Mountain Ok

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

[under construction]

The Mountain Ok family consists of as many as eight languages spoken in and to either side of New Guinea's central cordillera in Papua New Guinea's Sandaun and Western provinces and just west of the border with Indonesia's Papua province.

Subclassification

[under construction]

The internal classification of Mountain Ok is as follows:

Mountain Ok

Mian-Suganga

Mian

Suganga

Central Mountain Ok

Teléfól

Tifal

Kauwol

Faiwol

Setaman

Bimin

Urap (Urapmin) is not a distinct language but allied to the Tifal (Tifalmin) dialect of Tifal against the Atbalmin dialect (Healey 1964: 40-41.)

Sources

[under construction]

Champion (1926-1927) … Unkia (Faiwol)

Healey and Healey (1961) phonology of Teléfól

Healey (1962) kinship terms for Teléfól

Healey (1964) phonology of Teléfól

Healey (1964: 78-97) 120 comparative terms for Tifal of Atbalmin, Tifalmin and Wopkeimin villages, Kauwol, Faiwol of Imdalmin, Gipman, Faiwolmin, Angkiakmin, Wokfiakmin and Setaman villages, Bimin of Bimin and Kuskusmin villages, Teléfól, Mianmin (Mian) and Wagarabai (Suganga) and (pp. …) proto-Mountain Ok … (pp. 190-251) phonology of Teléfól

Healey (1964) Telefol quotatives

Healey (1965) Telefol clauses

Healey (1965) Telefol verb phrases

Healey (1965) Telefol syntax

Healey (1965) Telefol nominal phrases

Healey (1966) Telefol sentences

Healey (1970) reconstruction of proto-Awyu-Dumut includes (pp. …) some comparisons o proto-Mountain Ok

Healey (1974) classification of Telefol verbs

Healey and Healey (1977) dictionary of Teléfól

Healey (1981) medical terms for Telefol including body parts

Healey (1992) sketch phonology of Teléfól

Voorhoeve (2005) compares proto-Asmat-Kamoro and proto-Awyu-Dumut to proto-Mountain Ok

Steinkraus (1969) phonology of Tifal

Healey and Steinkraus (1972) dictionary and grammar notes for Tifal

Mecklenberg (1974) phonology of Faiwol (central dialect)

Mecklenberg (1992) sketch phonology of Faiwol

Boush and Boush (1974) phonology of Tifal

Boush (1975) grammar of Tifal

Boush (1975) verbal aspect in Tifal

Boush (1994) sketch phonology of Tifal

Smith and Weston (1974) phonology of Mianmin

Smith and Weston (1974) grammar of Mianmin

Smith (1977) Mianmin sentences

Weston (1977) Mianmin interrogatives

Smith and Weston (1986) dictionary of Mianmin

Weston (1992) sketch phonology of Mianmin

Weber (1992) sketch phonology of Bimin (unobtained)

Weber and Weber (1992) sketch phonology of Bimin (unobtained)

Weber (1997) grammar of Bimin (Bim dialect)

Weber (1997) dialect survey of Bimin

Weber and Whitney (1999) phonology of Bimin (Bim dialect)

Weber (2003) sketch phonology of Bimin

Fedden (2007) gender in Mian

Fedden (2007) grammar of Mian

Fedden (2011) grammar of Mian

Loughnane and Fedden (2011) comparison of Mountain Ok with Okspamin including protoforms

Van Cott and Spencer (2010) 190 comparative terms for Setaman of Seltamin, Ngisokabip and Baktamin villages, Faiwol of Selbang and Lowbip villages and Bimin of Dimtikin, Akalu, Sengen and Fagobiw villages

Historical phonology

[under construction]

The reconstruction of Ok and of Mountain Ok in particular began with Healey's (1964) landmark dissertation. Much more data has been made available since then, allowing us to significantly improve and expand upon Healey's system.

Proto-Mountain Ok had 14 or 15 consonants … short vowels and … long vowels as follows:

*m *n [*ŋ]
*p *t *s *k *kʷ
*mb *nd *ŋg *ŋgʷ
*w *j
*i *u
*o̞
*a
*iː *uː
*e̞ː *o̞ː
*ɔː
*aː

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

*eⁱ *oⁱ *eᵘ *oᵘ
*aⁱ *aᵉ *aᵒ *aᵘ

Any consonant can occur initially. Voiced prenasalized apical stop /*nd/ occurs only initially, having elsewhere been merged with the reflexes of apical non-stop /*ɾ/. Rounded velarstops /*kʷ *ŋgʷ/ have been found only initially. Consonant clusters occur only accross morpheme boundaries in compunds.

Besides long vowels and diphthongs, vowels do not occur in sequence except across morpheme boundaries in compounds.

Only a restricted set of consonants occurs finally:

*m *n
*p *t *s *k
*ŋg

Mountain Ok roots are highly restricted in their phonotactic shapes. Only one long vowel can occur in any given root, more than one invariably indicating a compound. In disyllabic roots, the long vowel is overwhelmingly that of the second syllable, apparent exceptions likewise indicating compounds. Final vowels of either length occur freely in monosyllablic roots and infrequently in disyllables, but almost never on roots of three syllables or more, a fact which is historically intimately linked with the distribution of long vowels: it is nearly unavoidable that Mountain Ok descends from a language in which stress was penultimate and final vowels were common or mandatory, then these final vowels were destressed and dropped to yield a mostly consonant-final lexicon with final stress. The shapes of reconstructed uncompounded nominal roots include:

*ˈV *ˈVː *ˈCV *ˈCVː
*ˈVC *ˈVːC *ˈCVC *ˈCVːC
*VˈCVː *CVˈCVː
*VˈCVC*VˈCVːC*CVˈCVC*CVˈCVːC

A small number of disyllabic nominals have a long vowel in the first syllable /*(C)VːCV(ː)C/. These are interpreted here as compounds, albeit in some instances highly lexicalized and possibly established as single roots by the time of proto-Mountain Ok.

Disyllabic roots with final short vowels are found only as verbs, where …

Two phonemic tones, high and low, interact with vowel length to yield four tones in some descendants. …

The most conspicuous difference between the system adopted here and that presented in Healey (1964) is the representation of the voiced stop series as prenasalized /*mb *nd *ŋg *ŋgʷ/ rather than Healey's /*b *d *g *gʷ/. There are four motivations for this treatment. First, these were their values in Proto-Ok, in Proto-Digul River-Ok and probably into primordial antiquity. Second, final labial /*mb/ has merged with /*m/, while final velar /*ŋg/ was realized as [*ŋ] and was likely still structurally equivalent initial /*ŋg/ [*g] at the time of Proto-Mountain Ok. The medial reflex of /*ŋg/ (Healey's /*ŋk/) is realized as [ŋg ŋ] in Bimin and Setaman and alternates between [ŋ g] in Faiwol (Mecklenburg 1974: 150,) seemingly mandating that at least /*ŋg/ was prenasalized. Lastly, according to Fedden (2007: 37,) Mian's initial voiced stops /b d g/ are slightly prenasalized, though less so than in Oksapmin; this is not attested in Telefol or Tifal (Healey and Healey 1961, Healey 1964, Steinkraus 1969, Boush and Boush 1974.)

The only challenge to equating velar nasal [ŋ], which almost only occurs finally, with /*ŋg/ is the existence of a rare and presumably innovative initial velar nasal /ŋ/ in several Mian words which is answered by /n/ in Telefol and Tifal; here we can assign the value /*ŋ/ with some confidence because /*ŋg/ is similarly merged with the reflex of /*nd/ [d] in the latter two languages. As only five examples of initial /*ŋ/ have been indentified so far, two species names and three conceivably onomatopoetic, none with known etymologies past Mountain Ok, its status is marginal at best, and may not date to proto-Mountain Ok.

The reinterpretation of Healey’s /*f/ as plain bilabial stop /*p/ likewise deserves an explanation. First, this was the underlying quality of its predecessor in proto-Ok. Second, apical and velar voicless stops are aspirated both initially and finally in Mianmin, Telefol, Tifal and Faiwol, while the final labial stop is realized as voicless [p] in Mian, sometimes in variation with [f], and as aspirated [pʰ] in Telefol, Tifal and Faiwol.(Healey 1964: 205, Boush and Boush 1974: 4-6, Mecklenberg 1974: CITE, 151-152, Smith and Weston 1974: 17-20.) Third, initial /f/ can be realized as affricate /pɸ/ in Telefol.(Healey 1964: 206.) The decisive factor is that what Healey and Healey, Boush and Boush and Smith and Weston interpret as the final allophone of /b/, and Mecklenberg as that of /w/, is historically (and arguably synchronically) the final allophone of what is initially and medially found as [f], the final reflexes of /*mb/ having merged with those of /*m/ by the time of proto-Mountain Ok. This allophony is nearly identical to that found in Oksapmin, in which Lawrence’s /p/ is realized as /ɸ/ initially, as /β/ intervocalically, and as /p/ finally (Lawrence CITE.)

Healey's /*c *cʷ/ are reducible to /*k *kʷ/ followed by /*i/.

Referring to the large number of reconstructed vowel correspondences, Healey (1964: 129) writes, “The apparent contrasts discussed above suggest a PMO [Proto-Mountain Ok] phonemic system much more complex than any of the daughter languages, and such a system is suspect because of this discrepancy.” Healey (1970) posited an equally or more complex system for proto-Awyu-Dumut (Central Digul River,) which likewise invites skepticism but, upon examination, not only holds up to scrutiny, but is shown to be nearly the only possible answer. Although most subfamilies of Ok have simplified this vowel inventory, these reconstructed values regularly correspond to mostly-isomorphic values in proto-Digul River and have thus been confirmed to a certainty beyond that which Healey (1964) was willing to grant them.

[under construction]

In the correpondence tables below, prevailing phonetic values for Mian are based upon Smith and Weston (1974, Weston 1992) and Fedden (2007,) for Telefol upon Healey and Healey (1961, Healey 1964,) for Tifal upon Steinkraus (1969) and Boush and Boush (1974, Boush 1994,) for Faiwol upon Mecklenberg (1974) and for Bimin upon Weber and Whitney (1999, Weber 2003.) These are correlated to Healey's (1964) proto-Mountain Ok values to support the comparison of the two systems.

Initial consonants correspond as follows:

Mountain Ok Mian Telefol Tifal Faiwol Bimin Healey
*m- m m m m m *m
*n- n n n n *n
[*ŋ-] ŋ n
*p- f ɸ f f f *F
*p-/_… h ɸ f f f *f
*t- t̪ʰ t *t
*s- s s s s *s
*k- k *K
*k-/_i t̪ʰ k *c
*k-/_o̞ ɔ ɑ̙ ø k k *k
*kʷ- *kʷ
*kʷ-/_i *cʷ
*mb- ᵐb b b b b *b
*nd- ⁿd d d d *d
*ŋg- ᵑg d g g *g
*ŋgʷ- ᵑgʷ d g *gʷ
*w- w w w w *w
*ɾ- ⁿd l l *l
*j- j j j j *y

Medial consonants correspond as follows:

Mountain Ok Mian Telefol Tifal Faiwol Bimin Healey
*-m- m m m m m *m
*-n- n n n n *n
*-p- f ɸ *f
*-p-/_… f ɸ w w w *f
*-t- t̪ʰ *t
*-s- s s s s *s
*-k- ɣ ɣ ɣ k *K
*-k-/_… ø ɣ ɣ ɣ *k
*-mb- β b β/w *b
*-nd- ɾ ɾ
*-ŋg- ɣ ɣ ɣ *ŋk
*-w- ø w β/w *w
*-ɾ- ɺ ɾ l l l ɾ *l
*-j- j j j j j *y

Final consonants correspond as follows:

Mountain Ok Mian Telefol Tifal Faiwol Bimin Healey
*-m m m m m m *m
*-n n n n n *n
*-p p *b
*-t t̪ʰ *t
*-s -s t̪ʰ s s *s
*-k *K
*-k/…_ ø *k
*-ŋg ŋ ŋ ŋ ŋ ŋ
*-ɾ ɺ l l l l ɾ *l

Consonant clusters in compounds correspond as follows:



Vowels and diphthongs correspond as follows:

Mountain Ok Mian Telefol Tifal Faiwol Bimin Healey
*i i i i i i *i
*i/w_C *i
*i/C_CVC *I
*…
*u u u u u u *U
*e̞ ɛ e e e e *e
*o̞ o u u u u *u
ɛ a a a e
aˑˤ o o o o *o
*ɔ/ɾ_
*ɔ/iC_C
*a a a a a ɐ *a
*a/_CVC ø a a a ɐ
*a/C_CVC *A
*a/w_C
*ɑ̙ aˑˤ a a *a
*eⁱ ɛⁱ ɛⁱ *ei
*aⁱ ɛⁱ e i ɐⁱ
*oᵘ oᵘ ɛⁱ *oi
*aᵘ a a u o *O
*…

These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with Mian attestations drawn from Smith and Weston (1974, 1986) Telefol from Healey and Healey (1977,) Tifal from Healey and Steinkraus (1972,) Faiwol from Mecklenberg (1974) and Bimin from Weber (1997, 2003, Weber and Whitney 1999) unless otherwise specified. …


Initial consonants … :

Initial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*m- mm mm m*m

Initial apical nasal /*n/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*n n nn n*n

Initial velar nasal /*ŋ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ŋ- ŋ n? ?

Initial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ … :

Mountain OkMian Teléfól TifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*p- fɸ pɸff f*F

… /*p/ … In accordance with these rules, Smith and Weston (1986: 16) give only one word in which unoccluded /h/ is followed by high front vowel /i/ and one where it is followed by high back rounded /u/; conversely (p. 12) only two native words are given in which initial labiodental /f/ is followed by mid front vowel /e/. … :

Mountain OkMian Teléfól TifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*p-/_ hɸ pɸff f*f

Initial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*t- t̪ʰt*t

Initial voiceless laminal /*s/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*s- s ss s*s

Initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*k- k*K

When followed by high front vowel /*i *iː/, velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*k-/_i iːt̪ʰk*c

Due to this merger, a number of roots which are attested only in Telefol and Tifal are indeterminate between initial apical /*t/ and initial velar /*k/:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*[t/k]-/_i iː?t̪ʰ? ?

There is one very salient exception to this rule …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*k-/_i
2 pl.*ki

… /*k/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*k-/_… ø k*k

Initial rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBimin Healey
*kʷ- *kʷ

When followed by high front vowel /*i *iː/, rounded velar voiceless stop /*kʷ/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBimin Healey
*kʷ-/_i iː *cʷ

Initial bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*mb- ᵐb bb bb b*b

In a few examples, bilabial voiced prenasalized /*mb/ … /*p/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*[p/mb]- *b/*f

Initial apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*nd- ⁿd d dd d*d

Initial velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ŋg- ᵑg g dg g*g

Due to this merger, a number of roots which are attested only in Telefol and Tifal are indeterminate between initial apical /*nd/ and initial velar /*ŋg/:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*[nd/ŋg]-? d? ?

Initial rounded velar voiced prenasalied stop /*ŋgʷ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBimin Healey
*ŋgʷ- ᵑgʷ gʷ dg *gʷ

Initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*w- *w

Initial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ɾ- *l

Initial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*j- *y

Medial consonants …:

Medial bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-m- mm mm m*m

Medial apical nasal /*n/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-n- nn nn n*n

… /*n/ … dissimilated to bilabial nasal /m/ when …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-n-/…_mn nn n*n

Medial bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-p- *f

Medial apical voiceless stop /*t/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-t- *t

Medial voiceless laminal /*s/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-s- *s

Medial velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-k- *K

… /*k/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-k- ø *k

Medial bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-mb- *b

Apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ is not found root-medially because Proto-Ok medial /*nd/ has been merged with the reflexes of apical non-stop /*ɾ/ (below.)

Medial velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-ŋg- *ŋk

Due to this merger … /*ŋg/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-[k/ŋg]-

Medial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-w-

Medial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-ɾ- *l

In a few examples …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*…

Medial palatal non-stop /*j/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-j-

Only a restricted set of consonants occurs finally due to mergers of Proto-Ok consonants in this position. These are nasals /*m *n/, voiceless /*p *t *s *k/ and voiced prenasalized /*ŋg/.

Final bilabial nasal /*m/ is retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-m mm mm m*m

Final apical nasal /*n/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-n n nn n*n

One apparent exception …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-n ɺ n? ?

Final bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*-p pʰ p̚ p*b

Final apical voiceless stop /*t/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*-t tʰ t̚t̪ʰ *t

Final voiceless laminal /*s/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-s *s

When root-final voiceless laminal /*s/ is the first member of a compound …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-s *s

Final velar voiceless stop /*k/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-k *K

… /*k/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-k *k

There is no final bilabial voiced prenasalized stop /*mb/ because Proto-Ok final /*mb/ has merged with nasal /*m/. Some compounds, presumably dating to before the sounds were merged, reflect final /*m/ as /*mb/:

*-m [< *-mb] *V- *-mb-
bee/wasp*iːm tail *ɔːɾ wasp sp.*iːmbɔːɾ
house *am middle/center*iːp village *ambiːp

There is no final apical voiced prenasalized stop /*nd/ because Proto-Ok /*nd/ has merged with non-stop /*ɾ/.

Final velar voiced prenasalized stop /*ŋg/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*-ŋg

… final /*w *j/ …


… clusters in compounds …

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*…

Vowels and diphthongs …

Short high front vowel /*i/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*i ii ii i*i
3 pl. *i
2 pl. *ki
dust *ip
liver *in *in
bridge of nose *mit
earthquake *mbim *bim
banana sp. *mbiɾ
payment feast *mbiɾ
thorn/barb *niŋg *niŋ, *niiŋ
top *tip *cib
bee/wasp *tin
dry leaves *tik
dog *tiɾ
yesterday *sin *sin-
tooth *sit
pour/spill *siŋg-
needle *siɾ síl *sil
head louse *kim *cim
white ashes *kip *cib
tree sp. *kin
make skirt *miŋgi- *miŋki-
chew *t[i]ɾi[ː]- *tIli-, *tIlii-
dig out/clear *ndiki- *diKi, *diŋki
distribute *kiki-
wind *inim *inim
cloth/clothing *iɾim *ilim
sago palm *mipim
black/dark *mitik *mitik, *mitiK
opposite-sex kin*mikim
different *mikik
digit/branch *miɾip
raptor sp. *pipiɾ
intestines *pikin *fikin, *FiKin
hump/swell *mbimbiɾ
headwaters *timbin *tibin, *cibin
blackpalm/bow *tinim *tinim, *cinim
rattan sp. *t[i]ɾis *tIlis
strong *[t/k]itiɾ *citil
like/similar *ndikin
shadow/soul *sinik síníkʰ *sinik
scatter/flee *sikin-
cucumber *kimit *cimit
forehead/face *kimbik
bake in ashes *kikin *cikin, *ciKin
scrape off *ŋgiɾit-
root(s) *kim-kim *cimcim
gnat *ŋgim-ŋgim *gimgim
gratis *misiːm
shoot *mbin[u]- *bina-, *binU-
blood *iɾe̞ːm *ileem
cane sp. *ipe̞ːt
blood *iɾe̞ːm *ileem
thunder *kimVn *tumuun
*cumuun
blunt arrow *iwɛɾ ìwɛ̌ɺjǒːl
husband *imɔk *imOK
sweat *ipɔk *ifak
snake *inɔp *inab, *inËb
pus *isɔk *isak, *asak
hiccup *it[a/ɔ][m/ŋg] *itam, *itaŋ
wooden club *[o̞/u]ɾin *ulin, *Ulin
domesticated *ami[ː] *ami
friend *apin
pigeon sp. *ambim
navel *ambin *abin
trap *ambiɾ
all/whole *aɾik *aliK
hot *mamin *mImin,
*mAmin
nothing *mba-nim *bInim
casuarina sp. *tatip
parrot sp. *ŋasim
digging stick *katiɾ
morning *kʷatim *kutim, *kUtim
bush fowl sp. *wakiɾ *waKil, *wakil
enemy/war *waːsi *waasi

One example …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*[i/ɛ]
o. brother (3)*p[i/ɛ]k *fiK

When short high front /*i/ is preceded by initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*i/w_C *i
name*win *win
egg *win *win

Long high front vowel /*iː/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*iː *ii
be/stay *mbiː
tie/hang *ndiː-
enough *kiː *cii
count/measure *kiː *cii-
twist rope *wiː *wii-
dance/sing *wiː- *wii
black/dark *iːm
bee/wasp *iːm
mucus *iːn *iin
cloud/fog *iːp *iib
middle/center *iːp
muddy water *miːm
lid/cover *miːp
plaiting *miːp *miib
child/son *miːn *miin
base/origin *miːt
native bean *miːɾ *miil
tree sp. *miːɾ
lip(s) *piːɾ *fiil-kaal,
*Fiil-kaal
buttocks *mbiːm *biim
tree sp. *mbiːn
stretch/tighten*mbiːŋg
valley floor *mbiːɾ *biil
y. brother *niːŋg *niiŋ
initiation *tiːm
on top/up in *ndiːm
flesh/meat *ndiːm *diim
washr *ndiːŋg- *diiŋ
old/former *siːn
rope bridge *siːɾ *siil
trunk of tree *kiːm *ciim
eye *kiːn *ciin
o. brother (2) *kiːŋg *ciiŋ
below *kiːɾ
make/build *kiːɾ-
cold *ŋgiːɾ *giil
very *kʷiːn *kʷiin
clavicle *kʷiːŋg *cʷiiŋ
fern sp. *wiːɾ
bamboo sp. *iɾiː *ilii
gratis *misiːm
heights/above *tikiːn *tikiin, *tiKiin
long/tall *kimiːt *cimiit, *cimiis
get dark *kʷiːn[a] *cʷiin
twist rope *uɾiː *Ulii-
storm *atiː
python sp. *aɾiː
side/half *maɾiː *mAlii
stone adze *pambiː *FAbii
doorway *ami[ː]t *amiit
village *ambiːp *äbiib
floor *ambiːn *äbiin
sky *ambiːɾ *abiil
fish *aniːŋg *aniiŋ
goanna *atiːm *ätiim
possum arrow *mbaɾiːɾ *biliil
body hair/fur *kaɾiːm *kaliim, *Kalim
moon/month *kaɾiːm *Kaliim
crippled *[ja]wiːt *iwiit

Short high central rounded vowel /*ʉ/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
1 pl. excl.*nʉ
nest *ʉm *üm
lake *mʉk *mük, *müK
branch *tʉŋg *as-tüŋ
old man *ʉsɔːm *usoom, *isoom
two *asʉ *asU
wall/fence *watʉ *watü
net hat *manʉl *manül,
*mënül

Long high central rounded vowel /*ʉː/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ʉː *üü
vomit *pʉː *Fuu-, *Fui-
blunt *pʉːm *luin
boil (n.)*ɾʉːn *luin
knee *katʉːn *katuun,
*Katüün

Short high back rounded vowel /*u/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*u *U
smoke *tum *tUm
big *sum
scar *ŋguɾ *gUl
pitpit sp. *ɾup
think *pukun *fUkUn-
bead(s) *mbukup
stairs/steps*tuɾum *tulum,
*tUlUm-
hindquarters*ambuk
foreigner(s)*anuŋg
bulge *kamun *kumUn
dew *s[a]kɾum

When short high back rounded /*u/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*u/C_CVC
*…

Long high back rounded /*uː/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*uː *UU
cook/roast *puː *Fuu-
ashes *uːk *UUk
withered *puːɾ
sternum *tuːp *tUUb
fireplace *tuːɾ
always *suːn
gorge *juːŋg
heavy *iɾuːm *ilUUm, *üluum
nose *mVtuːm *mutuum,
*mUtUUm
cricket sp.*saɾuːp *sUlUUb

Long high mid front vowel /*e̞ː/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*e̞ː ɛe ee e*ee
do/be *ke̞ː-
buy/sell *we̞ː- *wee-, *ween-
near/soon *me̞ːp *meeb
net bag *me̞ːn *meen
upriver *me̞ːt
back of knee *me̞ːɾ *meel
search/look for*pe̞ːn- *feen-
forearm/elbow *pe̞ːt *feet-kun
sin *pe̞ːŋg
earthworm *mbe̞ːm *beem
y. sister *ne̞ːŋg *neeŋ
hole *te̞ːm *teem
inside *te̞ːm *teem
hunger/thirst *te̞ːp *-teeb
twenty-seven *nde̞ːŋg *deeŋ
arrow sp. *se̞ːt
headdress sp. *se̞ːɾ
beg *ŋe̞ːn-
bamboo cont. *ke̞ːt *-keet, *-Keet
flower *ke̞ːt *cait, *cais
side/edge *ke̞ːk
bird sp. *ke̞ːɾ
scratch *ŋge̞ːŋg- *geeŋ
bachelor *kʷe̞ːt *kʷeet
mix *kʷe̞ːk-
throat *kʷe̞ːɾ
throat *ŋgʷe̞ːɾ *gʷeel
speech/voice *we̞ːŋg *weeŋ
oil *we̞ːɾ
accompany *mbe̞ke̞ːp
ancestors *pe̞k-me̞ːɾ
steel axe *se̞ːk[u]
raft *ke̞ːku
cane sp. *ipe̞ːt
blood *iɾe̞ːm *ileem
make *kiɾe̞ːɾ- *celel-
carry on pole *as-ŋge̞ː *as-gee
assemble *ape̞ːt
tree sp. *ane̞ːm
guts/feelings *ake̞ːt *aKeet,
*aŋkeet
sacred/taboo *awe̞ːm *aweem
bird sp. *aɾe̞ːm
two *aɾe̞ːp *aleeb, *äleeb
wild pig *paɾe̞ːp
gorge *mbake̞ːŋg
pieces *mbake̞ːɾ *baKeel-
ghost *mbake̞ːɾ *bëKeel,
*bëŋkeel
fly sp. *mbaɾe̞ːɾ
penis gourd *kame̞ːn *Këmeen
parallel cousin*kambe̞ːɾ *kabeel,
*Kabeel
gut worm *kase̞ːn
friend *kase̞ːɾ
hornbill *kawe̞ːɾ *kaweel,
*Këweel
wife *kaɾe̞ːɾ *kaleel
tendon/vein *maɾ-me̞ːɾ *melmeel
bachelor *kap-ke̞ːs *KabKees,
*kabkees

When long high front /*e̞ː/ occurs word-initially …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*e̞ː/#_C *ee
o. sister (2/3)*e̞ːn *een
Ficus sp. *e̞ːt
white ashes *e̞ːk *eek, *eeK
dry *e̞ːŋg

…:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*[e̞ː/o̞ː]
grandmother*ap[e̞ː/o̞ː]k *afook

Short high mid back rounded vowel /*o̞/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*o̞ ou uu u*u
3 sg. f. *o̞
2 sg. f. *ko̞
bone *ko̞n *kun, *kuun
menstruation*ŋgo̞ŋg *guŋ
house frame *m[o̞]ɾo̞ŋg
heart *mb[o̞]mbo̞ɾ
shell/nail *mb[o̞]ɾo̞ŋg *buluŋ
tree sp. *t[o̞]mbo̞ɾ
bamboo sp. *ŋgo̞m[eⁱ] *gimii
spark *tito̞p
testicles *ambo̞ *abu
mountain *am-ŋgo̞ *amgu
half/part *ato̞k
sharp *ato̞ɾ *ätul
tail of bird*aɾo̞p
ankle *mako̞k *moKuK
wrist *mb[a]ŋgo̞p *bukUb,
*buKub,
*buŋkub
wind *ŋgaɾo̞ɾ *guluul,
*galul
tree sp. *wVɾo̞m

In one example, … /*o̞/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*o̞ u ou uu u*u
grandchild*m[a]ɾo̞p *mulub

Long high mid back rounded vowel /*o̞ː/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*o̞ː o uu u*uu
ridgepole *ŋgo̞ː *guu
old garden *mo̞ːn
breast/milk *mo̞ːk *muuk
gall/bile *mo̞ːŋg
breath/spirit*po̞ːp
barren *po̞ːn
walking stick*po̞ːŋg
marsupial *no̞ːk *nuuk
stone *to̞ːm *tuum
banana *so̞ːm *suum
rain *so̞ːk *suuK
joint/node *ŋgo̞ːŋg *guuŋ
coals/embers *tVko̞ːŋg
pandanus sp. *t[i]jo̞ːɾ
outer ear *kiɾo̞ːn *coluun
water goanna *aɾo̞ːm
widow *kaɾo̞ːn *kaluun,
*kalUUn
bow *wano̞ːk *wanuuK

Short low mid front vowel /*ɛ/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
ɛa aa e
3 sg. m.
1 sg. *nɛ
after *-tɛ
2 sg. m. *kɛ
child *mɛn *mën
wing *mbɛɾ *bël
cicada *mbɛɾ
see/look *tɛm *-tëm-
child (pl.)*tɛn *tën
sap/resin *ndɛn
good *kɛn *kËl
locative *kɛɾ *kËl
rib(s) *mɛɾɛn *mëlën
valley *tɛman
rattan belt*ndikɛ[n/ŋg] *dëKën,
*dëŋkën
nape *ŋgitɛk *gitak, *gitaK
cry.weep *amɛ *ämë-
not taboo *apɛt
laughter *ambɛn *abën
small knife*sakɛm
shelter *waɾɛŋg
taro *jamɛn *yemën
pinkie *kat-kɛt *CAtKët

… short low mid front /*ɛ/ … /*w/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*… ɛ
blunt arrow*iwɛɾ ìwɛ̌ɺjǒːl

… short low mid front /*ɛ/ … /*p/ … [w] …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*…
awake/alive*kapɛn *kafën

… /*ɛ/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*Ë *O
ashes*kʷatɛp *kUtËb,
*kUtOb

Evidence for a long counterpart to low mid front /ɛ/ is very scant …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBimin Healey
*ɛː ɛ a *ëë
gall bladder*kʷɛːn *kʷëën, *kʷËËn
*ɛː ɛ *ëë
forehead *ndambɛːɾ *dabëël

Short low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔ/ … nearly identical to the reflexes of short low mid front /*ɛ/ excepting Mian …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
aa aa e
breath *mɔm *mËm
forearm *mbɔn *bËn
smell (n.) *tɔŋg *tËŋ
bitter *ŋgɔŋg *gaŋ
fat/grease *mitɔk *mataK,
*matëK
steam cook *aŋgɔ *äŋkË-
white cockatoo*namɔ *namË-
grass skirt *wanɔm *wanËm
woman *wanɔŋg *wanËŋ

When short low mid rounded /*ɔ/ is preceded by initial apical non-stop /*ɾ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ɔː/#ɾ_a
fruit/seed*ɾɔp *lab, *loob
garden *ɾɔŋg *lOŋ

When short low mid rounded /*ɔ/ is preceded by initial /*i/ in a previous syllable …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ɔ/#iC_Ca
husband*imɔk *imOK
sweat *ipɔk *ifak
snake *inɔp *inab, *inËb
pus *isɔk *isak, *asak
tear(s)*kinɔk

Several of the terms above are historically compounds with /*ɔːk/ “water” in which long /*ɔː/ has been reduced to /*ɔ/.

Long low mid back rounded vowel /*ɔː/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ɔː aˑˤ oo o*oo
and/with *-sɔː *soo
husk/shell *ɔːm
sago *ɔːm *oom
water *ɔːk *ook
excrement *ɔːɾ *ool
stand up *mɔː- *moo-
mother's br. *mɔːm *moom
spittle *mɔːk *mook, *mooK
corpse *pɔːm *fOm
light (weight) *pɔːŋg *fooŋ
tongue *pɔːŋg *fooŋ
chin/jaw *mbɔːn *boon
vagina *nɔːk *nook
downriver *tɔːp
flint *tɔːŋg
marsupial sp. *sɔːp
vine/rope/string *sɔːk *sook
pandanus sp. *kɔːm
wide *kɔːm *koom, *Koom
yellow *kɔːp
hair/leaf/feather*kɔːn *koon
top *ŋgɔːŋg
tree sp. *ŋgɔːɾ
soot/stain *ŋgʷɔːm
fork/forked *ŋgʷɔːɾ *gool,
*gual
drum *wɔːs *woos
bamboo knife *jɔːm *yoom
handle *jɔːk
spit *takɔː-
cockroach sp. *tinɔːm
inner ear *kiɾɔːŋg *cilooŋ
straight *kijɔːɾ t̪ʰòl tòːl *ciool
old man *ʉsɔːm *usoom, *isoom
bird *awɔːn *awoon
same-sex sibs *aɾɔːp
raptor sp. *mbakɔːɾ
meat *t[a]ɾɔːp *toloob
flame *ndawɔːŋg *dawooŋ
crab *kapɔːp *kafoob,
*Kafoob
moon/month *kajɔːp *kayoob
head *ŋgambɔːm *gaboom,
*gOboom
spider *ŋgawɔːn
wallaby *watɔːm *watoom
flying fox *jawɔːm *yoom
breadfruit *jawɔːt *yawoot
men's house *jawɔːɾ *yowool
rafter(s) *taɾ[a]kɔːɾ
pig louse *kam[a]ɾɔːŋg

When long low mid rounded /*ɔː/ is preceded by initial /*i/ in a previous syllable …:

Mountain Ok Mian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*ɔ/#iC_Ca
wasp sp.*iːmbɔːɾ
urine *[ja]mɔːn *yemaan

Short low central vowel /*a/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a a *a
no/not *mba *ba
day/weather *am *am
house *am *am
tree/wood/fire *as *as
song *as *as
food/parcel *aŋg
weed(s) *aɾ *al
heat/dry *maŋg-
palm/sole *mban *ban, *bËn,
*bOn
other side *tam
handle *taɾ
fault/blame *san
adultery *tak[a]-
ask *ndak[a]- *daka-, *daKa-
bush *anaŋg
cross-cousin (3)*aɾak *alak
bamboo torch *ajaɾ
pitpit sp. *makaɾ
mouth *maŋgat *maŋkat
catfish sp. *takam
armpit *taŋgan *tAŋkan
cuscus sp. *kambaŋg
lower part *kakam
lung(s) *kakap *KaKab,
*Kaŋkab
tree kangaroo *kʷajam
star (?) *wakaɾ
tail of fish *ap-jam
crooked *ndikaɾ *daKal,
*daŋkal

When short low central /*a/ is preceded by initial bilabial non-stop /*w/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/w_C
arrow *wan *wan
eat/drink *wan *wan-
bowstring *waɾ *wal
bush fowl sp.*wakiɾ *waKil, *wakil
wall/fence *watʉ *watü
dew *s[a]kɾum
tree sp. *wakeⁱm
bow *wano̞ːk *wanuuK
bird sp. *wako̞ːm
shelter *waɾɛŋg
grass skirt *wanɔm *wanËm
woman *wanɔŋg *wanËŋ
wallaby *watɔːm *watoom
star *wakaɾ
vomit *wasaːn *Usaan

… short low central /*a/ … /*w/ …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/Vw_C
mother (3) *awak *awook
ancestor(s)*awaɾ *aul
stone adze *mawak *mauK
salt *jawaɾ

… short low central /*a/ … /*p/ … [w] …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/Vp_C
pith/marrow*apaɾ

Long low central vowel /*aː/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*aː *aa
plait/weave *paː- *faa-
open/unfold *mbaː- *baa-
fence/wall *waː
band of bag *aːm
tree sp. *aːŋg
roasted food *aːɾ
ant sp. *aːɾ
amphibian *maːp
scapula *maːk *maaK
one/another *maːk *maa…
fern sp, *mbaːm
f.'s y. sister *mbaːp
platform *mbaːn *baan
sib-in-law *mbaːs *baat, *baas
yam sp. *mbaːŋg
cuirass *naːm *naam
snipe sp. *naːɾ
tree sp. *taːm
day *taːp *taab
pandanus sp. *taːɾ
fence *ndaːm *daam
down/below *ndaːk *daaK
back *ndaːŋg *daaŋ
edge/corner *ndaːŋg
bamboo sp. *ndaːɾ *daal
buy/sell *saːn- *saan-
grass sp. *saːŋg
die *kaːn- *Caan, *cʷaan-
pandanus sp. *ŋaːm
call out.shout *ŋaːn-
skin/bark *kaːɾ *kaal
juice *ŋgaːm *daam, *gaam
tired/lazy *ŋgaːɾ *gaal
bush fowl so. *kʷaːk *kʷaak, *kʷaaK
sweet potato *waːn *waan
foot/leg *jaːn *yaan, *yëën
jew's harp *t[i]ɾaːm
lightning *mbambaː
say/speak *mbaka[ː] *bakaa-
follow/behind *apaːm
left (hand) *apaːn *afaan
mother & child *apaːt
twin(s) *apaːŋg *afaaŋ
older brother *ambaːp *baab
floor bearer *ambaːk
sweet *ambaːɾ *abaal, *äbaal
itchy *ambaːɾ *abaalabaal,
*äbaaläbaal
sun *ataːn *ätaan
lie down *akaːɾ *akal-, *akaal-
tail of marsupial*aɾaːɾ
pandanus sp. *ajaːp
dog *majaːn *mAyaan,
*mIyaan
nosepiece *mbaɾaːt
shoulder *naŋgaːɾ *naKaal,
*naŋkaal
earth/soil *tawaːɾ *tawaal
tree sp. *t[a]ɾaːp
paradise sp. *t[a]ɾaːŋg
pig arrow *kanaːt *kanaat,
*Kanaat
tanget *kasaːk
quarrel *kaɾaːŋg
dog *kajaːm
friend *kajaːk *kayaak,
*Kayaak
bandicoot *kajaːɾ
vomit *wasaːn *Usaan
tinea *am-saːŋg *amsaaŋ
enemy/war *waːsi *waasi
rattan sp. *paːɾi[n/ŋg] *faaliŋ,
*Faalin
wild pig *saːmin *saamin
grandfather *apaːɾik *äfaalik,
*afaaliK
slowly *p[i]jaːp *fiyaab
blackpalm sp. *mb[i]jaːɾ *biyaal
fireplace post *mb[i]jaːŋg
flying fox sp. *siŋgaːm *sIŋkaam,
*sAŋkaam
tree sp. *kiɾaːp

… diphthongs ….

… /*eⁱ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*eⁱ eⁱ *ei
pandanus *eⁱm *eim, *aim
salt *eⁱp
penis *eⁱt *eit
soft/weak *mbeⁱt *beit, *beis
hill/ridge *mbeⁱɾ *beil
hand/arm *teⁱŋg *teiŋ, *taiŋ
bush/forest *seⁱp *seeb, *seib
clear/visible*keⁱm
sugarcane *kʷeⁱt *kʷeit
rain *weⁱp *waib, *weib
tree sp. *weⁱt
fire *weⁱŋg *weiŋ
path *ɾeⁱp *leib
bier *ɾeⁱt
tree sp. *wakeⁱm

… /*oⁱ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*oⁱ oᵘ eⁱ *oi
young woman*soⁱ *soi…
sit *toⁱn- *toin-

… /*aⁱ/ … Unlike /*eⁱ/ (above,) following /*aⁱ/ induces the loss of initial velar voiceless stop /*k/ in Mian:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*aⁱ eⁱ *ai *ei
cr.-cousin (1)*naⁱk *naiK
blood *kaⁱm *keim, *Kaim,
*caim
cook/burn *kaⁱn- *kein-
ornament sp. *kaⁱt
tooth *kaⁱɾ

Due to these mergers, a number of roots which are attested only in Mian, Telefol and/or Tifal are indeterminate between /*eⁱ/ and /*aⁱ/:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*[eⁱ/aⁱ]
tree sp.*ŋ͜g[eⁱ/aⁱ]m

… /*eᵘ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*eᵘ aa au e*Ë *O
seedling*… ˈsùn *sOn, *sËn
dream *… *lOm, *lËm

… /*oᵘ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*oᵘ oᵘ
cloth/clothing*isoᵘm

… /*aᵘ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*… aa a *…
belly*maᵘt *mat, *mUt
sore *ambaᵘŋg *abaŋ, *äbuŋ

… /*aᵘ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*aᵘ aa a *O
ripe*jaᵘm *yOm

… /*aᵉ/ …:

Mountain OkMian Teléfól Tifal FaiwolBimin Healey
*aᵉ eⁱ a eː a eː eⁱ*ae
true *paᵉn hɛⁱn ɸén̪ fàn
tree sp. *ŋ͜gaᵉm ᵑgɛⁱm d̪ěːm deːm
pronged arrow*ŋ͜gaᵉm ᵑgɛⁱm d̪èːm *geem
kidney *ŋgaᵉɾ ᵑgɛⁱɺ d̪àl dal-àb ~ deːl-àb *gael, *geil
smoke *ɾaᵉk làkʰ *laek, *laeK
knowledge *t[a]kaᵉn tʰɛkʰɛⁱnt̪ʰèɣèːn̪tʰaɣeːn-

… /*aᵉ/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*aᵉ/w_CVC
tail of animal*waᵉm *weim-, *waim-

… /*aᵒ/ …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*aᵒ oᵘ a oː *oi
cut/play drum*mbaᵒ- boᵘ- bòː- bòː- *boi-
dog flea *paɾaᵒɾ fɺaɺoᵘ ɸòlól falal
tree sp. *kaɾaᵒk kʰɺoᵘ-kʰɺoᵘkʰàlókʰkʰalòːkʰ

… destressed vowels … /*i *a/ ….

When short high front /*i/ is destressed and followed in the next syllable by a stressed vowel other than /*i *iː/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*i/C_CVC *I
make *kiɾe̞ːɾ- *celel-
spark *tito̞p
outer ear *kiɾo̞ːn *coluun
rattan belt *ndikɛ[n/ŋg] *dëKën,
*dëŋkën
nape *ŋgitɛk *gitak, *gitaK
fat/grease *mitɔk *mataK,
*matëK
cockroach sp. *tinɔːm
inner ear *kiɾɔːŋg *cilooŋ
tongue *piɾaŋg *fIlaŋ, *FAlaŋ
crooked *ndikaɾ *daKal,
*daŋkal
sickly *kitak *citak, *citaK
slowly *p[i]jaːp *fiyaab
blackpalm sp. *mb[i]jaːɾ *biyaal
fireplace post*mb[i]jaːŋg
flying fox sp.*siŋgaːm *sIŋkaam,
*sAŋkaam
tree sp. *kiɾaːp
ginger sp. *atik

In one example, …:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*…
straight*kijɔːɾ t̪ʰòl tòːl *ciool

When short high front /*i/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*i/CVːC_C *I
rattan sp.*paːɾi[n/ŋg] *faaliŋ,
*Faalin
wild pig *saːmin *saamin

When short low central /*a/ is destressed and followed in the next syllable by a stressed vowel other than /*a *aː/ …:

Mountain Ok Mian Teléfól Tifal FaiwolBiminHealey
*a/C_CVC *A
hot *mamin *mImin,
*mAmin
nothing *mba-nim *bInim
casuarina sp. *tatip
parrot sp. *ŋasim
digging stick *katiɾ
side/half *maɾiː *mAlii
stone adze *pambiː *FAbii
possum arrow *mbaɾiːɾ *biliil
crippled *[ja]wiːt *iwiit
bulge *kamun *kumUn
cricket sp. *saɾuːp *sUlUUb
wild pig *paɾe̞ːp
gorge *mbake̞ːŋg
pieces *mbake̞ːɾ *baKeel-
ghost *mbake̞ːɾ *bëKeel,
*bëŋkeel
fly sp. *mbaɾe̞ːɾ
penis gourd *kame̞ːn *Këmeen
parallel cousin*kambe̞ːɾ *kabeel,
*Kabeel
tendon/vein *maɾ-me̞ːɾ *melmeel
ankle *mako̞k *moKuK
wind *ŋgaɾo̞ɾ *guluul,
*galul
taro *jamɛn *yemën
raptor sp. *mbakɔ[ː]ɾ
meat *t[a]ɾɔːp *toloob
crab sp. *kapɔːp *kafoob,
*Kafoob
head *ŋgambɔːm *gaboom,
*gOboom
knowledge *t[a]kaᵉn tʰɛkʰɛⁱnt̪ʰèɣèːn̪tʰaɣeːn-

When destressed short low central /*a/ is preceded by initial rounded velars /*kʷ *ŋgʷ/ …

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/Cʷ_CVC
morning *kʷatim *kutim, *kUtim
ashes *kʷatɛp *kUtËb,
*kUtOb
tree kangaroo*kʷajam

When followed by bilabial non-stop /*w/, destressed /*a/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/C_wVC
flame *ndawɔːŋg *dawooŋ
flying fox *jawɔːm *yoom
breadfruit *jawɔːt *yawoot
men's house*jawɔːɾ *yowool

When followed by palatal non-stop /*j/, destressed /*a/ …:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/C_jaːC *A *i
moon/month *kajɔːp *kayoob
dog *majaːn *mAyaan,
*mIyaan
dog *kajaːm
friend *kajaːk *kayaak,
*Kayaak
bandicoot *kajaːɾ
tree kangaroo*kʷajam

When initial short low central /*a/ is followed by …:

Mountain OkMian TeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*a/_CVCø
*…

… word shape :

…:

Mountain Ok MianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*VːCVC *VːCVC
father (2/3) *aːɾɛp *aalëb
f.'s father *aːtaɾ
*CVːCVC *CVːCVC
python sp. *siːɾim
snake sp. *mɔːnim
br.-in-law (1)*mbaːs-im
wild pig *saːmin *saamin
one *maːko̞p *maakup,
*maaKUb
*VCVːCVC *VCVːCVC
grandfather *apaːɾik *äfaalik,
*afaaliK
*CVːCVː
mosquito (?) *muːmuː *mUUmUU
*VːCVːC
wasp sp. *iːmb-ɔːɾ
*CVːCVːC
snake sp. *mbiːmaːn
daughter's h. *mo̞ːɾiːm

… tone ….

…:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBiminHealey
*

Pronouns

[under construction]

Mountain Ok free pronouns are reconstructed as follows …

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBimin
1 sg. *nɛ
2 sg. m. *kɛ-p
2 sg. f. *ko̞-p
3 sg. m.
3 sg. f. *o̞
1 pl. excl.*nʉ
1 pl. incl.*nʉ-p
2 pl. *ki-p
3 pl. *i
3 pl. incl.*i-p

…:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBimin
1 sg. *…
2 sg. m. *…
2 sg. f. *…
3 sg. m. *…
3 sg. f. *…
1 pl. excl.*…
1 pl. incl.*…
2 pl. *…
3 pl. *…

…:

Mountain OkMianTeléfólTifalFaiwolBimin
1 sg. *…
2 sg. m. *…
2 sg. f. *…
3 sg. m. *…
3 sg. f. *…
1 pl. excl.*…
1 pl. incl.*…
2 pl. *…
3 pl. *…

Verbal morphology

[under construction]

Loans to and from Oksapmin

[under construction]