋgᵘwɛti | ||
sick/ill | *watɵ̝k | waˈtuk | watuk ~ watut | watɛk |
Initial and medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ is retained as such in all descendants. Medially, it is sometimes heard as plain voiced [g]. In South Mandobo, /*k/ is sometimes backed to uvular [q ɢ]:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*k- | k | k | k | k | k [k q] | |
bathe | *kim- | kimo- | kɪn- | gin- | kʲim- | |
sleep | *kino̝m | kinum | kinum | ˈki(ː)nim | ||
near | *kit-ɔp | kiˈrap | kɪdɔb | kirop | ˈkʲiɾjop | |
drum | *kindaj | kindæ | kindɛ | kinda | ||
wind | *kijawo̝j | kˈjau | kiawɪ | kⁱoᵘ | ˈkʲijoᵘ | |
flower | *ke̝t | ket | kɛt | |||
tired | *ke̝te̝wa | ketewæ | kɛtɛwa | |||
unripe/raw | *ke̝tɔt | keˈtot | ketor | kɛtot | ||
ear | *ke̝ɾe̝-tɔp | kɪdɪtɔʔ- | kɛrɛtop | keretɔp | ˈkerɛtop̚ | |
eye | *ke̝-ɾɔp | keˈrap | kirap | kɛrop | ˈkɛɾop̚ | |
crocodile | *ke̝jambo̝t | keambut | kⁱambut | kʲijambot̚ | ||
spear | *ke̝jate̝ | keate | kⁱate | |||
revenge | *ke̝jat-ɔn | ketan | kᵉaton | |||
pinkie | *kɛt-kɛt | kætækæt | kidikit (?) | kɛtɛgɛt | ||
make fire | *kɵ̝m- | kumo- | kɵn- | |||
weak | *kɵ̝mbɵ̝t | kumbut | kɵmbɵt | |||
wall | *kɵ̝k | kuk | kɵk | |||
walk/go (n.p.) | *ka- | ka- | ka- | |||
widow | *kamɔk | kamok | ||||
head | *kambijan | kaːmbian | gambiãn | kɛmbian | kæmbiˈan | kʲembijan |
friend | *kambe̝n | ˈqaːmbɛn | ||||
worm | *kambɔt | ˈkambot̚ | ||||
palate | *kana[m/n] | kaːnan | kənaŋ | kanan | ||
outside | *kat | kat | kat | ˈqɑt | ||
saliva/spittle | *kate̝t | katet ~ kaːtæt | katɪt- | katɛt | ||
laugh | *ka-nde̝- | kande- | kan- | ˈqaːɖɛ- | ||
flesh | *kandɵ̝ | kaːndu | kandu | kandɵ | kaːnɖɔ ~ qanɖu | |
heavy | *kakɵ̝n | kakun | kægɵn | |||
old man | *kako̝p | ˈkaːɢup̚ | ||||
enough | *kaɾe̝- | kare- | karɛ- | |||
break (intr.) | *kaɾɔ-nde̝- | korondi- | karonɛ- | |||
walk/go (pres.) | *kɔ- | ko- | ˈgɔ- | |||
thunder | *kɔmɵ̝t | kumut | kumut | komɵt | ||
far | *kɔmam | koman | kɔmaːn | koman | ˈqomaːp̚ | |
neck | *kɔman | koːman | kɔman | koman | ||
wrist/six | *kɔmo̝k | komuk | gumuk | komuk | ˈkumuɢ- | |
big | *kɔn[ɛ]n[i] | ˈkononi | konɛni | ˈkononu ~ ɢɔnonu |
||
skin/bark | *kɔtaj | koˈtae | kotɛ ~ kodɛ | kota | ˈkotaʔ ~ -qotaʔ | |
foot/leg | *kɔndɔk | kondok | kɔndɔʔ | kondok | ˈqondok ~ ˈgɔnɖɔq |
|
stomach ache | *kɔk-ɔp | kokap | gogop | |||
ant | *kɔkɔj[a/ɔ]p | kokɛp | ˈqogojap | |||
wound | *kɔko̝j | koˈkoj | kogu | |||
be in pain | *kɔk-ke̝- | koki- | ||||
white | *kɔwat | koat | kɔwar- | koat | ˈqowat | |
now/today | *kɔwandɵ̝t | koˈ(w)aːndut | kᵒandɛp | |||
inside | *kɔɾo̝p | kurup | korup | ˈkorup | ||
stone axe | *kɔɾu | kory | ||||
go down/below | *kɔ-ɾu- | kory- | koru- ~ -qoru | |||
close eyes | *ko̝mbo̝- | kumbu- | kumbu- | kumbu- | ||
sky | *ko̝t | kut | kut | kut | qut̚ | |
goura pigeon | *ko̝taj | kuˈtae | kutɛ | kutᵉa | ||
ghost | *ko̝ko̝ | kuku | kugu | |||
theft | *ko̝ɾ-ɔp | kurap | kurop | |||
thirst | *ko̝ɾo̝t | kurut- | kurut- | |||
index finger/four | *ko̝ɾo̝ko̝t | kurukut | kurukut ~kruku- | kurugut | ˈquruɢut | |
bad/evil | *ko̝jɔm | kuˈjon- | kʏjoŋ- | kujom | ˈqujom | |
sugarcane | *kum | ˈkum-ae | kym | |||
die | *kum- | kumo- | kyn- ~ kym- | |||
blunt/dull | *kuɾ-ɔp | kurap | ˈkuɾʲop | |||
man/person | *kujap | kop | kuwab ~ kwab | kʸap | koɵp | ɢʷjɔp ~ qʷiap |
*-k- | k | k [k g] | k [k g] | k [g ɢ] | ||
be | *-ke̝- | -ki- | -ke- | -kɛ- | -kɛ ~ -gɛ | |
and/also | *-k[ɵ̝/o̝]p | -kup | -kup | -kɵp ~ -kup | -ɢup̚ ~ ɢop̚ | |
paddle | *ikɔj | iˈkoj | igɔ | igⁱo | ˈiːɢijo | |
see | *[i/e̝]t[i/e̝]k-jɔ- | eteko- | itigⁱo- | ˈitigio- | ||
3 sg. | *ɛkɛ(p) | ɛgɛ | ˈɛgɛp | |||
cheek | *amɔkaj | amokaˈjon | amɔkajɔ | amoga | ||
morning | *ake̝t | aket | agɛt | |||
vomit | *akɵ̝[m/n]- | akunde- | aguŋ- | agɵn- | ||
many | *akɵ̝p | æˈkup | agɵp | ˈaʔqop | ||
grandfather | *[a]kanɔt | nakanɔt | kanot | aɢanɔt | ||
extinguish | *o̝taki-mɔ- | utakimo- | utɛgimo- | |||
swallow | *mi[m/n]-kɵ̝m- | ˈmin-komo- | min kɵn- | |||
sit (fut.) | *mba-ki- | mbɛ-gi- | ˈbɛ-ɢi- | |||
fat/grease | *tɵ̝kɵ̝ | ˈtuku | tɵgɵ | |||
wet | *tɵ̝kɵ̝p | tukup | tɵgɵp | ˈtuɢup | ||
cuscus | *takip | tɛɢip̚ | ||||
cowrie shell | *tak[e̝/ɛ]t | taˈgɛt | ||||
larynx | *tɔkɔ-ɾɔp | tokoˈrap | tɔgɔɾɔp | togorop | ||
mouse | *to̝ko̝nap | tugunaːp | tugunaːp | |||
give | *ndik-jɔ- | ndiko- | diga- | ndigⁱo- | ˈɖikʲo- | |
liver | *ndo̝kɔm | nduːkon | ndugon | ˈɖuɢəm | ||
slow | *ndukun-man | ndukuˈnan | ndygyman | |||
heavy | *kakɵ̝n | kakun | kægɵn | |||
old man | *kako̝p | ˈkaːɢup̚ | ||||
stomach ache | *kɔk-ɔp | kokap | gogop | |||
ant | *kɔkɔj[a/ɔ]p | kokɛp | ˈqogojap | |||
wound | *kɔko̝j | koˈkoj | kogu | |||
ghost | *ko̝ko̝ | kuku | kugu | |||
index finger/four | *ko̝ɾo̝ko̝t | kurukut | kurukut ~kruku- | kurugut | ˈquruɢut | |
bamboo knife | *waki | waːki | wagi | wɛgi | ˈwɛgi | |
bush fowl | *wak[ɵ̝/o̝]m | wakumə | ||||
bad/worthless | *wakaɾ[ɛ]p | wɐgarap | wagærɛp | |||
mucus | *wakuɾaj | waːkuˈru | wagudɛ | wogyra | ||
quick/fast | *wɔke̝t | woket | ogɛt | |||
moon | *wɔkɔj | woˈkoj | wogɛ | ogo | ɔɢɔ | |
stand (fut.) | *ɾi-ki- | riki- ~ rigi- | rigi- | rigi- | ||
rainbow | *ɾe̝ko̝ko̝t | rekukut | rɛgugut | |||
break/split (tr.) | *ɾaka-mɔ- | rakamo- | ragaːmo- | |||
gather | *ɾo̝k[o̝]-mɔ- | rukumo- | rurukmo- | |||
sour | *ɾo̝ko̝p | rukup | rugup | |||
garden | *jakup | jaːˈkup | jokyp | joɢup |
Rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ has been identified in only a few words where it is followed by low central vowel /*a/. It's possible that there are other examples of /*kʷ/ followed by rounded back vowels which have gone unrecognized:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*kʷ- | kʷ [kʷ kᵒ] | kʷ | kʷ [kᵒ kᵒ] | kʷ [kᵘw] | ||
who? | *kʷap | kᵒap | kᵘwao | |||
ashes | *kʷate̝p | kotep | kʷatɛb ~ kʷatɪb | kotɛp | ||
sweat | *kʷate̝n | kʷaːtæn | kʷadɛ ~ kʷatɪn | kotɛn | ||
frog | *kʷak | kᵒak | ||||
*-kʷ- | kʷ [kᵒ] | kʷ | kʷ [gᵒ] | kʷ [kᵘw] | ||
fish | *ɾakʷaj | roˈkoj | rɔkʷe | rogᵒa | ˈrokᵘwa |
Bilabial prenasalized stop /*mb/ is retained as such in all descendants. Initial /*mb/ is often heard as plain voiced [b]:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*mb- | mb [mb b] | mb [b mb] | mb | mb [b] | mb [b mb] | |
shin | *mbin-tɔn | mbiton | bitoŋ | mbiton | ||
coconut | *mbijan | mbiˈan | mbia | mbian | ˈbijan | |
small | *mbe̝ɾɔn | mberon | mbɛron | ˈbɛɾon | ||
chest | *mbɛm-man | mbɛːˈman | mbɛmɐ | mbɛman | ||
forearm/seven | *mbɛn | mbæn | mbɛn ~ mbɛ- | mbɛn | bɛn | |
kunai grass | *mbɵ̝p | mbup | mbɵp | bəp̚ | ||
fly (v.) | *mbɵ̝ɾɵ̝-nde̝- | ˈmburunaka | mbɛrɛnɛ | ˈberɛndɛ | ||
sit | *mba- | mba- | mba- ~ pa- | mba- | bɛ- | |
father | *mbap | mbab | ||||
yawn | *mbanan | mbanan | mbanɐ | mbanan | ||
male | *mbatim | mbɛtin | ||||
finger/claw | *mbatit | badi- | mbɛtit | ˈbeti- | ||
bow | *mbandit | bandit | mbɛndit | ˈbɛndit | ||
thick | *mbatut | mbaˈtut | mbotyt | |||
sago stem | *mbaŋgi | mbaŋgi | mbɛŋgi | |||
lip(s) | *mbaŋgaj | baˈŋgae | baŋgai | mbaŋga | baˈŋga | ˈbɛɴɢa |
old person | *mbaɾi | mbaːˈri | mbɛri | mbeˈri | ||
thin | *mbaɾap | mbaˈrap | mbarap | |||
cassowary | *mbaje̝ŋg[a]p | ˈmbaeŋgap | mbaᵉŋgap | |||
lightning | *mbɔmban | mboˈmban | bombɛ | mbomba | ||
shivering | *mbɔmbandɵ̝m | mbombondum | mbombandɛn | |||
wing | *mbɔɾɵ̝ | mburu- | bəru- | mbɔrɵ | bərə | |
house/village | *mbo̝tup | butup | butyp ~ budyp | mbutyp | ||
deaf | *mbo̝ɾum | buruŋ-gi | buraŋ-gɪ- (?) | mburym-op | ˈbuɾʲum | |
back | *mbu-man | mbuːˈman | bumɐ ~ bumɛ | mbyman | ||
knee | *(wan-)mbujɔm | wambon | bun ~ wambon | wambyon | ˈwambʲijom | |
*-mb- | mb | mb | mb | mb | mb | |
think | *imbin-mɔ- | imbino- | imbimo- | |||
tooth | *imban | iːmban | imban ~ ibaŋ | imban | ˈimbʲijan | |
scabies/tinea | *iɾɔmbo̝t | ruˈmbut | imbut | imbut | ||
younger sister | *ambijat | aːmbˈjat | ɛmbⁱat | n-embʲijat | ||
laughter | *ambe̝n | amben | ambɪ- | |||
grandfather | *ambaj | ambae | ||||
lightning | *mbɔmban | mboˈmban | bombɛ | mbomba | ||
shivering | *mbɔmbandɵ̝m | mbombondum | mbombandɛn | |||
wash | *tambu(-mɔ)- | taːmbumo- | tombymo- | ɖomb- | ||
sweet potato | *tɔmbɵ̝-ɾɔp | tomboraːp | tombɵrop | ˈtombu-rop̚ | ||
crocodile | *ke̝jambo̝t | keambut | kⁱambut | kʲijambot̚ | ||
weak | *kɵ̝mbɵ̝t | kumbut | kɵmbɵt | |||
head | *kambijan | kaːmbian | gambiãn | kɛmbian | kæmbiˈan | kʲembijan |
friend | *kambe̝n | ˈqaːmbɛn | ||||
worm | *kambɔt | ˈkambot̚ | ||||
close eyes | *ko̝mbo̝- | kumbu- | kumbu- | kumbu- | ||
nape | *ŋgɛmbɛn | ŋgɛːmbɛn | ŋgɛmbɛn | |||
elbow/eight | *ŋgambum | ŋgaːmbun | gambu ~gambʏ | ŋgombyn | ɴɢombun | |
crooked | *ŋgambut | kambut- | ŋgombyt | |||
incorrect | *ŋgɔmbam | ŋgombæ | ŋgomban | |||
root | *ŋgo̝mbut | ŋguˈmbut | ŋgumbyt | |||
testicle | *wambi-ɾɔp | wambi-ˈrap | wanbi-rɔb | wambi-rap | ||
tail | *wambut | waˈmbut | wombyt | wombʊt̚ | ||
fever | *jambɔɾɔ | dʲambərɔ | ||||
door | *jambo̝[p]-tɔp | jambiˈtap | jambubɪtɔp | jombutop |
Apical prenasalized stop /*nd/ is retained as such in all descendants. Initial /*nd/ is often heard as plain voiced [d] and is relatively uncommon. Both initial and medial /*nd/ are often retroflexed [ɖ nɖ] in South Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*nd- | nd | nd [d nd] | nd | nd [ɖ d nd] | ||
straight | *ndindip | ndindip | ndindip | |||
give | *ndik-jɔ- | ndiko- | diga- | ndigⁱo- | ˈɖikʲo- | |
hot | *ndam | ndan | ndam | ˈɖaːɴ-ɢop̚ | ||
hear | *ndat- | ndar- | dar- | ndot- (?) | ˈdaːɾ- | |
fence | *ndaɾak | ndarat | ndrɐk | ndara | ˈdəra | |
not/nothing | *nd[a/ɔ]j | ˈndoe ~ ndoj | de- | nda | ndaʔ | |
marsupial | *ndawɔ | ndo- | do- | ndaᵒ | ˈdao- ~ ɖao- | |
nail | *ndɔk | ndok | -ndɔʔ | -ndok | ||
island | *ndo̝m | nduˈm-ap | -nduŋ | ndun | ||
liver | *ndo̝kɔm | nduːkon | ndugon | ˈɖuɢəm | ||
sago | *ndo̝j | ndoj | ndu | ndu | ɖu | |
heart | *ndum-ɾɔp | nduːmaˈrap | dumɔp ~ dʏmarɔp | ndymarop | ||
slow | *ndukun-man | ndukuˈnan | ndygyman | |||
*-nd- | nd | nd | nd | nd | nd [nd nɖ] | |
enemy | *ɛndɔm | ændon-ˈjat | ɛndon | |||
eat (fut.) | *ande̝- | andɛ- | andɛ- | ˈanɖɛ- | ||
burn (fut.) | *a-ndɔ- | ando- | ˈãːnɖo- | |||
body | *andu | andu ~ aːndu | andu | ondy | ondun | oːnɖu |
cook/burn | *andu- | any- (?) | ondy- | oːnɖu- | ||
upper limb | *mindin | mindin | mindi | |||
son | *mandɵ̝p | maːndɛp | ||||
roof | *mɔndɔm | mɔndɔm | ˈmoːnɖom | |||
bow | *mbandit | bandit | mbɛndit | ˈbɛndit | ||
shivering | *mbɔmbandɵ̝m | mbombondum | mbombandɛn | |||
straight | *ndindip | ndindip | ndindip | |||
drum | *kindaj | kindæ | kindɛ | kinda | ||
flesh | *kandɵ̝ | kaːndu | kandu | kandɵ | kaːnɖɔ ~ qanɖu | |
foot/leg | *kɔndɔk | kondok | kɔndɔʔ | kondok | ˈqondok ~ ˈgɔnɖɔq |
|
now/today | *kɔwandɵ̝t | koˈ(w)aːndut | kᵒandɛp | |||
chin/jaw | *ŋgandɵ̝m | ŋgaːndom | gandu ~ ganuŋ- | ŋgandɵm | ||
break/snap | *ŋgʷa-nde̝- | ŋgoandi- | ŋgʷanɛ- (?) | |||
earthquake | *windɵ̝m | wiˈndu | ondɵn | |||
belly | *wandin | wa(ː)ndin | wandin | wɛndin | ||
egg | *wandin | waːndin | wandi | wɛndin | ˈwɛndin | |
heel | *wandano̝ | waːndaːˈnu | wandani | waːndunu | ||
old/before | *wand-ɔp | wandap | wændop | ˈwaːnɖop̚ | ||
bird of paradise | *wandɔj | waːndoj | wɔndɛ ~ wandɔ | wando | ||
good | *wɔnde̝n | wɔndɪn | wondɛn | ˈwoːnɖɛn | ||
copulate | *ɾe̝[k/ŋg]e̝nde̝- -mɔ- | rekend mo- | rɛŋgɛndɛmo- | |||
path | *jandit | jandit | jɛndit | ˈdʒendit̚ ~ d͜ʒɛnɖit |
In one very common verb formative medial /*nd/ is unexpectedly reflected as /n/ in Drabbe's Kaeti:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-nd- | nd | n | nd | |||
do (intr.) | *-nde̝- | -ndi- ~ -nde- | -nɛ- | -ndɛ |
Velar prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ is retained as such in all descendants. Initial /*ŋg/ is sometimes heard as plain voiced [g] or occasionally as [k] in Upper Mandobo, while both initial and medial /*ŋg/ is sometimes realized as prenasalized voiceless [ŋk]. Both initial and medial /*ŋg/ are often backed to uvular [ɢ ɴɢ] in South Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*ŋg- | ŋg [ŋg g k] | ŋg [ŋg g ŋk k] | ŋg | ŋg | ŋg [ŋg g ɴɢ ɢ] | |
cold | *ŋgit | ŋgit | ŋgit | ɢit | ||
sand | *ŋgiɾim | ŋgirim | ŋgirim | -ŋgɾi- | ||
stink | *ŋge̝ne̝n | ŋgenen | kɛnɛ- | ŋgɛnɛn | ||
sharp | *ŋge̝te̝n | ŋgete | ŋgɛtɛn | ˈgeten | ||
nape | *ŋgɛmbɛn | ŋgɛːmbɛn | ŋgɛmbɛn | |||
nest | *ŋgɛɾim | ˈŋgɛlin | ŋgɛɾim | |||
2 sg. | *ŋgɵ̝p | ŋgup | ŋgɵp | ŋgɵp | ŋgɛp | |
elbow/eight | *ŋgambum | ŋgaːmbun | gambu ~gambʏ | ŋgombyn | ɴɢombun | |
crooked | *ŋgambut | kambut- | ŋgombyt | |||
phlegm | *ŋganɵ̝m | ˈŋganum | kɔnɛ | ŋgonɵm | ||
chin/jaw | *ŋgandɵ̝m | ŋgaːndom | gandu ~ ganuŋ- | ŋgandɵm | ||
2 pl. | *ŋgaŋgip | ŋgaŋgip | nɛŋgip (?) | ŋgæŋgip | ŋɛŋgip (?) | |
blood | *ŋgɔm | ŋgon | ŋgɔŋ | ŋgom | ŋgom | ɴɢom |
song | *ŋgɔm | -ŋkɔ | ŋgom | |||
arrow | *ŋgɔp | ŋgop | ŋkɔp | ŋgop | ɴɢop | |
incorrect | *ŋgɔmbam | ŋgombæ | ŋgomban | |||
navel/umbilicus | *ŋgo̝m | ŋgun | ŋgun | ŋgun | ||
root | *ŋgo̝mbut | ŋguˈmbut | ŋgumbyt | |||
black/blue | *ŋgo̝num | ŋguˈnum | gunʏn- | |||
louse | *ŋgo̝t | ŋgut | ŋgut | ɢʊt | ||
long/tall | *ŋgo̝ɾo̝-ɔp | ŋguruˈap ~ ŋguroˈap | ŋgurup | ŋguruop | ˈɢurup | |
*-ŋg- | ŋg [ŋg ŋk] | ŋg [ŋg ŋk] | ŋg | ŋg | ŋg [ŋg ɴɢ] | |
torch | *e̝ŋgɔt | ɪŋkɔt | ɛŋgot | |||
strong | *e̝ŋgɔwan | eŋgoˈan | ɛŋgᵒan | |||
thigh | *aŋgin | aˈŋgin | aŋgin | ɛŋgin | ||
wife | *aŋge̝n | aːŋgen | jaŋgɪn | aŋgɛn | jaːnˈgɛn (?) | |
dog | *aŋgaj | aˈŋgae | aŋkai | aŋga | ||
defecate | *aj-ŋgɔ- | æ-ŋgo- | aː ŋgo- | |||
young woman | *mɛŋg[ajɛ]t | mæˈŋgat | mɪŋgɪt | mɛŋgᵉɛt | ||
mouth/jaw | *maŋgɔt | maːˈŋkot | mɔŋgɔ- | maŋgot | ˈmaɴɢot | |
young/y. man | *mɔŋgɔp | moŋgop | moŋgop | ˈmoɴɢop | ||
sago stem | *mbaŋgi | mbaŋgi | mbɛŋgi | |||
lip(s) | *mbaŋgaj | baˈŋgae | baŋgai | mbaŋga | baˈŋga | ˈbɛɴɢa |
cassowary | *mbaje̝ŋg[a]p | ˈmbaeŋgap | mbaᵉŋgap | |||
1 pl. | *naŋgup | naŋgup | noŋgyp | noŋgup | ŋoŋɢup | |
afterbirth | *tiŋgɔ-ɾɔp | tiŋgorop | ||||
penis | *tɛŋgɛt | tɛːŋgæt | tɪŋgɪt | tɛŋgɛt | ||
shy/shame | *tɛɾɛŋgɛt | tɛrɛŋgɛt | ||||
war | *taŋgat | taŋgat | taŋkɪ- | taŋgat | ||
armpit | *taŋgɔn | taːŋgon | taŋkɔ- | tæŋgon | ||
nose | *taŋgo̝t | ta(ː)ŋgut | taŋgut | toŋgut | toŋgut | ˈtoɴɢut̚ |
2 pl. | *ŋgaŋgip | ŋgaŋgip | nɛŋgip | ŋgæŋgip | ŋɛŋgip | |
sister's son | *ɾaŋge̝n | raŋgin | raŋgɛn | |||
female | *ɾaŋgo̝j | rannu (?) | roŋgu | |||
3 pl. | *jaŋgip | jaŋgip | jɛŋgip | ˈjɛŋgip |
Rounded velar prenasalized stop /*ŋgʷ/ has been identified in only a few words where it is followed by low central vowel /*a/ or, in one instance, high mid back /*o̝/ where it is discernible only by its effect upon preceding /*a/ (below.) It's possible that there are other examples of /*ŋgʷ/ followed by rounded back vowels which have gone unrecognized. Like unrounded /*ŋg/ it can be backed to [ɴɢ] in South Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*ŋgʷ- | ŋgʷ [ŋgʷ ŋgᵒ] | ŋgʷ | ŋgʷ | |||
be sick/ill (?) | *ŋgʷa-mɔ- | ŋgʷamo- | ŋgʷaːmo- | |||
break/snap | *ŋgʷa-nde̝- | ŋgoandi- | ŋgʷanɛ- | |||
snake | *ŋgʷati | ŋgʷaːti | ŋgʷɛti | ŋgᵘwɛti | ||
*-ŋgʷ- | ŋgʷ [ŋgʷ ŋgᵒ] | ŋgʷ | ŋgʷ | ŋgʷ [ŋgʷ ɴɢʷ] | ||
thumb/five | *aŋgʷo̝ | oŋgu | ɔŋgɔ ~ oŋgu- | oŋgu | ˈoɴɢu | |
split (intr.) | *ŋgʷa-ŋgʷa- nde̝- | ŋgoŋgoande | ŋgoŋgʷan | |||
break/snap (tr.) | *ɾap-ŋgʷa-mɔ- | ˈroŋgoamo- | roŋgʷaːmo- |
Bilabial non-stop /*w/ is found almost only before vowels /*a *ɔ/. One example in which /*w/ is followed by high front /*i/ is unexpected and unexplained as both Dumut /*p *w/ are usually lost in this environment:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*w- | ||||||
earthquake | *windɵ̝m | wiˈndu | ondɵn (?) | |||
crippled/lame | *wa | wa | ||||
night/dark | *wamin | waˈmin | wami | wɛmin | ˈwɛmin | |
testicle | *wambi-ɾɔp | wambi-ˈrap | wanbi-rɔb | wambi-rap | ||
tail | *wambut | waˈmbut | wombyt | wombʊt̚ | ||
calf | *wan | wan- | wan- | wan | wam- | |
sick/ill | *watɵ̝k | waˈtuk | watuk ~ watut | watɛk | ||
belly | *wandin | wa(ː)ndin | wandin | wɛndin | ||
egg | *wandin | waːndin | wandi | wɛndin | ˈwɛndin | |
heel | *wandano̝ | waːndaːˈnu | wandani | waːndunu | ||
old/before | *wand-ɔp | wandap | wændop | ˈwaːnɖop̚ | ||
bird of paradise | *wandɔj | waːndoj | wɔndɛ ~ wandɔ | wando | ||
left | *wak | ˈwaq | ||||
bamboo knife | *waki | waːki | wagi | wɛgi | ˈwɛgi | |
bush fowl | *wak[ɵ̝/o̝]m | wakumə | ||||
bad/worthless | *wakaɾ[ɛ]p | wɐgarap | wagærɛp | |||
mucus | *wakuɾaj | waːkuˈru | wagudɛ | wogyra | ||
tongue | *wawɔn(-kat) | wan | wɐɔŋ ~ wɔŋ-kat | oŋ-gat | ˈwan | |
stairs/ladder | *waɾik | warit | warit ~ uarit | wɛrik | ||
watch/guard | *wɔmɔ- | womo- | ||||
quick/fast | *wɔke̝t | woket | ogɛt | |||
good | *wɔnde̝n | wɔndɪn | wondɛn | ˈwoːnɖɛn | ||
moon | *wɔkɔj | woˈkoj | wogɛ | ogo | ɔɢɔ | |
*-w- | ||||||
earth/ground | *itiwaj | itiˈwae | ɪtɪwɐ | itiwa | iˈtiwa | |
stone | *iwan | iwan | iwan | ˈiwan | ||
butterfly | *awɔmbɔɾɵ̝j-ɔp | aumbiriˈap | ||||
yesterday | *aɾuwaj | ˈaruwæ | orywa | |||
tired | *ke̝te̝wa | ketewæ | kɛtɛwa |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*w- | ||||||
*… | ||||||
*-w-/a_uj | ||||||
grandmother | *awujaj | aˈjae | -owɛ | oʸa | ɔɢʷja | |
cough | *awujɔk | ajok | awjɔʔ ~ aguɔʔ | oʸok | ˈɔɢᵘjɔq | |
*-w-/a_o̝j | ||||||
mother | *awo̝j | -ao | -aɪ | -oᵘ | ||
wind | *kijawo̝j | kˈjau | kiawɪ | kⁱoᵘ | ˈkʲijoᵘ | |
*-w-/ɔ_a | ||||||
strong | *e̝ŋgɔwan | eŋgoˈan | ɛŋgᵒan | |||
knowledge | *nɔwam | noaŋ-gi- | noam gɛ- | ˈnoam | ||
white | *kɔwat | koat | kɔwar- | koat | ˈqowat | |
now/today | *kɔwandɵ̝t | koˈ(w)aːndut | kᵒandɛp | |||
*-w-/a_ɔ | ||||||
wild pig | *tawɔn(-ɔp) | taoˈnap | taon | -daonɔp̚ | ||
marsupial | *ndawɔ | ndo- | do- | ndaᵒ | ˈdao- ~ ɖao- | |
breadfruit | *ɾawɔt | laːwot | raot | raɔt̚ | ||
*-w-/wa_ɔ | ||||||
tongue | *wawɔn(-kat) | wan | wɐɔŋ ~ wɔŋ-kat | oŋ-gat | ˈwan |
In one example, what would seem to be the reflex of Dumut /*w/ is given as voiced velar stop [g] in Drabbe's Kaeti:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-w-/o̝_a | [g] | |||||
spider | *ato̝wan | otugan |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-w-/wa_ɔ | ||||||
tongue | *wawɔn(-kat) | wan | wɐɔŋ ~ wɔŋ-kat | oŋ-gat | ˈwan |
Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ is retained as such in all descendants. Drabbe (1954: 62) states that Oámbon Dumut <r> may be heard as lateral [l]. It is occasionally heard as a voiced stop [d] in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*ɾ- | ɾ [r l] <r> | ɾ [ɾ d] | ɾ | ɾ | ||
stand (fut.) | *ɾi-ki- | riki- ~ rigi- | rigi- | rigi- | ||
stand | *ɾe̝- | re- | rɪ- | |||
copulate | *ɾe̝[k/ŋg]e̝nde̝- -mɔ- | rekend mo- | rɛŋgɛndɛmo- | |||
rainbow | *ɾe̝ko̝ko̝t | rekukut | rɛgugut | |||
break/snap (tr.) | *ɾap-ŋgʷa-mɔ- | ˈroŋgoamo- | roŋgʷaːmo- | |||
woman/female | *ɾan | ran | ran | ran | ran | |
lie down | *ɾan- | ran- | ||||
sister's son | *ɾaŋge̝n | raŋgin | raŋgɛn | |||
female | *ɾaŋgo̝j | rannu | roŋgu | |||
break/split (tr.) | *ɾaka-mɔ- | rakamo- | ragaːmo- | |||
fish | *ɾakʷaj | roˈkoj | rɔkʷe | rogᵒa | ˈrokᵘwa | |
breadfruit | *ɾawɔt | laːwot | raot | raɔt̚ | ||
plant (v.) | *ɾɔ- | ro- | ro- | |||
cry/weep | *ɾɔm- | romo- | rɔŋ- ~ rɔn- | run- | ||
fruit/seed | *ɾɔp | rop | -rɔp | rop | rop̚ | |
hair/leaf/feather | *ɾɔn | ron | -rɔn ~ -rɔŋ ~ -rɔ | ron | ron | |
two | *ɾo̝mɔ | rumo | rumɔ | rumo | ˈrumɔ | |
gather | *ɾo̝k[o̝]-mɔ- | rukumo- | rurukmo- | |||
sour | *ɾo̝ko̝p | rukup | rugup | |||
sing | *ɾu- | ry- | ry- | |||
chop down | *ɾu- | ru- | -ry- | |||
tie/bind | *ɾun- | ru- | ryn | ˈrʲuɲ- | ||
*-ɾ- | ɾ [r l] <r> | ɾ [ɾ d] | ɾ | ɾ | ɾ | |
tail of bird | *ataɾɔn | etaˈron | ataron | |||
rib(s) | *[a]ɾin-man | riˈnan | rinɐ | ɛriman | eriman | |
raw/alive | *aɾɵ̝ | aru- | arɛ | aˈrɛ | ||
voice/speech | *[a]ɾɵ̝k | ruk- | ruk- | arɛk | ˈaɾɛ- | |
chop down | *a-ɾu- | o-ry- | ||||
boil (n.) | *[a]ɾun | run | dyʔ | oryn | ||
thorn | *aɾun | aːrun | oryn | ˈorun | ||
thorn | *aɾuk | aryk | ||||
yesterday | *aɾuwaj | ˈaruwæ | orywa | |||
daylight | *ɔɾat | oˈrat | orat | |||
get up/stand up | *ma-tɵ̝ɾɵ̝- | ˈmatoro | madɔr- | ˈmætɛrɛ- | ˈmotro | |
rain | *mo̝ɾup | murup | muryp | ˈmurup̚ | ||
turtle | *mbiɾip | mbirip | mbirip | |||
small | *mbe̝ɾɔn | mberon | mbɛron | ˈbɛɾon | ||
fly (v.) | *mbɵ̝ɾɵ̝-nde̝- | ˈmburunaka | mbɛrɛnɛ | ˈberɛndɛ | ||
wing | *mbɔɾɵ̝ | mburu- | bəru- | mbɔrɵ | bərə | |
old person | *mbaɾi | mbaːˈri | mbɛri | mbeˈri | ||
thin | *mbaɾap | mbaˈrap | mbarap | |||
deaf | *mbo̝ɾum | buruŋ-gi | buraŋ-gɪ- (?) | mburym-op | ˈbuɾʲum | |
leech | *te̝ɾe̝n | teren | tɛrɛn | tɛrɛn | ||
grasshopper | *t[e̝/ɛ]ɾ[e̝/ɛ] | tɛrɛ | ||||
shy/shame | *tɛɾɛŋgɛt | tɛrɛŋgɛt | ||||
go up/above/above | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝- | toˈro- | tro- | tɵɾɵ- | -ˈtru ~ -turuː | |
ear | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝n-tɔp | toro-ˈtap | turu-tup | |||
hide | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝k-mɔ- | turuk-mo- | tɵrɵk-mo- | |||
wife | *taɾip | taːrip | ||||
house/hut | *taɾap | tarap | ˈtərap | |||
cold | *taɾo̝j | təruj | ||||
sweet potato | *tɔmbɵ̝-ɾɔp | tomboraːp | tombɵrop | ˈtombu-rop̚ | ||
fence | *ndaɾak | ndarat | ndrɐk | ndara | ˈdəra | |
ear | *ke̝ɾe̝-tɔp | kɪdɪtɔʔ- | kɛrɛtop | keretɔp | ˈkerɛtop̚ | |
eye | *ke̝-ɾɔp | keˈrap | kirap | kɛrop | ˈkɛɾop̚ | |
enough | *kaɾe̝- | kare- | karɛ- | |||
break (intr.) | *kaɾɔ-nde̝- | korondi- | karonɛ- | |||
inside | *kɔɾo̝p | kurup | korup | ˈkorup | ||
stone axe | *kɔɾu | kory | ||||
go down/below | *kɔ-ɾu- | kory- | koru- ~ -qoru | |||
theft | *ko̝ɾ-ɔp | kurap | kurop | |||
index finger/four | *ko̝ɾo̝ko̝t | kurukut | kurukut ~kruku- | kurugut | ˈquruɢut | |
blunt/dull | *kuɾ-ɔp | kurap | ˈkuɾʲop | |||
sand | *ŋgiɾim | ŋgirim | ŋgirim | -ŋgɾi- | ||
nest | *ŋgɛɾim | ˈŋgɛlin | ŋgɛɾim | |||
long/tall | *ŋgo̝ɾo̝-ɔp | ŋguruˈap ~ ŋguroˈap | ŋgurup | ŋguruop | ˈɢurup | |
bad/worthless | *wakaɾ[ɛ]p | wɐgarap | wagærɛp | |||
mucus | *wakuɾaj | waːkuˈru | wagudɛ | wogyra | ||
stairs/ladder | *waɾik | warit | warit ~ uarit | wɛrik | ||
fever | *jambɔɾɔ | dʲambərɔ | ||||
smoke | *jaɾo̝k | jaːˈrup | -dʲarub ~-narʏp | oruk | -oruk̚ |
In one example, medial /*ɾ/ is unexpectedly dropped in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo and in Drabbe's Kaeti. Here the originality of the sequence /*iɾɔ/ is based upon comparison to East Wambon /iɾɔmbut/:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-ɾ- | ɾ | ø | ø | |||
scabies/tinea | *iɾɔmbo̝t | ruˈmbut | imbut | imbut |
Initial palatal non-stop /*j/ has been found only preceding vowels /*ɵ̝ *a *ɔ/. It is sometimes occluded to [dʲ dʒ] in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo and in South Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*j-/_ɵ̝ a ɔ | j | j [j dʲ] | j | j [j dʒ] | ||
3 sg. | *jɵ̝p | jup | ||||
fever | *jambɔɾɔ | dʲambərɔ | ||||
door | *jambo̝[p]-tɔp | jambiˈtap | jambubɪtɔp | jombutop | ||
tomorrow | *jane̝n | jaˈnin | jaːnɛn | |||
path | *jandit | jandit | jɛndit | ˈdʒendit̚ | ||
garden | *jakup | jaːˈkup | jokyp | joɢup | ||
3 pl. | *jaŋgip | jaŋgip | jɛŋgip | ˈjɛŋgip | ||
canoe | *jahun | jaˈun | jahu | joyn | ˈjoun | |
flying fox | *jajap | jaˈjap | jajap | |||
call | *jɔ- | ˈjoa- | ja- | jo- | ||
mat | *jɔm | jom | ||||
mother | *jɔp | -jop̚ |
The reflexes of medial /*j/ are like those of /*w/ (above) quite complicated and often result in phonetic vowel sequences or diphthongs. Some examples of /*j/ reflect Dumut medial /*p/, which is reinterpreted as either Mandobo /*w/ or /*j/ depending upon the qualities of adjacent vowels.
When preceded and followed by non-front vowels /*a *ɔ *o̝ /, /*j/ is retained as such in all descendants:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-j-/_a ɔ | j | j | j | j | ||
flying fox | *jajap | jaˈjap | jajap | |||
bad/evil | *ko̝jɔm | kuˈjon- | kʏjoŋ- | kujom | ˈqujom |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-j-/i_a | ||||||
younger sister | *ambijat | aːmbˈjat | ɛmbⁱat | n-embʲijat | ||
coconut | *mbijan | mbiˈan | mbia | mbian | ˈbijan | |
head | *kambijan | kaːmbian | gambiãn | kɛmbian | kæmbiˈan | kʲembijan |
*-j-/i_aw | ||||||
wind | *kijawo̝j | kˈjau | kiawɪ | kⁱoᵘ | ˈkʲijoᵘ | |
*-j-/u_a | ||||||
bamboo vessel | *ndujam | ndon | dʏwɐn | ndʸam | ˈɖuwom | |
man/person | *kujap | kop | kuwab ~ kwab | kʸap | koɵp | ɢʷjɔp ~ qʷiap |
*-j-/u_ɔ | ||||||
knee | *(wan-)mbujɔm | wambon | bun ~ wambon | wambyon | ˈwambʲijom | |
*-j-/wu_V | ||||||
grandmother | *awujaj | aˈjae | -owɛ | oʸa | ɔɢʷja | |
cough | *awujɔk | ajok | awjɔʔ ~ aguɔʔ | oʸok | ˈɔɢᵘjɔq | |
*-j-/e̝_jɛ | ||||||
sun | *t[e̝jɛ]t | tet | teiɪt | tᵉɛt | tɛt̚ | |
*-j-/e̝_a | ||||||
crocodile | *ke̝jambo̝t | keambut | kⁱambut | kʲijambot̚ | ||
spear | *ke̝jate̝ | keate | kⁱate | |||
revenge | *ke̝jat-ɔn | ketan | kᵉaton | |||
*-j-/ɔ_[a/ɔ] | ||||||
ant | *kɔkɔj[a/ɔ]p | kokɛp | ˈqogojap | |||
*-j-/a_e̝ | ||||||
cassowary | *mbaje̝ŋg[a]p | ˈmbaeŋgap | mbaᵉŋgap | |||
shoot | *t[a]je̝m- | tɪn- | tᵉɛn- | tʲiam- | ||
mosquito | *taje̝n-ɔp | ˈtaen-ap | taen-ɔp | taᵉn-op | taᵉn-op | |
upper arm/nine | *taje̝t | taːet | ta’ɪt | taɛt | ˈtait |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*… | ||||||
young woman | *mɛŋg[ajɛ]t | mæˈŋgat | mɪŋgɪt | mɛŋgᵉɛt |
At least two instances of a phoneme /*h/ are found retained only in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo. In the first case, this reflects a loan word /*sapo̝k/, [h] being the fricated and deoccluded reflex of /*p/ which is merged with /*w/ or dropped altogether in native words; the second is a loan from Marind-Yaqay /*iawun/ with the aspiration of /*w/ to [hʷ h] characteristic of Marind's western dialects; cf. Awyu /*jaxʷuN/ with the special phoneme /*xʷ/ found only in Marind loans.
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-h- | ø | h [h ø] | ø | ø | ||
tobacco | *taho̝k | ˈtauk | tahuk ~ tʲauk | |||
canoe | *jahun | jaˈun | jahu | joyn | ˈjoun |
Only a restricted set of consonants /*m *n *p *t *k *j/ occurs finally.
Final bilabial nasal /*m/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-m | ||||||
enemy | *ɛndɔm | ændon-ˈjat | ɛndon | |||
breast | *am | an | aːm | am | ˈãm | |
story/tradition | *matɔm | maːton | ||||
mother's br. | *mɔm | mɔm | mom | |||
roof | *mɔndɔm | mɔndɔm ~ mɔndɔ | ˈmoːnɖom | |||
male | *mbatim | mbɛtin | ||||
shivering | *mbɔmbandɵ̝m | mbombondum | mbombandɛn | |||
deaf | *mbo̝ɾum | buruŋ-gi | buraŋ-gɪ- (?) | mburym-op | ˈbuɾʲum | |
knee | *mbujɔm | wambon | bun ~ wambon | wambyon | ˈwambʲijom | |
knowledge | *nɔwam | noaŋ-gi- | noam gɛ- | ˈnoam | ||
fireplace/hearth | *te̝nɔm | tinɔ ~ tɪnɔm | ||||
hot | *ndam | ndan | ndam | ˈɖaːɴ-ɢop̚ | ||
island | *ndo̝m | nduˈm-ap | -nduŋ | ndun | ||
liver | *ndo̝kɔm | nduːkon | ndugon | ˈɖuɢəm | ||
bamboo vessel | *ndujam | ndon | dʏwɐn | ndʸam | ˈɖuwom | |
sleep | *kino̝m | kinum | kinum | ˈki(ː)nim | ||
far | *kɔmam | koman | kɔmaːn | koman | ˈqomaːp̚ (?) | |
bad/evil | *ko̝jɔm | kuˈjon- | kʏjoŋ- | kujom | ˈqujom | |
sugarcane | *kum | ˈkum-ae | kym | |||
sand | *ŋgiɾim | ŋgirim | ŋgirim | -ŋgɾi- | ||
nest | *ŋgɛɾim | ˈŋgɛlin | ŋgɛɾim | |||
elbow/eight | *ŋgambum | ŋgaːmbun | gambu ~gambʏ | ŋgombyn | ɴɢombun | |
phlegm | *ŋganɵ̝m | ˈŋganum | kɔnɛ | ŋgonɵm | ||
chin/jaw | *ŋgandɵ̝m | ŋgaːndom | gandu ~ ganuŋ- | ŋgandɵm | ||
blood | *ŋgɔm | ŋgon | ŋgɔŋ | ŋgom | ŋgom | ɴɢom |
song | *ŋgɔm | -ŋkɔ | ŋgom | |||
incorrect | *ŋgɔmbam | ŋgombæ | ŋgomban | |||
navel/umbilicus | *ŋgo̝m | ŋgun | ŋgun | ŋgun | ||
black/blue | *ŋgo̝num | ŋguˈnum | gunʏn- | |||
earthquake | *windɵ̝m | wiˈndu | ondɵn | |||
bush fowl | *wak[ɵ̝/o̝]m | wakumə | ||||
mat | *jɔm | jom |
Verbs with final /*m/ are reinterpeted as including or reinforced with auxilliary formative /*-mɔ-/ “do” in Drabbe's Oambòn Dumut:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*--) | ø-mo | |||||
swallow | *mi[m/n]-kɵ̝m- | ˈmin-komo- | min kɵn- | |||
bathe | *kim- | kimo- | kɪn- | gin- | kʲim- | |
die | *kum- | kumo- | kyn- ~ kym- | |||
make fire | *kɵ̝m- | kumo- | kɵn- | |||
cry/weep | *ɾɔm- | romo- | rɔŋ- ~ rɔn- | run- |
Final apical nasal /*n/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-n | ||||||
tooth | *imban | iːmban | imban ~ ibaŋ | imban | ˈimbʲijan | |
stone | *iwan | iwan | iwan | ˈiwan | ||
fire/tree | *[i/e̝]n | in ~ ɪn | in | jin ~ ˈi(ː)n | ||
strong | *e̝ŋgɔwan | eŋgoˈan | ɛŋgᵒan | |||
milk | *am-ko̝n | an-ŋgun | am-kun | am-kun | ||
laughter | *ambe̝n | amben | ambɪ- | |||
eat | *ane̝n- | aneŋ- | anɪ- ~ anɛ- | anɛn- | ||
younger brother | *[a]nan | naːn | ənan | anan | ||
tail of bird | *ataɾɔn | etaˈron | ataron | |||
spider | *ato̝wan | otugan | ||||
thigh | *aŋgin | aˈŋgin | aŋgin | ɛŋgin | ||
wife | *aŋge̝n | aːŋgen | jaŋgɪn | aŋgɛn | jaːnˈgɛn | |
rib(s) | *[a]ɾin-man | riˈnan | rinɐ | ɛriman | eriman | |
boil (n.) | *[a]ɾun | run | dyʔ | oryn | ||
thorn | *aɾun | aːrun | oryn | ˈorun | ||
upper limb | *mindin | mindin | mindi | |||
gall/bile | *mɛn | mæn | mɛn | |||
child | *mo̝n | mun | mu | mun | mun | |
shin | *mbin-tɔn | mbiton | bitoŋ | mbiton | ||
coconut | *mbijan | mbiˈan | mbia | mbian | ˈbijan | |
small | *mbe̝ɾɔn | mberon | mbɛron | ˈbɛɾon | ||
chest | *mbɛm-man | mbɛːˈman | mbɛmɐ | mbɛman | ||
forearm/seven | *mbɛn | mbæn | mbɛn ~ mbɛ- | mbɛn | bɛn | |
yawn | *mbanan | mbanan | mbanɐ | mbanan | ||
lightning | *mbɔmban | mboˈmban | bombɛ | mbomba | ||
back | *mbu-man | mbuːˈman | bumɐ ~ bumɛ | mbyman | ||
leech | *te̝ɾe̝n | teren | tɛrɛn | tɛrɛn | ||
armpit | *taŋgɔn | taːŋgon | taŋkɔ- | tæŋgon | ||
wild pig | *tawɔn(-ɔp) | taoˈnap | taon | -daonɔp̚ | ||
rat | *t[ɔ]mɔn | tomon | ||||
revenge | *ke̝jat-ɔn | ketan | kᵉaton | |||
head | *kambijan | kaːmbian | gambiãn | kɛmbian | kæmbiˈan | kʲembijan |
friend | *kambe̝n | ˈqaːmbɛn | ||||
heavy | *kakɵ̝n | kakun | kægɵn | |||
neck | *kɔman | koːman | kɔman | koman | ||
stink | *ŋge̝ne̝n | ŋgenen | kɛnɛ- | ŋgɛnɛn | ||
sharp | *ŋge̝te̝n | ŋgete | ŋgɛtɛn | ˈgeten | ||
nape | *ŋgɛmbɛn | ŋgɛːmbɛn | ŋgɛmbɛn | |||
sweat | *kʷate̝n | kʷaːtæn | kʷadɛ ~ kʷatɪn | kotɛn | ||
night/dark | *wamin | waˈmin | wami | wɛmin | ˈwɛmin | |
calf | *wan | wan- | wan- | wan | wam- | |
belly | *wandin | wa(ː)ndin | wandin | wɛndin | ||
egg | *wandin | waːndin | wandi | wɛndin | ˈwɛndin | |
tongue | *wawɔn(-kat) | wan | wɐɔŋ ~ wɔŋ-kat | oŋ-gat | ˈwan | |
good | *wɔnde̝n | wɔndɪn | wondɛn | ˈwoːnɖɛn | ||
woman/female | *ɾan | ran | ran | ran | ran | |
sister's son | *ɾaŋge̝n | raŋgin | raŋgɛn | |||
hair/leaf/feather | *ɾɔn | ron | -rɔn ~ -rɔŋ ~ -rɔ | ron | ron | |
tie/bind | *ɾun- | ru- | ryn | ˈrʲuɲ- | ||
tomorrow | *jane̝n | jaˈnin | jaːnɛn | |||
canoe | *jahun | jaˈun | jahu | joyn | ˈjoun |
Final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-p | ||||||
many | *akɵ̝p | æˈkup | agɵp | ˈaʔqop | ||
intestines | *aj-mo̝n-ɔp | aː monap | o-munop | ˈɔ-mːunɔp̚ | ||
fly (n.) | *umɔn-ɔp | umoˈnap | umonop (?) | |||
name | *up | up | ub | yp | up | |
right | *up | ˈuq (?) | ||||
star/firefly | *min-ɔp | miˈnap | miːnop | minap | ˈminjop̚ | |
bone | *mit-ɔp | miˈrap | mirɔb ~ midop | mirap | mirʲɔp̚ | |
soft | *me̝nap | meˈnap | mɛnap | |||
daughter | *matip | mɛtip | ||||
son | *mandɵ̝p | maːndɛp | ||||
young/y. man | *mɔŋgɔp | moŋgop | moŋgop | ˈmoɴɢop | ||
rain | *mo̝ɾup | murup | muryp | ˈmurup̚ | ||
turtle | *mbiɾip | mbirip | mbirip | |||
kunai grass | *mbɵ̝p | mbup | mbɵp | bəp̚ | ||
thin | *mbaɾap | mbaˈrap | mbarap | |||
house/village | *mbo̝tup | butup | butyp ~ budyp | mbutyp | ||
1 sg. | *nɵ̝p | nup | nɵp | nɵp | nup̚ | |
1 pl. | *naŋgup | naŋgup | noŋgyp | noŋgup | ŋoŋɢup | |
red | *te̝n-ɔp | teˈnap | tənɔw- | tɛnop | ˈtɛnop̚ | |
wet | *tɵ̝kɵ̝p | tukup | tɵgɵp | ˈtuɢup | ||
cuscus | *takip | tɛɢip̚ | ||||
wife | *taɾip | taːrip | ||||
house/hut | *taɾap | tarap | ˈtərap | |||
mosquito | *taje̝n-ɔp | ˈtaen-ap | taen-ɔp | taᵉn-op | taᵉn-op | |
dry | *tɔmap | toˈmap | tɔma- | tomap | ||
hole | *-tɔp | -top | -tɔp | -top | -top | -top̚ |
mouse | *to̝ko̝nap | tugunaːp | tugunaːp | |||
straight | *ndindip | ndindip | ndindip | |||
near | *kit-ɔp | kiˈrap | kɪdɔb | kirop | ˈkʲiɾjop | |
eye | *ke̝-ɾɔp | keˈrap | kirap | kɛrop | ˈkɛɾop̚ | |
and/also | *-k[ɵ̝/o̝]p | -kup | -kup | -kɵp ~ -kup | -ɢup̚ ~ ɢop̚ | |
old man | *kako̝p | ˈkaːɢup̚ | ||||
stomach ache | *kɔk-ɔp | kokap | gogop | |||
ant | *kɔkɔj[a/ɔ]p | kokɛp | ˈqogojap | |||
inside | *kɔɾo̝p | kurup | korup | ˈkorup | ||
theft | *ko̝ɾ-ɔp | kurap | kurop | |||
blunt/dull | *kuɾ-ɔp | kurap | ˈkuɾʲop | |||
2 sg. | *ŋgɵ̝p | ŋgup | ŋgɵp | ŋgɵp | ŋgɛp | |
2 pl. | *ŋgaŋgip | ŋgaŋgip | nɛŋgip | ŋgæŋgip | ŋɛŋgip | |
arrow | *ŋgɔp | ŋgop | ŋkɔp | ŋgop | ɴɢop | |
long/tall | *ŋgo̝ɾo̝-ɔp | ŋguruˈap ~ ŋguroˈap | ŋgurup | ŋguruop | ˈɢurup | |
who? | *kʷap | kᵒap | kᵘwao (?) | |||
ashes | *kʷate̝p | kotep | kʷatɛb ~ kʷatɪb | kotɛp | ||
old/before | *wand-ɔp | wandap | wændop | ˈwaːnɖop̚ | ||
bad/worthless | *wakaɾ[ɛ]p | wɐgarap | wagærɛp | |||
fruit/seed | *ɾɔp | rop | -rɔp | rop | rop̚ | |
sour | *ɾo̝ko̝p | rukup | rugup | |||
3 sg. | *jɵ̝p | jup | ||||
garden | *jakup | jaːˈkup | jokyp | joɢup | ||
3 pl. | *jaŋgip | jaŋgip | jɛŋgip | ˈjɛŋgip | ||
flying fox | *jajap | jaˈjap | jajap | |||
mother | *jɔp | -jop̚ |
Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t | ||||||
hand/arm | *it | it | it | it | ˈiːt̚ | |
cassowary | *itit | itit | ||||
scabies/tinea | *iɾɔmbo̝t | ruˈmbut | imbut | imbut | ||
bird | *e̝t | et | ɛt | et̚ | ||
torch | *e̝ŋgɔt | ɪŋkɔt | ɛŋgot | |||
skinny | *ɛt-ɛt | or-æt | ɛr-ɛt | |||
younger sister | *ambijat | aːmbˈjat | ɛmbⁱat | n-embʲijat | ||
older brother | *ane̝t | aner-ˈap | anɛt | |||
morning | *ake̝t | aket | agɛt | |||
grandfather | *[a]kanɔt | nakanɔt | kanot | aɢanɔt | ||
daylight | *ɔɾat | oˈrat | orat | |||
flatulence | *aj-mbut | o-mbyt | ||||
scar | *o̝t | ut | ut- | ut | ||
young woman | *mɛŋg[ajɛ]t | mæˈŋgat | mɪŋgɪt | mɛŋgᵉɛt | ||
beard | *matut | maːˈtut | madut ~ madʲyt | matit | ||
mouth/jaw | *maŋgɔt | maːˈŋkot | mɔŋgɔ- | maŋgot | ˈmaɴɢot | |
finger/claw | *mbatit | badi- | mbɛtit | ˈbeti- | ||
thick | *mbatut | mbaˈtut | mbotyt | |||
bow | *mbandit | bandit | mbɛndit | ˈbɛndit | ||
dog | *tit | ti̪t | ||||
sun | *t[e̝jɛ]t | tet | teiɪt | tᵉɛt | tɛt̚ | |
tendon/vein | *tɛmɛt | tæmæt | tɛmɪt ~ tɪmɪt | tɛmɛt | ||
areca nut | *tɛt | tɛt | ||||
penis | *tɛŋgɛt | tɛːŋgæt | tɪŋgɪt | tɛŋgɛt | ||
shy/shame | *tɛɾɛŋgɛt | tɛrɛŋgɛt | ||||
palm/sole | *tat | tat | tat | |||
cowrie shell | *tak[e̝/ɛ]t | taˈgɛt | ||||
war | *taŋgat | taŋgat | taŋkɪ- (?) | taŋgat | ||
nose | *taŋgo̝t | ta(ː)ŋgut | taŋgut | toŋgut | toŋgut | ˈtoɴɢut̚ |
upper arm/nine | *taje̝t | taːet | ta’ɪt | taɛt | ˈtait | |
banana | *tut | tyt | ||||
flower | *ke̝t | ket | kɛt | |||
unripe/raw | *ke̝tɔt | keˈtot | ketor (?) | kɛtot | ||
crocodile | *ke̝jambo̝t | keambut | kⁱambut | kʲijambot̚ | ||
pinkie | *kɛt-kɛt | kætækæt | kidikit (?) | kɛtɛgɛt | ||
weak | *kɵ̝mbɵ̝t | kumbut | kɵmbɵt | |||
worm | *kambɔt | ˈkambot̚ | ||||
outside | *kat | kat | kat | ˈqɑt | ||
saliva/spittle | *kate̝t | katet ~ kaːtæt | katɪt- | katɛt | ||
thunder | *kɔmɵ̝t | kumut | kumut | komɵt | ||
white | *kɔwat | koat | koat | ˈqowat | ||
now/today | *kɔwandɵ̝t | koˈ(w)aːndut | kᵒandɛp (?) | |||
sky | *ko̝t | kut | kut | kut | qut̚ | |
thirst | *ko̝ɾo̝t | kurut- | kurut- | |||
index finger/four | *ko̝ɾo̝ko̝t | kurukut | kurukut ~kruku- | kurugut | ˈquruɢut | |
crooked | *ŋgambut | kambut- | ŋgombyt | |||
root | *ŋgo̝mbut | ŋguˈmbut | ŋgumbyt | |||
louse | *ŋgo̝t | ŋgut | ŋgut | ɢʊt | ||
tail | *wambut | waˈmbut | wombyt | wombʊt̚ | ||
quick/fast | *wɔke̝t | woket | ogɛt | |||
rainbow | *ɾe̝ko̝ko̝t | rekukut | rɛgugut | |||
breadfruit | *ɾawɔt | laːwot | raot | raɔt̚ | ||
path | *jandit | jandit | jɛndit | ˈdʒendit̚ |
Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ is significantly less common than final anteriors /*p *t/, an assymetry which dates to Digul River's merger of Digul River-Ok final prenasalized /*mb *nd/ with /*p *t/ but velar /*ŋg/ with apical nasal /*n/ rather than with /*k/. It is often heard as glottal stop [ʔ] in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k | k | k [k ʔ ø] | k | k | k [k k̚ q] | |
cough | *awujɔk | ajok | awjɔʔ ~ aguɔʔ | oʸok | ˈɔɢᵘjɔq | |
voice/speech | *[a]ɾɵ̝k | ruk- | ruk- | arɛk | ˈaɾɛ- | |
thorn | *aɾuk | aryk | ||||
water | *ɔk | ok | ɔk | ok | oq | |
brain/skull | *mɵ̝k | muk | muk ~ mug- | mɵk | mɵk | moq- |
shoulder/ten | *mak | maːk | mɐʔ ~ mak- | mak | maɢ- | |
rattan/rope | *tik | tik | tik ~ ti | tik | tik | |
blind | *te̝k | -tek | tɛg-op | |||
nail | *ndɔk | ndok | -ndɔʔ | -ndok | ||
wall | *kɵ̝k | kuk | kɵk | |||
widow | *kamɔk | kamok | ||||
wrist/six | *kɔmo̝k | komuk | gumuk | komuk | ˈkumuɢ- | |
foot/leg | *kɔndɔk | kondok | kɔndɔʔ | kondok | ˈqondok ~ ˈgɔnɖɔq |
|
frog | *kʷak | kᵒak |
Several examples of final /*k/ are heard as /t/ in Upper Mandobo. This has been found to occur only following apicals /*t *ɾ/ in the previous syllable, but is not regular:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k | k [k t] | k [k t] | k | |||
sick/ill | *watɵ̝k | waˈtuk | watuk ~ watut | watɛk | ||
stairs/ladder | *waɾik | warit | warit ~ uarit | wɛrik |
In one example, final /*k/ is unexpectedly reflected as /p/ in Upper Mandobo; here the original value of /*k/ is confirmed through comparison to East Wambon and Digul Wambon:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k | p | p [p b] | k | k | ||
smoke | *jaɾo̝k | jaːˈrup | -dʲarub ~-narʏp | oruk | -oruk̚ |
In one example, final /*k/ is unexpectedly dropped in both Drabbe's Kaeti and in South Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k | k [t] | k | ø | ø | ||
fence | *ndaɾak | ndarat | ndrɐk | ndara | ˈdəra |
Final palatal non-stop /*j/ …
…/*o̝j/ … [o̝ⁱ] …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-o̝j | oⁱ | uⁱ [uⁱ u] | u | u | ||
ripe/yellow | *amo̝j | amoj | amui | omu | ˈomu | |
pig | *o̝j | oj | u | u | ||
cold | *taɾo̝j | təruj | ||||
sago | *ndo̝j | ndoj | ndu | ndu | ɖu | |
wound | *kɔko̝j | koˈkoj | kogu | |||
female | *ɾaŋgo̝j | rannu | roŋgu | |||
*-o̝j/aw_ | [o u] | i [ɪ] | u [ᵘ] | u [ᵘ] | ||
mother | *awo̝j | -ao | -aɪ | -oᵘ | ||
wind | *kijawo̝j | kˈjau | kiawɪ | kⁱoᵘ | ˈkʲijoᵘ |
… /*ɔj/ … [*ɔⁱ] …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*ɔj | ɔⁱ | ɔⁱ [ɔ ɛ] | ||||
paddle | *ikɔj | iˈkoj | igɔ | igⁱo | ˈiːɢijo | |
net bag | *e̝nɔj | ɪnɛ | ˈɛnɔ̃ | |||
bird of paradise | *wandɔj | waːndoj | wɔndɛ ~ wandɔ | wando | ||
moon | *wɔkɔj | woˈkoj | wogɛ | ogo | ɔɢɔ |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*ɔj | ||||||
one | *ɔm[ɔ]j | oˈmoj | womɛ | omɛ | ˈɔmɛ |
One irregular example has reflexes of /*ɔj/ in Upper Mandobo and of /*aj/ elsewhere, probably indicating a loan from East Wambon into Upper Mandobo as Mandobo /*ndaj/ from Dumut /*ndɒj/ would be regular:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*[a/ɔ]j | ɔⁱ | e | a | a | ||
not/nothing | *nd[a/ɔ]j | ˈndoe ~ ndoj | de- | nda | ndaʔ |
… /*aj/ … [aᵋ] …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-aj | aᵉ [aᵉ æ] | aᵉ [e ɛ aⁱ] | a | a | a | |
earth/ground | *itiwaj | itiˈwae | ɪtɪwɐ (?) | itiwa | iˈtiwa | |
cheek | *amɔkaj | amokaˈjon | amɔkajɔ ~aməke | amoga | ||
grandfather | *ambaj | ambae | ||||
dog | *aŋgaj | aˈŋgae | aŋkai | aŋga | ||
grandmother | *awujaj | aˈjae | -owɛ | oʸa | ɔɢʷja | |
yesterday | *aɾuwaj | ˈaruwæ | orywa | |||
excrement | *aj | ae | aː | ãʔ | ||
lip(s) | *mbaŋgaj | baˈŋgae | baŋgai | mbaŋga | baˈŋga | ˈbɛɴɢa |
termite | *tɔmaj | toma | ||||
drum | *kindaj | kindæ | kindɛ | kinda | ||
skin/bark | *kɔtaj | koˈtae | kotɛ ~ kodɛ | kota | ˈkotaʔ ~ -qotaʔ | |
goura pigeon | *ko̝taj | kuˈtae | kutɛ | kutᵉa | ||
mucus | *wakuɾaj | waːkuˈru (?) | wagudɛ | wogyra | ||
fish | *ɾakʷaj | roˈkoj (?) | rɔkʷe | rogᵒa | ˈrokᵘwa |
While final /*j/, reflecting Dumut /*ɾ *j/, has generally been lost in Mandobo when preceded by high mid central vowel /*ɵ̝/, in at least one example a trace of it is preserved due to suffixation; cf. free form /*mbɔɾɵ̝/ “wing” (Dumut /*mbɔɾɵ̝ɾ):
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-ɵ̝j | i | |||||
butterfly | *awɔmbɔɾɵ̝j-ɔp | aumbiriˈap |
Consonant clusters do not occur within roots, but, because most roots have final consonants, they are very frequent in compounds. Because only a limited number of roots are frequently found as the second member of compounds, it's not possible at this time to provide correspondences for every possible combination. For example, as intial /*n/ is found only in a few roots, none of which have been found as suffixes following a consonant, the dispositions of clusters with the second member /*n/ are unkown, although they can be fairly assumed to exist. Since bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is not known to occur root initially (above,) no clusters of the form /*C-p/ have been identified. Historically, the root /*imbin-/ “thought” reflects Dumut /*pin-pin/, but this may have been established by the time of Proto-Mandobo prior to the loss of /*p/.
When root-final /*m/ is followed by a suffix with initial bilabial /*m/, the resulting cluster is simplified to /m/ in all descendants, in contrast to the reflexes of cluster /*nm/ (below):
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-m-m- | m | m | m | |||
chest | *mbɛm-man | mbɛːˈman | mbɛmɐ | mbɛman |
When root-final /*m/ is followed by a suffix with initial velar voiceless stop /*k/, the resulting cluster is realized as velar prenasalized stop /ŋg/ in Upper Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-m-k- | ŋg | ŋg | mk | mk | ||
milk | *am-ko̝n | an(-)ŋgun | am kun | am-kun | ||
be deaf | *mbo̝ɾum-ke̝- | buruŋ-gi | buraŋ-gɪ- | |||
know | *nɔwam-ke̝- | noaŋgi- | noam gɛ- | |||
go out (fire) | *kum-ke̝- | kuŋgɛ- |
When root-final /*m/ is followed by a suffix with initial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-m-ɾ- | mVɾ | mVɾ m | mVɾ | |||
heart | *ndum-ɾɔp | nduːmaˈrap | dumɔp ~ dʏmarɔp | ndymarop |
When root-final /*n/ is followed by a suffix with initial bilabial /*m/, the resulting cluster is realized as /n/ in Upper Mandobo and as /m/ elsewhere:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-n-m- | n | n | m | m | ||
think | *imbin-mɔ- | imbino- | imbimo- | |||
rib(s) | *[a]ɾin-man | riˈnan | rinɐ | ɛriman | eriman | |
slow | *ndukun-man | ndukuˈnan | ndygyman |
When root-final /*n/ is followed by a suffix with initial apical voiceless stop /*t/, /*n/ is dropped. As some examples of this are discernible only through outcomparison to other Dumut languages, it's possible that some examples of this cluster have been wrongly reconstructed with only /*t/:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-n-t- | t | t | t | |||
shin | *mbin-tɔn | mbiton | bitoŋ | mbiton | ||
ear | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝n-tɔp | toro-ˈtap | turu-tup |
Two apparent exceptions are given as separate words in Drabbe's Oàmbon Dumut and Kaeti:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-n t- | n t | t | n t | |||
anus | *tɛn tɔp | tɛn top | tɛn top | |||
armpit | *taŋgɔn tɔp | taŋkɔ-tɔp | tæŋgon top |
When root-final /*n/ is followed by a suffix with initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-n-k- | ŋg | ŋg [ŋɢ] | ||||
lie down (fut.) | *ɾan-ki- | rɛŋ-gi- | ɾɛŋ-ɢi- |
When root-final /*n/ is followed by a suffix with initial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-n-j- | nVj nn | n | n | |||
smoke | *[i/e̝]n-jaɾo̝k | inɛ-dʲarub ɪn-narʏp | in oruk | in-oruk̚ |
When root-final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is followed by a suffix with an initial vowel, it is realized as non-stop [w] in Kaeti, in accordance with the regular reflex of Dumut initial and medial /*p/ as /*w/. In van Doorn's Digul Mandobo, final /*p/ is given with both [p] and glottal stop [ʔ]:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-p-V- | pV [pV ʔV] | wV | ||||
tear(s) | *ke̝-ɾɔp-ɔk | kirap-ɔk | kɛrow-ok | |||
earwax | *ke̝ɾe̝-tɔp-aj | kɛrɛtow aː | ||||
earwax | *ke̝ɾe̝-tɔp-ɔk | kɪdɪtɔʔ-ɔk |
When root-final /*p/ is followed by a suffix with initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-p-k- | k [g] | |||||
be dry | *tɔmap-ke̝- | tɔma-gɪ |
When root-final /*p/ is followed by a suffix with initial apical prenasalized stop /*nd/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-p-nd- | nd | nd | nd | |||
taro | *i-ɾɔp-ndɵ̝p | ira-ndɵp | ˈiːɾija-ndop | |||
fingernail | *mbatit-kɔp -ndɔk | badi-ge-ndɔʔ | ˈbeti-ɢɔ-ndok |
When root-final /*p/ is followed by a suffix with initial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-p-ɾ- | pːVɾ | pːVɾ | ɾ | |||
eyelash(es) | *ke̝-ɾɔp-ɾɔn | kerappoˈron | kirapbɔrɔn | kɛrɛ-ron |
When root-final /*p/ is followed by a suffix with initial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-p-j- | pj | |||||
smoke | *[i/e̝]n-ɔp-jaɾo̝k | enap jaːˈrup |
When root-final apical voiceless stop /*t/ is followed by a suffix with an initial vowel, it is generally realized as non-stop [ɾ], though several of van Doorn's examples with [d] might suggest /*t/ to still be underlyingly present:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t-V- | ɾV | ɾV [ɾ d] | ɾV | ɾV | ||
urine | *e̝t-ɔk | er-ˈok | ɪr-ɔp | ɛr-ok | ɛr-ˈok̚ | |
skinny | *ɛt-ɛt | or-æt (?) | ɛr-ɛt | |||
older brother | *ane̝t-ɔp | aner-ˈap | ||||
bone | *mit-ɔp | miˈrap | mirɔb ~ midop | mirap | mirʲɔp̚ | |
near | *kit-ɔp | kiˈrap | kɪdɔb | kirop | ˈkʲiɾjop | |
white | *kɔwat-aɾɔp | kɔwaɾ-aɾɔp |
When root-final /*t/ is followed by a suffix with initial bilabial nasal /*m/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t-m- | tm | tm | tm | km | ||
upper arm | *it-mindin | it-mindin | it-mindi | |||
three | *itit-mɔ | iditmɔ | ititmo | ˈidikmʲɔ |
When root-final /*t/ is followed by a suffix with initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t-k- | t [g] | t [ɢ] | ||||
fingernail | *mbatit-kɔp -ndɔk | badi-ge-ndɔʔ | ˈbeti-ɢɔ-ndok |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t-k- | tVk | tVk | tVk | |||
pinkie | *kɛt-kɛt | kætækæt | kidikit (?) | kɛtɛgɛt |
When root-final /*t/ is followed by a suffix with initial bilabial prenasalized stop /*mb/ … (Drabbe 1959: 6):
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t-mb- | tmb | tmb | tmb [tp] | |||
forearm | *it-mbɛn | it mbæn | it-mbɛn | it pɛn |
When root-final /*t/ is followed by a suffix with initial velar prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ … (Drabbe 1959: 6):
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-t-ŋg- | tŋg | ŋg | ŋg | ŋg [ɴɢ] | ||
elbow | *it-ŋgambum | it ŋgaːmbun | ɪ-ŋgamgambʏ | i ŋgombyn | ˈi-ɴɢombun | |
crooked path | *jandit-ŋgambut | jɛndi-ŋgombyr- |
When root-final /*k/ is followed by a suffix with initial bilabial nasal /*m/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k-m- | km | km | ||||
hide | *tɵ̝ɾɵ̝k-mɔ- | turuk-mo- | tɵrɵk-mo- | |||
tell | *tɔk-mɔ- | tokmo- | tokmo- |
When root-final /*k/ is followed by a suffix with initial /*k/, the resulting cluster is simplified to /k/:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k-k- | k | |||||
be in pain | *kɔk-ke̝- | koki- |
When root-final /*k/ is followed by a suffix with initial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k-ɾ- | kVɾ | kVɾ kɾ [gɾ] | kVɾ [gVɾ] | kVɾ [qVɾ] | ||
hair on head | *mɵ̝k-ɾɔn | muku-ron | muku-rɔ ~ mug-ran | mɵgɵ-ron | ˈmoqu-ɾon |
When final /*k/ is followed by a suffix with initial palatal non-stop /*j/, /*j/ is dropped in Upper Mandobo:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*-k-j- | k | k [g] | kj [kⁱ] | kj [kʲ] | ||
see | *[i/e̝]t[i/e̝]k-jɔ- | eteko- | itigⁱo- | ˈitigio- | ||
give | *ndik-jɔ- | ndiko- | diga- | ndigⁱo- | ˈɖikʲo- |
While consonants are generally stable, the realization of vowels /*i *u *e̝ *ɵ̝ *o̝ *ɛ *ɔ *a/ vary substantially between dialects.
High front vowel /*i/ is retained as such in all descendants:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*i | i | i [i ɪ] | i | i | i | |
drink | *mi- | mj- | mɪ- | ɛ-mi- | ˈɛ-mi- | |
plait | *ti- | ti- | ti- | |||
hand/arm | *it | it | it | it | ˈiːt̚ | |
dog | *tit | ti̪t | ||||
rattan/rope | *tik | tik | tik ~ ti | tik | tik | |
bathe | *kim- | kimo- | kɪn- | gin- | kʲim- | |
cold | *ŋgit | ŋgit | ŋgit | ɢit | ||
stand (fut.) | *ɾi-ki- | riki- ~ rigi- | rigi- | rigi- | ||
cassowary | *itit | itit | ||||
upper limb | *mindin | mindin | mindi | |||
turtle | *mbiɾip | mbirip | mbirip | |||
straight | *ndindip | ndindip | ndindip | |||
sand | *ŋgiɾim | ŋgirim | ŋgirim | -ŋgɾi- | ||
swallow | *mi[m/n]-kɵ̝m- | ˈmin-komo- | min kɵn- | |||
earthquake | *windɵ̝m | wiˈndu | ondɵn (?) | |||
take/marry | *ti(-mɔ)- | ti-mo- | ti-mɔ- | ti-mo- | ˈtiː- | |
give | *ndik-jɔ- | ndiko- | diga- | ndigⁱo- | ˈɖikʲo- | |
paddle | *ikɔj | iˈkoj | igɔ | igⁱo | ˈiːɢijo | |
taro | *i-ɾɔp | iˈrap | ira-ndɵp | ˈiːɾija-ndop | ||
star/firefly | *min-ɔp | miˈnap | miːnop | minap | ˈminjop̚ | |
bone | *mit-ɔp | miˈrap | mirɔb ~ midop | mirap | mirʲɔp̚ | |
shin | *mbin-tɔn | mbiton | bitoŋ | mbiton | ||
near | *kit-ɔp | kiˈrap | kɪdɔb | kirop | ˈkʲiɾjop | |
think | *imbin-mɔ- | imbino- | imbimo- | |||
three | *itit-mɔ | iditmɔ | ititmo | ˈidikmʲɔ | ||
afterbirth | *tiŋgɔ-ɾɔp | tiŋgorop | ||||
scabies/tinea | *iɾɔmbo̝t | ruˈmbut | imbut | imbut | ||
tooth | *imban | iːmban | imban ~ ibaŋ | imban | ˈimbʲijan | |
stone | *iwan | iwan | iwan | ˈiwan | ||
coconut | *mbijan | mbiˈan | mbia | mbian | ˈbijan | |
drum | *kindaj | kindæ | kindɛ | kinda | ||
wind | *kijawo̝j | kˈjau | kiawɪ | kⁱoᵘ | ˈkʲijoᵘ | |
earth/ground | *itiwaj | itiˈwae | ɪtɪwɐ | itiwa | iˈtiwa | |
drop/discard | *ti-ta-mɔ- | titamo- | ˈtiːtamo- | |||
nest | *ŋgɛɾim | ˈŋgɛlin | ŋgɛɾim | |||
older sister | *ani | ˈani | ən-ani | n-ɛni | ||
father | *ati | n-aːˈti | n-adi | n-ɛti | n-æti | |
sago stem | *mbaŋgi | mbaŋgi | mbɛŋgi | |||
old person | *mbaɾi | mbaːˈri | mbɛri | mbeˈri | ||
snake | *ŋgʷati | ŋgʷaːti | ŋgʷɛti | ŋgᵘwɛti | ||
bamboo knife | *waki | waːki | wagi | wɛgi | ˈwɛgi | |
thigh | *aŋgin | aˈŋgin | aŋgin | ɛŋgin | ||
daughter | *matip | mɛtip | ||||
male | *mbatim | mbɛtin | ||||
finger/claw | *mbatit | badi- | mbɛtit | ˈbeti- | ||
bow | *mbandit | bandit | mbɛndit | ˈbɛndit | ||
cuscus | *takip | tɛɢip̚ | ||||
wife | *taɾip | taːrip | ||||
2 pl. | *ŋgaŋgip | ŋgaŋgip | nɛŋgip (?) | ŋgæŋgip | ŋɛŋgip | |
night/dark | *wamin | waˈmin | wami | wɛmin | ˈwɛmin | |
belly | *wandin | wa(ː)ndin | wandin | wɛndin | ||
egg | *wandin | waːndin | wandi | wɛndin | ˈwɛndin | |
stairs/ladder | *waɾik | warit | warit ~ uarit | wɛrik | ||
path | *jandit | jandit | jɛndit | ˈdʒendit̚ | ||
3 pl. | *jaŋgip | jaŋgip | jɛŋgip | ˈjɛŋgip | ||
bite | *ati[k-m]ɔ- | atiŋgomo- | ||||
testicle | *wambi-ɾɔp | wambi-ˈrap | wanbi-rɔb | wambi-rap | ||
younger sister | *ambijat | aːmbˈjat | ɛmbⁱat | n-embʲijat | ||
rib(s) | *[a]ɾin-man | riˈnan | rinɐ | ɛriman | eriman | |
head | *kambijan | kaːmbian | gambiãn | kɛmbian | kæmbiˈan | kʲembijan |
extinguish | *o̝taki-mɔ- | utakimo- | utɛgimo- |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*… | ||||||
paddle | *ikɔj | iˈkoj | igɔ | igⁱo | ˈiːɢijo | |
taro | *i-ɾɔp | iˈrap | ira-ndɵp | ˈiːɾija-ndop | ||
*… | ||||||
tooth | *imban | iːmban | imban ~ ibaŋ | imban | ˈimbʲijan |
High back vowel /*u/ is fronted to high central /ʉ/ [y] <ü> in Drabbe's Kaeti, intermittently to [y ʏ] in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo and occasionally to [ʲu] in South Mandobo in accordance with a widespread Digul River regional trend. Reflexes in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo range from [u ʲy y ʏ]. Upper Mandobo and South Mandobo are along with South Awyu to the southwest among the few Central Digul River languages that have not undergone invariable fronting of /*u/, due to their location on the margins of the region:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*u | u | u [u y ʏ] | y <ü> | u | u [u ʊ ʲu] | |
hit/kill (fut.) | *u- | u- | y- | ʊ- | ||
expel from body | *tu- | tu- | ty- | ty- | ||
sing | *ɾu- | ry- | ry- | |||
chop down | *ɾu- | ru- | -ry- | |||
name | *up | up | ub | yp | up | |
right | *up | ˈuq | ||||
hit/kill | *un- | uŋ- | un- | uɲ- | ||
banana | *tut | tyt | ||||
sugarcane | *kum | ˈkum-ae | kym | |||
die | *kum- | kumo- | kyn- ~ kym- | |||
tie/bind | *ɾun- | ru- | ryn | ˈrʲuɲ- | ||
smell | *u-(mɔ)- | u- | u-mo- (?) | |||
heart | *ndum-ɾɔp | nduːmaˈrap | dumɔp ~ dʏmarɔp | ndymarop | ||
blunt/dull | *kuɾ-ɔp | kurap | ˈkuɾʲop | |||
fly (n.) | *umɔn-ɔp | umoˈnap | umonop (?) | |||
back | *mbu-man | mbuːˈman | bumɐ ~ bumɛ | mbyman | ||
slow | *ndukun-man | ndukuˈnan | ndygyman | |||
rain | *mo̝ɾup | murup | muryp | ˈmurup̚ | ||
house/village | *mbo̝tup | butup | butyp ~ budyp | mbutyp | ||
deaf | *mbo̝ɾum | buruŋ-gi | buraŋ-gɪ- (?) | mburym-op | ˈbuɾʲum | |
root | *ŋgo̝mbut | ŋguˈmbut | ŋgumbyt | |||
black/blue | *ŋgo̝num | ŋguˈnum | gunʏn- | |||
stone axe | *kɔɾu | kory | ||||
go down/below | *kɔ-ɾu- | kory- | koru- ~ -qoru | |||
body | *andu | andu ~ aːndu | andu | ondy | ondun | oːnɖu |
cook/burn | *andu- | any- | ondy- | oːnɖu- | ||
chop down | *a-ɾu- | o-ry- | ||||
boil (n.) | *[a]ɾun | run | dyʔ | oryn | ||
thorn | *aɾun | aːrun | oryn | ˈorun | ||
thorn | *aɾuk | aryk | ||||
flatulence | *aj-mbut | o-mbyt | ||||
beard | *matut | maːˈtut | madut ~ madʲyt | matit (?) | ||
thick | *mbatut | mbaˈtut | mbotyt | |||
1 pl. | *naŋgup | naŋgup | noŋgyp | noŋgup | ŋoŋɢup | |
elbow/eight | *ŋgambum | ŋgaːmbun | gambu ~gambʏ | ŋgombyn | ɴɢombun | |
crooked | *ŋgambut | kambut- | ŋgombyt | |||
tail | *wambut | waˈmbut | wombyt | wombʊt̚ | ||
canoe | *jahun | jaˈun | jahu | joyn | ˈjoun | |
garden | *jakup | jaːˈkup | jokyp | joɢup | ||
wash | *tambu(-mɔ)- | taːmbumo- | tombymo- | ɖomb- | ||
yesterday | *aɾuwaj | ˈaruwæ | orywa | |||
mucus | *wakuɾaj | waːkuˈru | wagudɛ | wogyra |
…:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*… | ||||||
blunt/dull | *kuɾ-ɔp | kurap | ˈkuɾʲop |
High mid front vowel /*e̝/ is systematically distinguished from low mid /*ɛ/ (below) in Upper Mandobo and merged with /*ɛ/ in Central Mandobo, as it is elsewhere in Dumut:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*e̝ | e̝ [e] | e̝ [e ɪ i] | [ɛ] | [e] | ||
possessive | *-ne̝ | -ne | -nɛ | -ne | ||
stand | *ɾe̝- | re- | rɪ- | |||
bird | *e̝t | et | ɛt | et̚ | ||
blind | *te̝k | -tek | tɛg-op | |||
flower | *ke̝t | ket | kɛt | |||
leech | *te̝ɾe̝n | teren | tɛrɛn | tɛrɛn | ||
stink | *ŋge̝ne̝n | ŋgenen | kɛnɛ- (?) | ŋgɛnɛn | ||
sharp | *ŋge̝te̝n | ŋgete | ŋgɛtɛn | ˈgeten | ||
rainbow | *ɾe̝ko̝ko̝t | rekukut | rɛgugut | |||
net bag | *e̝nɔj | ɪnɛ | ˈɛnɔ̃ | |||
urine | *e̝t-ɔk | er-ˈok | ɪr-ɔp | ɛr-ok | ɛr-ˈok̚ | |
torch | *e̝ŋgɔt | ɪŋkɔt | ɛŋgot | |||
small | *mbe̝ɾɔn | mberon | mbɛron | ˈbɛɾon | ||
fireplace/hearth | *te̝nɔm | tinɔ ~ tɪnɔm | ||||
red | *te̝n-ɔp | teˈnap | tənɔw- | tɛnop | ˈtɛnop̚ | |
unripe/raw | *ke̝tɔt | keˈtot | ketor | kɛtot | ||
eye | *ke̝-ɾɔp | keˈrap | kirap | kɛrop | ˈkɛɾop̚ | |
ear | *ke̝ɾe̝-tɔp | kɪdɪtɔʔ- | kɛrɛtop | keretɔp | ˈkerɛtop̚ | |
copulate | *ɾe̝[k/ŋg]e̝nde̝- -mɔ- | rekend mo- | rɛŋgɛndɛmo- | |||
strong | *e̝ŋgɔwan | eŋgoˈan | ɛŋgᵒan | |||
soft | *me̝nap | meˈnap | mɛnap | |||
tired | *ke̝te̝wa | ketewæ | kɛtɛwa | |||
be in pain | *kɔk-ke̝- | koki- | ||||
good | *wɔnde̝n | wɔndɪn | wondɛn | ˈwoːnɖɛn | ||
quick/fast | *wɔke̝t | woket | ogɛt | |||
laugh | *ka-nde̝- | kande- | kan- | ˈqaːɖɛ- | ||
enough | *kaɾe̝- | kare- | karɛ- | |||
break/snap | *ŋgʷa-nde̝- | ŋgoandi- | ŋgʷanɛ- | |||
laughter | *ambe̝n | amben | ambɪ- | |||
eat | *ane̝n- | aneŋ- | anɪ- ~ anɛ- | anɛn- | ||
older brother | *ane̝t | aner-ˈap | anɛt | |||
morning | *ake̝t | aket | agɛt | |||
wife | *aŋge̝n | aːŋgen | jaŋgɪn | aŋgɛn | jaːnˈgɛn | |
shoot | *t[a]je̝m- | tɪn- | tᵉɛn- | tʲiam- | ||
upper arm/nine | *taje̝t | taːet | ta’ɪt | taɛt | ˈtait | |
friend | *kambe̝n | ˈqaːmbɛn | ||||
ashes | *kʷate̝p | kotep | kʷatɛb ~ kʷatɪb | kotɛp | ||
sister's son | *ɾaŋge̝n | raŋgin | raŋgɛn | |||
tomorrow | *jane̝n | jaˈnin | jaːnɛn | |||
spirit/soul | *ate̝[t/ɾ]-ɔp | ateˈrap | aːtɛrop | |||
mosquito | *taje̝n-ɔp | ˈtaen-ap | taen-ɔp | taᵉn-op | taᵉn-op | |
cassowary | *mbaje̝ŋg[a]p | ˈmbaeŋgap | mbaᵉŋgap | |||
spear | *ke̝jate̝ | keate | kⁱate | |||
revenge | *ke̝jat-ɔn | ketan | kᵉaton |
In several examples in which the second vowel is known to correspond to Awyu high front /*e̝/, each following low central vowel /*a/ in a previous syllable, Drabbe's Oàmbon Dumut attestation unexpectedly has low mid [ɛ æ]. The variation between high and low values in “saliva” and in van Doorn's Digul Mandobo suggests this discrepancy to be subphonemic:
Mandobo | Oàmbon | Digul Mandobo | Kaeti | Runggoanjàp | Kaisah | |
Drabbe | van Doorn | Drabbe | Drabbe | Lebold et al. | ||
*e̝ | [æ ɛ e] | [ɪ ɛ] | ɛ | ɛ | ||
eat (fut.) | *ande̝₂- | andɛ- |