Musa River

Timothy Usher, Santa Fe Institute

Situation

The Musa River family, also known as Yareban, is comprised of five closely related languages spoken in the vicinity of the middle and upper Musa river and its westerly tributaries in the southeast corner of Papua New Guinea's Oro (Northern) Province and just across the border in Central Province (Dutton 1975: 643, Weimer and Weimer 1977: 1-2, Weimer 1978: 1.) Its nearest relatives are Bauwaki and the Cloudy Bay family to the southeast (q.v. Strong 1910-1911: 211-213.)

Proto-Musa River shares with Cloudy Bay a number of Oceanic loans in the basic vocabulary, indicating a common origin near the south coast. Loans from the Oro and Managalas Plateau families are also found. The Central Musa River subgroup has been significantly influenced by Baruga of the Oro family.

Subclassification

The internal classification of Musa River is as follows:

Musa River

Moikodi

Aneme Wake

Central Musa River

Nawaru

Yareba

Bariji

Lexical similarities as well as shared phonological changes suggest Moikodi and Aneme Wake to form a southern subgroup. Grammatically, Moikodi stands apart, suggesting perhaps an original split of Moikodi against the others, followed by a period of interaction and codevelopment with Aneme Wake.

Dutton (1971: 14-15) gives lexicostatistics for four Yareban languages, excluding Nawaru, as spoken in eight villages as follows:

    Moikodi Aneme Yareba Bariji
    Bubudi Maioki Ianu Auwaka Bibira 1 Obeia Ubo Toma
 Moikodi Bubudi 81 65 71 46 40 47 49
   Maioki 81 68 73 43 43 43 48
 Aneme  Ianu 65 68 78 44 41 44 52
   Auwaka 71 73 78 45 46 48 48
 Yareba  Bibira 1 46 43 44 45 86 88 64
   Obeia 40 43 41 46 86 85 48
   Ubo 47 43 44 48 88 85 55
 Bariji  Toma 49 48 52 48 64 48 55

Sources

Anonymous (1895-1896) vocabulary of Musa River (Yareba)

Ray (1907: 387-412) …

Strong (1910-1911: 203-217) 113 comparative terms for Saroa (Bariji,) Bori (Yareba) and Oiwa (?Aneme Wake)

Armit (1913-1914: 190-193) 447 comparative terms for Buari (Aneme Wake)

Liston-Blythe (1914-1915: 175) 160 comparative terms for Kororo (Bariji)

Hooper (1917-1918: 87) 127 comparative terms for Moikoidi or Doriri (Moikodi)

Hooper (1918-1919: 107) 123 comparative terms for Boli (Yareba)

Bastard (1918-1919: 109) 125 comparative terms for Doriaidi (Aneme Wake)

Ray (1938) (pp. 155-157) locations … Abia group (Aneme Wake) and Upper Musa groups …

Weimer (1963) Yareba texts

Weimer (1972) Yareba verbal morphology

Weimer and Weimer (1974) Yareba dictionary

Weimer and Weimer (1974) Yareba folklore

Weimer and Weimer (1975) Yareba grammar

Weimer and Weimer (1977) Yareban phonologies including (pp. 6-11, ibid.) 140+ comparative terms for Moixodi, Aneme Wake, Sirio (Nawaru,) Yareba and Aga Bereho (Bariji)

Weimer (1978) Yareban comparative grammars

Weimer (1992) sketch phonology of Yareba

Weimer (1992) sketch phonology of Moikodi

Weimer (1992) sketch phonology of Aneme Wake

Dutton (1971: 12-14) general descriptions of Yareban languages

Dutton (1975: 643-645) general descriptions of Yareban languages

Historical phonology

Proto-Musa River had 11 to 14 consonants and 5 vowels as follows:

*m *n
*p *t [*s] *k
*b *d [*dz] [*g]
*w *j
*i *u
*e *o
*a

Voiceless stops /*p *t *k/ were generally realized as aspirated [*pʰ *tʰ *kʰ], leading to aspirated reflexes in several descendants; this trend is shared with the unrelated Guhu-Oro family to the north.

Phonemic laminal /*s/ is not native to Musa River, but may have been established by the time of the protolanguage. Both Yareba and Bariji have a phoneme /dz/ which has likewise been acquired from neighboring families (q.v. Weimer and Weimer 1977: 3.)

Voiced velar stop /g/ has been observed only initially, while glottal /ʔ/ is heard only root-medially. These might, then, be thought allophones of a single phoneme /*g/, and indeed medial /ʔ/ is the reflex of Cloudy Bay-Musa River /*g/; however Cloudy Bay-Musa River initial /*g/ yields zero, or conceivably /*ʔ/ [ø], while all Musa River words with initial /*g/ are loans.

Apical non-stop /ɾ/ occurs only medially.

Otherwise, any consonant can occur initially or medially. Consonants do not occur word-finally. Stem-final consonants exist underlyingly on verbal roots, which are mandatorily suffixed. Consonant clusters are known to occur only across morpheme boundaries on inflected verbs.

Vowels may occur in any sequence.

Stress is generally penultimate. Counterexamples indicate segments which have been lost or compounds.

Consonants correspond as follows:

 Musa R.  Moikodi  Aneme  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
*m m m m m m
*n n n n n n
*p f ɸ ɸ ɸ h
*t x  kʰ
    *t/i_ s s
    *t/_i x  kʰ s s h
    *t/i_i s s s h
*s s s s s s
*k x  kʰ  kʰ  kʰ  kʰ
ʔ ʔ ø ø ʔ
*b b b b b b
*d d d d d d
    *d/i_ d d d dz dz
 *g- g g g g g
*w w w w w w
ɾ ɾ ɾ ɾ ɾ
*j j j j j j

These correspondences are exemplified as follows, with all attestations drawn from Weimer and Weimer (1974 ibid., 1977: 6-11, ibid.) unless otherwise indicated. Those drawn from Strong (1910-1911: 203-217) are indicated by [ws], those from Armit (1913-1914: 190-193) by [la], those from Liston-Blythe (1914-1915: 175) by [alb], those from Hooper (1917-1918: 87, 1918-1919: 107) by [gh] and those from Bastard (1918-1919: 109) as [eb]. Loans from Oceanic are included here under the assumption that they were already established prior to the breakup of Musa River.


[under construction]

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

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *m-  m  m  m  m  m
 mosquito  *mimisi  mimisi [gh] mimisi [la]    mi'misi  
 taro  *miʔina  'mina  'mina  'mina  'mina  mi'ʔina
 not/no/nothing  *me  me  me  me  me  me
 tongue  *meana  me'ana  me'ana  me'ana  me'ana  ome'ana
 lie/falsehood  *meo    meo [la]    'meo  
 cause  *ma  ma  ma  ma  ma  ma
 father (2/3)  *mama        -'mama  
 paddle  *mabi[ʔ]a  mabi-a [gh]     ma'bia  
 give  *mat-  ?ma'nax-  makʰ-  matʰ-  ma'(tʰ)- matʰ-
 moon  *maɾabe  marabe [gh] ma'nabe    ma'ɾabe  
 shame  *maɾu    maru [la]    'maɾu  
 another  *moi  noi [sic]  moi  mui  'mui  mui
 reciprocity  *moko  moxo  mokʰo  mokʰo  'mokʰo  
 banana  *moʔo  'moʔo  'moʔo  mo  mo  
 star  *muina  mu'ina  mu'ina    mu'ina  
 sweat  *mua    mua [la]    'mua  
 take  *mun-    mun- [la]    mu(n)-  
   *-m-  m  m  m  m  m
 1 sg. irr. sbj. *-ma  -ma  -ma  -ma  -ma  -ma
 breathless  *imu    imu [la]    'imu  
 shadow  *imumu    imumu [eb]    i'mumu  
 heart  *imu[t/k]a i'muxa  i'mukʰa      
 heavy  *iɾumu  i'nimu  u'numu ≈ urumu u'ɾumu  u'ɾumu  u'ɾumu
 man/person  *e[ʔe]me  'eme  'eme  'eme  'eme  e'ʔeme
 3 pl.  *ema(wa)  emua  emua ≈ ema  ima ≈ uma e'ma  uma ≈ ima
 breast  *ama    'ama  'ama  'ama  'ama
 mother  *ama(-ʔe)  a'maʔe  a'maʔe      
 sore/ulcer  *amai      amai  a'mai  amai
 boy  *amaɾa    a'maɾa  a'maɾa  a'maɾa  a'maɾa
 fishhawk sp.  *amu[o]        a'muo  
 what?  *ane[me]    a'neme  a'ne  a'ne  a'neme
 bad  *aɾama    arama [la]    a'ɾama  
 girl/sister  *aɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma
 ear  *ome  'ome  'ome  'ome  'ome  'ome
 stone  *oma  oma [gh]  'oma    oma  oama [ws]
 egg  *uɾimi  u'ɾimi  u'ɾimi      
 mosquito  *mimisi  mimisi [gh] mimisi [la]    mi'misi  
 father (2/3)  *mama        -'mama  
 drum  *buma  buma  buma  buma  buma  
 bamboo sp.  *buɾama  burama [gh]     bu'ɾama  
 tail  *toɾoma  xo'ɾoma  kʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma tʰo'ɾoma
 one  *demu  de'mu-  de'mu-  de'mu-  de'mu-  
 meat  *dama    'dama  'dama  'dama  'dama
 night/dark  *dumu  'dumu  'dumu  'dumu  'dumu  'dumu
 sand  *sanamu      sa'namu    sa'namu

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

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *n  n  n  n  n  n
 tooth  *ni[ʔ]o  'nio  'nio  'nio  'nio  'nio
 1 sg.  *na  na  na  na  na  na
 eye  *nai-tai  'naisai  'naisa  'naitʰai    'naitʰai
 hear/listen  *naut-    nau- [la]    'nau(tʰ)-  
 level ground  *nabi        'nabi  
 vine/rope  *naʔa  na'ʔa  na'ʔa    na  
 again  *nono  nono  nono  nono  nono  nono
 neck/throat  *nodo  nordo [gh]  noto [la]    'nodo  nodo [ws]
 possessive  *-nu  -nu  -nu  -nu  -nu  -nu
 like this  *ieno    eno  ino  eno  ino
 comitative  *-ini  -ini  -ini  -ini  -ini  -ini
 comb  *inita    inisa [la]   i'nitʰa  
 white  *ina[na]  i'nana  i'nana  i'nana  'ina  i'na-
 fire  *inaʔa  i'na  i'naʔa  i'na  i'na  i'naʔa
 root  *iʔini  'ini  i'ʔini  'ini  'ini  i'ʔini
 left  *ewani        e'wani  
 who?  *aina  'aina  'aina  'aina  a'na ≈ aina a'na ≈ aina
 what?  *ane[me]    a'neme  a'ne  a'ne  a'neme
 tree  *ana  'ana  'ana  'ana  'ana  'ana
 old/before  *adina  a'dina  a'dina  a'dina    a'dina
 new/now  *awoena  a'woena  a'woena  a'woena  awona  awona
 yest./morrow  *aɾiena  a'ɾiena  a'ɾiena  a'ɾena  a'ɾena  a'ɾiena
 food  *uɾuna  uɾuna  uɾuna      
 taro  *miʔina  'mina  'mina  'mina  'mina  mi'ʔina
 tongue  *meana  me'ana  me'ana  me'ana  me'ana  ome'ana
 wing  *pakina      ɸa'kʰina  ɸa'kʰina  ha'kʰina
 full  *paɾinu    βa'ɾinu  ɸa'ɾinu  ɸa'ɾinu  ha'ɾinu
 speech  *bana  bana    bana  'bana  
 belly  *boana  bo'ana  bo'ana      
 strong/clever *buna  buna  buna  buna  buna  
 sand  *sanamu      sa'namu    sa'namu
 back  *de[ʔe]ɾena de'ɾena    de'ɾena  de'ɾena  
 knife  *gabina  ga'bina    ga'bina    
 under  *wowona  wowona  wowona    wowona  wowona
 all  *jaisina  'jaisina ≈ jesina 'jaisina  je'sinanu   jaiha

Bilabial voiceless stop /*p/ is fricated to /ɸ/ in all descendants, then deoccluded to /h/ in Bariji (Weimer and Weimer 1977: 3.) Weimer's (1992: 1) sketch phonology gives Aneme Wake as both /β/ and /f/, presumably in error for /ɸ/. In Armit's Buari it is given as <p>:

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *p-  f  ɸ  ɸ  ɸ  h
 bow  *pewa        'ɸewa  
 palm/sole *papa    papa [la]    'ɸaɸa  
 wing  *pakina      ɸa'kʰina ɸa'kʰina ha'kʰina
 full  *paɾinu    βa'ɾinu  ɸa'ɾinu  ɸa'ɾinu  ha'ɾinu
 coconut  *paɾai  firlai [gh] [sic] parai [la]    ɸa'ɾai  harai [ws]
 short  *pu[wi]ja  ɸuja  ɸu  ɸuja    huwia
 blow  *puɾ-    pu- [la]    ɸu  
   *-p-  f  ɸ  ɸ  ɸ  h
 knee  *ipo  'ifo  'iɸo      'iho
 skin/bark *ope  'ofe  'oɸe  'oɸe  'oɸe  'ohe
 palm/sole *papa    papa [la]    'ɸaɸa  
 forehead  *bepoɾo  be'foɾo    be'ɸoɾo  be'ɸoɾo  
 when?  *-dapuɾa  -da'fuɾa    -da'ɸuɾa   
 wet  *dopo[ʔ]u  do'fou  'doɸo  doɸou    
 armpit  *kanapo    kamapu [la] [sic]   kʰa'naɸo 
 long  *jap[e/a]  jawa  jaɸe  jaɸa  jaɸa  jaha

There are four reasons that voiceless stop /*p/ is reconstructed rather than fricative /*ɸ/. First, it patterns structurally with aspirated /*t *k/ against voiced /*b *d/, while the only other fricative /*s/ is probably secondary, and is probably better viewed as an aspirated laminal, as it is in Oro. Second, Weimer and Weimer (1974: 7) specify that some Yareba speakers realize this sound as [p]. Third, [ɸ] in Oro languages reflects /*p/ [pʰ]; this is probably true also of Koiari-Managalas Plateau, which otherwise lacks a /*p/. Finally, verbs with final /*t/, such as /*ut/ “do,” provoke a change in following /*b/ to [ɸ], which makes somewhat more sense if frication followed devoicing.

Apical voiceless stop /*t/ is merged with the reflexes of velar /kʰ/ (below) in Moikodi and Aneme Wake, to be fricated to /x/ in Moikodi:

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *t-  x  kʰ  tʰ  tʰ  tʰ
 many  *teu  'xeu-weɾe 'kʰeu-weɾe  'tʰu-weɾe    
 bone  *tai  'xai  'kʰai  'tʰai  'tʰai  'tʰai
 snake  *tabai  xa'bai    tʰa'bai  tʰa'bai  
 leaf  *tata  'xaxa  'kʰakʰa    'tʰatʰa  
 wash/bathe  *taʔa    kaʔa [la]    tʰa  
 lungs (?)  *toto    'kʰokʰo 'liver' 'tʰotʰo 'heart'   
 tail  *toɾoma  xo'ɾoma  kʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma
   *-t-  x  kʰ  tʰ  tʰ  tʰ
 and (same sbj.) *-te  -xe  -kʰe  -tʰe  -tʰe  -tʰe
 2/3 pl. sbj.  *-ta  -xa    -tʰa  -tʰa  -tʰa
 1 dl. sbj.  *-tu  -xu  -kʰu  -tʰu  -tʰu  -tʰu
 that/there  *eta  exa  ekʰa  etʰa  'etʰa  etʰa
 grandchild  *atae    akai [la]    a'tʰae  
 woman/wife  *aweta  a'wexa  a'wekʰa  a'wetʰa  a'wetʰa  a'wetʰa
 small/light  *otowa  o'xoa  o'kʰowa  o'tʰowa  o'tʰowa  otʰowe
 stick/twig  *uti  uxu      'usi ≈ 'isu 
 ashes  *uta  uka [gh]  'ukʰa      uta [ws]
 plural  *-[mu]tu  -xu  -mukʰu  -mutʰu  -mutʰu  -mutʰu
 head  *bo-tai  bo'xai  bo'kʰai  bo'tʰai  bo'tʰai  
 leaf  *tata  'xaxa  'kʰakʰa    'tʰatʰa  
 lungs (?)  *toto    'kʰokʰo 'liver' 'tʰotʰo 'heart'   
 mouth/voice  *wate  'waxe  'wake  'watʰe  'watʰe  'watʰe
 flying fox  *watua    wa'kʰua  wa'tʰua  wa'tʰua  wa'tʰua

When /*t/ is preceded by high front vowel /*i/, it is palatalized and fricated to /s/ in Moikodi and Aneme Wake:

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *-t-/i_ s  s  tʰ  tʰ  tʰ
 comb  *inita    inisa [la]   i'nitʰa 
 2/3 pl. sbj. *-ita  -isa  -isa  -itʰa  -itʰa  -itʰa
 1 dl. sbj.  *-itu  -isu  -isu  -itʰu  -itʰu  -itʰu
 dry  *aweita  a'wesa    a'weitʰa   a'weitʰa
 spittle  *wit[i]u  wisiuma [gh]     wi'tʰua 
 eye  *nai-tai  'naisai  'naisa  'naitʰai   'naitʰai

When /*t/ is followed by /*i/, it is merged with the reflexes of /*k/ in Moikodi and Aneme Wake and palatalized and fricativized to /s/ in Nawaru and Yareba and deoccluded to /h/ in Bariji:

   Musa River  Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
   *-t-/_i x  kʰ  s  s  h
 2/3 sg. n.past *…t-inu    …kʰ-inu  …s-inu …s-inu …h-inu

This loan from Oro is likewise affected, though here Bariji has [s]:

   Oro  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *-t-/_i s  s  s
 intestines *dze tini  de'sini de'sini de'sini

Accordingly, there are only two examples of Yareba initial segment /tʰi/ in Weimer and Weimer's dictionary (q.v. 1974: 260.)

When /*t/ is both preceded and followed by /*i/, it is palatalized and fricativized to /s/ in Aneme Wake as well as in and Nawaru and Yareba and deoccluded to /h/ in Bariji:

  Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
  *-t-/i_i w (?) s  s  s  h
            

Phonemic laminal fricative /*s/ can occur in any vocalic context. Some of the following are known to be loans (below):

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *s-  s  s  s  s  s
 sand  *sanamu      sa'namu    sa'namu
 moon  *sakaɾa  sa'xaɾa      sa'kʰaɾa 
 white cockatoo *sawai  sawai [gh]      sa'wai  
 house/village  *su      su  su  su [ws]
 cassowary  *subuai  subu'ai  su'buai  subu'ai  su'bai  
   *-s-  s  s  s  s  s
 elbow  *i[ʔi]su  wa'na-isu  wa'na-si  wa'na-isi wa'na-si 
 sneeze  *[ai]siɾo        e'siɾo  
 mosquito  *mimisi  mimisi [gh]  mimisi [la]   mi'misi  
 bird  *gasiɾa  ga'siɾa      ga'siɾa  ga'siɾa
 cloud  *goso  'goso    'goso  'goso  'goso
 all  *jaisina  'jaisina ≈ jesina 'jaisina  je'sinanu   jaiha

(n.b. it's possible that several medial examples actually reflect /*t/i_i.)

Overall, the impression is that phonemic /*s/ was introduced into proto-Musa River from neighboring families, with some examples of apparent /*s/ reflecting native /*t/ when both preceded and followed by /*i/.

Velar voiceless stop /*k/ is fricated to /x/ in Weimer and Weimer's Moikodi (1977: 3.) In Hooper's Moikodi it is given as <k>:

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *k-  x  kʰ  kʰ  kʰ  kʰ
 fat/grease  *kewea    kʰe'wea  kʰe'wea  kʰe'wea  kʰe'wea
 armpit  *kanapo    kamapu [la] [sic]   kʰa'naɸo  
 older brother *kaka  xaxa  kʰakʰa  kʰakʰa  'kʰakʰa  kʰakʰa
 yam  *kaʔu  kau [gh] 'kʰaʔu  'kʰau  'kʰau  
 grass  *koe[ʔe]    koe [la]    kʰo'e  
 red  *kokoi  xo'xoi  kʰo'kʰoi  kʰu'kʰui  kʰu'kʰui  kʰu'kʰui
 dog  *kua    'kʰua  'kʰua  'kʰua  
   *-k-  x  kʰ  kʰ  kʰ  kʰ
 cough  *eko[n/ɾ]o   hekoro [la]    o'kʰono  
 sun  *eweaka  e'waxa  e'wekʰa    e'wakʰa  e'wakʰa
 reciprocity  *moko  moxo  mokʰo  mokʰo  'mokʰo  
 wing  *pakina      ɸa'kʰina  ɸa'kʰina  ha'kʰina
 old man  *bauwaka  bau'waxa bau'wakʰa  bau'wakʰa bau'wakʰa 
 egg  *baka    baka [la]    'bakʰa  'bakʰa
 moon  *sakaɾa  sa'xaɾa      sa'kʰaɾa  
 older brother *kaka  xaxa  kʰakʰa  kʰakʰa  'kʰakʰa  kʰakʰa
 red  *kokoi  xo'xoi  kʰo'kʰoi  kʰu'kʰui  kʰu'kʰui  kʰu'kʰui

Bilabial voiced stop /*b/ is retained as such in all descendants:

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *b-  b  b  b  b  b
 forehead  *bepoɾo  be'foɾo    be'ɸoɾo  be'ɸoɾo  
 contents/true  *ba    ba [la]    ba  ba
 disk club  *baidara  baidara [gh] baitara [la]    bai'daɾa  
 old man  *bauwaka  bau'waxa  bau'wakʰa  bau'wakʰa bau'wakʰa  
 father (1)  *baba(-ʔe) ba'baʔe  ba'baʔe  'baba  'baba  'baba
 speech  *bana  bana    bana  'bana  
 feast  *banau    banau [la]    ba'nau  
 egg  *baka    baka [la]    'bakʰa  'bakʰa
 village ground  *baɾuna    baruna [la]    ba'ɾuna  
 frog sp.  *bawada  ba'wada    ba'wada  ba'wada  ba'wada
 head  *bo-tai  bo'xai  bo'kʰai  bo'tʰai  bo'tʰai  
 web/net  *boiwe    boive [la]    'boiwe  
 belly  *boana  bo'ana  bo'ana      
 wide  *bodo  bodo  bodo  bodo  'bodo  bodo
 yellow  *boɾa    bora [la]    'boɾa  
 pig  *boɾo  boɾo  boɾo  boɾo  'boɾo  boɾo
 drum  *buma  buma  buma  buma  buma  
 strong/clever  *buna  buna  buna  buna  'buna  
 foot/leg  *buɾi  'buɾi  buri [la]  'buɾi  'buɾi  'buɾi
 bamboo sp.  *buɾama  burama [gh]      bu'ɾama  
 arm  *baɾa    vana-bara [la]   wa'na-baɾa  
   *-b-  b  b  b  b  b
 benefactive  *-ba  -ba  -ba  -ba  -ba  -ba
 younger brother *-bue  -bue  -bue  -bue  -'bue  -bue
 name  *ibi  'ibi  'ibi  'ibi    
 nose  *iboʔo  i'bo  i'bo  i'bo  i'bo  i'boʔo
 hole  *eba  eba  eba    'eba  
 or  *aba  aba      'aba  
 waist/middle  *aba(na)    abana  abana  a'bana; a'bago 
 which? (etc.)  *abo  a'bo-  a'bo-  a'bo-  a'bo-  a'bo-
 fish/game  *abu  'abu        'abu
 rain  *obi  'obi  'obi  'obi  'obi  'obi
 parcel  *oba  oba        oba
 stem/source  *ubi    ubi    'ubi  
 neck  *ubiɾi    u'biɾi    u'biɾi  u'biɾi
 thumb  *ubei  u'bei  ube 'six' [la] u'bei  u'bei  u'bei
 liver  *uba  'uba      'uba  
 bean  *ubui  u'bui  u'bui      u'bui
 paddle  *mabi[ʔ]a  mabi-a [gh]      ma'bia  
 moon  *maɾabe  marabe [gh]  ma'nabe    ma'ɾabe  
 father (1)  *baba(-ʔe) ba'baʔe  ba'baʔe  'baba  'baba  'baba
 level ground  *nabi        'nabi  
 snake  *tabai  xa'bai    tʰa'bai  tʰa'bai  
 path  *daʔaba  'daʔaba  'daʔaba    'daba  
 black  *duba  'duba  'duba  'duba  du'ba(-waɾu)  du'ba-waɾu
 on top  *dubo  dubo-ɾo  dubo-ɾo  dubo-ɾo  'dubo-ɾo  
 later/behind  *dubu  dubu  dubu  dubu  'dubu  dubu
 cassowary  *subuai  subu'ai  su'buai  subu'ai  su'bai  
 smoke  *giboɾi  gi'boɾi    gi'boɾi  gi'boɾi  gi'boɾi
 stone  *gebiɾo  ge'biɾo      ge'biɾo  
 knife  *gabina  ga'bina    ga'bina    
 widow  *wabu    vabu [la]    'wabu  

Apical voiced stop /*d/ is generally retained as such in all descendants:

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *d-  d  d  d  d  d
 anger  *dino    dino [la]    'dino  
 one  *demu  de'mu-  de'mu-  de'mu-  de'mu-  
 back  *de[ʔe]ɾena de'ɾena    de'ɾena  de'ɾena  
 don't/won't  *da        da  
 meat  *dama    'dama  'dama  'dama  'dama
 forked branch  *daʔa        da  
 path  *daʔaba  'daʔaba  'daʔaba    'daba  
 3 sg.  *dawa  dawa  dawa  dawa  da'wa  dawa
 wet  *dopo[ʔ]u  do'fou  'doɸo  do'ɸou    
 earth/ground  *doʔo[ʔo]  do'ʔo  do'ʔo  do    
 widower  *dowae    doai [la]    do'wae  
 night/dark  *dumu  'dumu  'dumu  'dumu  'dumu  'dumu
 black  *duba  'duba  'duba  'duba  du'ba(-waɾu) du'ba-waɾu
 on top  *dubo  dubo-ɾo  dubo-ɾo  dubo-ɾo  'dubo-ɾo  
 later/behind  *dubu  dubu  dubu  dubu  'dubu  dubu
 net bag  *duɾa  'duɾa  'duɾa    'duɾa  
   *-d-  d  d  d  d  d
 when?  *-dapuɾa  -da'fuɾa    -da'ɸuɾa   
 alright/so then *idua  ido  idua  idua  i'do  idua
 old/before  *adina  a'dina  a'dina  a'dina    a'dina
 bird  *ada    'ada  'ada    
 water  *adua  a'dua  a'dua    'adu (?)  
 sago  *odei        o'dei  
 net bag  *oda      'oda    'oda
 frog sp.  *bawada  ba'wada    ba'wada  ba'wada  ba'wada
 wide  *bodo  bodo  bodo  bodo  'bodo  bodo
 neck/throat  *nodo  nordo [gh] noto [la]    'nodo  nodo [ws]
 hot/heat  *wadada  wa'dada  wa'dada    wa'dada  

Apical /*d/ is palatalized and affricated to /dz/ in Yareba and Bariji when following high front vowel /*i/:

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
   *d/i_  d  d  d  dz dz
 hair/feather *idi  'idi  'idi  'idi  'idzi  'idzi

Voiced velar /*g/ occurs almost exclusively initially. It is retained as such in all descendants:

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *g-  g  g  g  g  g
 smoke  *giboɾi  gi'boɾi    gi'boɾi gi'boɾi gi'boɾi
 stone  *gebiɾo  ge'biɾo      ge'biɾo 
 knife  *gabina  ga'bina    ga'bina   
 bird  *gasiɾa  ga'siɾa      ga'siɾa ga'siɾa
 star club *goɾe  gore [gh] gore [la]    'goɾe  
 cloud  *goso  'goso    'goso  'goso  'goso
 boiling  *gugu  gugu      'gugu  

One example of medial /*g/ appears to be a reduplication:

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba  Bariji
   *-g-  -g-     -g- 
 boiling *gugu  gugu      'gugu  

Our assumption is that all of these words are loans dating from a period later than that of loans which observe the loss of Cloudy Bay-Musa River initial /*g/.

Glottal stop /*ʔ/ occurs only medially, in complimentary distribution to /*g/. It is lost in Nawaru and Yareba and retained sporadically in Moikodi and Aneme Wake:

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru Yareba Bariji
   *-ʔ-  ʔ [ʔ ø]  ʔ [ʔ ø] ø  ø  ʔ
 nose  *iboʔo  i'bo  i'bo  i'bo  i'bo  i'boʔo
 fire  *inaʔa  i'na  i'naʔa  i'na  i'na  i'naʔa
 weeping/crying  *iʔi    iʔi [la]    i  
 root  *iʔini  'ini  i'ʔini  'ini  'ini  i'ʔini
 come  *aʔaɾ-  a'ʔaɾ-  aʔa'ɾ-  'aɾ-  'a(ɾ)- a'ʔaɾ-
 mountain  *oɾaʔa[n/ɾ]a oɾa'ʔaɾa  oɾa'ʔaɾa  o'ɾana   
 louse  *uʔa    'uʔa  'ua  'ua  'uʔa
 rat  *uʔuie  'uie; wi-ia [gh] u'ʔuje  'uie    
 taro  *mi'ʔina  'mina  'mina  'mina  'mina  mi'ʔina
 banana  *moʔo  'moʔo  'moʔo  mo  mo  
 vine/rope  *naʔa  na'ʔa  na'ʔa    na  
 wash/bathe  *taʔa    kaʔa [la]    tʰa  
 forked branch  *daʔa        da  
 path  *daʔaba  'daʔaba  'daʔaba    'daba  
 earth/ground  *doʔo[ʔo]  do'ʔo  do'ʔo  do    
 yam  *kaʔu  kau [gh]  'kʰaʔu  'kʰau  'kʰau  
 copulation  *waʔa    vaʔa [la]    wa  
 clear  *wawaʔa        wa'wa  
 excrement/urine *jeʔe    ieʔe [la]    je  
 burn  *jaʔaɾ    iaʔa [la]    jaɾ-  
 laughter  *joʔo    ioʔo [la]    jo  

Excepting /*uʔa/ “louse” and /*kaʔu/ “yam”, all known examples of glottal stop are preceded and followed by homophononous vowels. This might be assumed to result from a rule which levels these vowels, or one in which erstwhile glottal stop, reflecting Cloudy Bay-Musa River /*g/, was dropped in other vocalic environments.

Bilabial non-stop /*w/ is realized as glide [w] or occluded to voiced fricative [β]. In Yareba, this follows the pattern of the Oro languages, with [β] occuring before front vowels /i e/ and [w] elsewhere (Weimer and Weimer 1974: 8, Weimer 1992: 3.) In Armit's Buari /w/ is given as <v> even when followed by non-front vowels /a o/:

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *w-  w [w β]  w [w β]  w [w β] w [w β] w [w β]
 spittle  *wit[i]u  wisiuma [gh]      wi'tʰua  
 pandanus mat  *wi[ʔ]a  vi-a [gh]  we-a [eb]    'wia  
 speak/say  *we  we  we  we  we  we
 hot/humid  *weɾi        'weɾi  
 ornaments  *weɾei    vere [la]    we'ɾei  
 time/day  *wai  wai  vai [la]  wai  'wai  wai
 work/garden  *wai[j]a  waia  waia  waia  'waija  waia
 bark cloth  *wau    vau [la]    'wau  
 morning  *wau(-ɾa)      'wauɾawa  'wau(-ɾa)  'wauɾawa
 widow  *wabu    vabu [la]    'wabu  
 hand/arm  *wana  'wana  'wana  'wana    'wana
 mouth/voice  *wate  'waxe  'wake  'watʰe  'watʰe  'watʰe
 flying fox  *watua    wa'kʰua  wa'tʰua  wa'tʰua  wa'tʰua
 hot/heat  *wadada  wa'dada  wa'dada    wa'dada  
 copulation  *waʔa    vaʔa [la]    wa  
 clear  *wawaʔa        wa'wa  
 spear  *waɾi  were [gh]  'waɾi  'waɾi  'waɾi  'waɾi
 message  *waja  waja  waja  waja  'waja  waja
 under  *wowona  wowona  wowona    wowona  wowona
 throat  *woɾo[ʔ]ogo   oroʔogo [la]   'woɾo(w)ogo 
   *-w-  w [w β]  w [w β]  w [w β] w [w β] w [w β]
 big/bad  *-weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe
 blood/salt  *iwa  'iwa  'iwa  'iwa  'iwa  'iwa
 cold  *iwu  'iwu  'iu  'iwu  'iwu  'iwu
 sun  *eweaka  e'waxa  e'wekʰa    e'wakʰa  e'wakʰa
 1 pl. excl.  *ewa  ewa  eva [la]  —  —  —
 this/here  *ewa    ewa  ewa  e'wa  ewa
 old woman  *ewai    e'wai  e'wai  e'wai  
 left  *ewani        e'wani  
 mother's bro.  *[a]uwa        -(a)uwa  
 dry  *aweita  a'wesa    a'weitʰa    a'weitʰa
 woman/wife  *aweta  a'wexa  a'wekʰa  a'wetʰa  a'wetʰa  a'wetʰa
 husband/penis  *aweɾa    vela [la]  aweɾa  a'weɾa  aweɾa
 forehead  *awaɾa    a'waɾa      a'waɾa
 new/now  *awoena  a'woena  a'woena  a'woena  awona  awona
 small/light  *otowa  o'xoa  o'kʰowa  o'tʰowa  o'tʰowa  otʰowe
 dog  *owa  'owa        'owa
 shoulder  *owa[p]i  o'wai  o'wai  o'waɸi    
 1 dl.  *uwa  uwa  uwa  uwa  wa  uwa
 crocodile  *uwaja  uwai-ia [gh]      u'waja  uwaiju [ws]
 bow  *pewa        'ɸewa  
 old man  *bauwaka  bau'waxa  bau'wakʰa  bau'wakʰa  bau'wakʰa  
 frog sp.  *bawada  ba'wada    ba'wada  ba'wada  ba'wada
 web/net  *boiwe    boive [la]    'boiwe  
 3 sg.  *dawa  dawa  dawa  dawa  da'wa  dawa
 widower  *dowae    doai [la]    do'wae  
 white cockatoo *sawai  sawai [gh]      sa'wai  
 fat/grease  *kewea    kʰe'wea  kʰe'wea  kʰe'wea  kʰe'wea
 clear  *wawaʔa        wa'wa  
 under  *wowona  wowona  wowona    wowona  wowona
 tusk  *jaweɾa  ga'weɾa [sic] ja'weɾa    ja'weɾa  ja'weɾa
 sugarcane  *jawau  'jawa  'jawa  ja'wau  ja'wau  

Apical non-stop /*ɾ/ occurs only medially. It is retained as such in all descendants:

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake  Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *-ɾ-  ɾ  ɾ  ɾ  ɾ  ɾ
 locative  *-ɾo  -ɾo  -ɾo  -ɾo  -ɾo  -ɾo
 good  *iɾau  i'ɾau  i'ɾau  i'ɾau  i'ɾau-ɾau  i'ɾau-ɾau
 smoke  *iɾo  iro [gh]  'iɾo      
 sneeze  *[ai]siɾo        e'siɾo  
 boy  *amaɾa    a'maɾa  a'maɾa  a'maɾa  a'maɾa
 husband/penis  *aweɾa    vela [la]  aweɾa  a'weɾa  aweɾa
 forehead  *awaɾa    a'waɾa      a'waɾa
 similative  *-aɾi  -aɾi  -aɾi  -aɾi  -aɾi  -aɾi
 yest./morrow  *aɾiena  a'ɾiena  a'ɾiena  a'ɾena  a'ɾena  a'ɾiena
 bad  *aɾama    arama [la]    a'ɾama  
 fat/grease  *aɾu  'aɾu      'aɾu  
 girl/sister  *aɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma  a'ɾuma
 mountain  *oɾaʔa[n/ɾ]a oɾa'ʔaɾa  oɾa'ʔaɾa  o'ɾana    
 vomit  *oɾo(di)  oɾodi  oɾobe  oɾodi  o'ɾodi  oɾodi
 neck  *ubiɾi    u'biɾi    u'biɾi  u'biɾi
 egg  *uɾimi  u'ɾimi  u'ɾimi      
 sky  *uɾe    uri [la]    'uɾe  
 hit/fight  *uɾ[a]    ula [la]    u'ɾa- ≈ uɾ- 
 food  *uɾuna  uɾuna  uɾuna      
 moon  *maɾabe  marabe [gh]  ma'nabe    ma'ɾabe  
 shame  *maɾu    maru [la]    'maɾu  
 full  *paɾinu    ɸa'ɾinu  ɸa'ɾinu  ɸa'ɾinu  ha'ɾinu
 coconut  *paɾai  firlai [gh] [sic] parai [la]    ɸa'ɾai  harai [ws]
 forehead  *bepoɾo  be'foɾo    be'ɸoɾo  be'ɸoɾo  
 arm  *baɾa    vana-bara [la]   wa'na-baɾa  
 village ground *baɾuna    baruna [la]    ba'ɾuna  
 yellow  *boɾa    bora [la]    'boɾa  
 pig  *boɾo  boɾo  boɾo  boɾo  'boɾo  boɾo
 foot/leg  *buɾi  'buɾi  buri [la]  'buɾi  'buɾi  'buɾi
 bamboo sp.  *buɾama  burama [gh]      bu'ɾama  
 tail  *toɾoma  xo'ɾoma  kʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma tʰo'ɾoma  tʰo'ɾoma
 back  *de[ʔe]ɾena  de'ɾena    de'ɾena  de'ɾena  
 when?  *-dapuɾa  -da'fuɾa    -da'ɸuɾa   
 net bag  *duɾa  'duɾa  'duɾa    'duɾa  
 moon  *sakaɾa  sa'xaɾa      sa'kʰaɾa  
 smoke  *giboɾi  gi'boɾi    gi'boɾi  gi'boɾi  gi'boɾi
 stone  *gebiɾo  ge'biɾo      ge'biɾo  
 bird  *gasiɾa  ga'siɾa      ga'siɾa  ga'siɾa
 star club  *goɾe  gore [gh]  gore [la]    'goɾe  
 hot/humid  *weɾi        'weɾi  
 big/bad  *-weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe  -weɾe
 ornaments  *weɾei    vere [la]    we'ɾei  
 spear  *waɾi  were [gh]  'waɾi  'waɾi  'waɾi  'waɾi
 throat  *woɾo[ʔ]ogo    oroʔogo [la]    'woɾo(w)ogo 
 tusk  *jaweɾa  ga'weɾa [sic]  ja'weɾa    ja'weɾa  ja'weɾa

Palatal non-stop /*j/ is retained as such in all descendants:

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *j-  j  j  j  j  j
 excrement/urine *jeʔe    ieʔe [la]    je  
 2 pl./dl.  *ja  ja  ja  ja  ja  ja
 all  *jaisina  'jaisina ≈ jesina 'jaisina  je'sinanu   jaiha
 sit  *jauɾ-  jau(ɾ)-  jau(ɾ)-  jau(ɾ)-  jau(ɾ)- jau-
 long  *jap[e/a]  jawa  jaɸe  jaɸa  jaɸa  jaha
 burn  *jaʔaɾ    iaʔa [la]    jaɾ-  
 tusk  *jaweɾa  ga'weɾa [sic]  ja'weɾa    ja'weɾa ja'weɾa
 sugarcane  *jawau  'jawa  'jawa  ja'wau  ja'wau  
 seed  *jo  jo  jo  jo  jo  
 laughter  *joʔo    ioʔo [la]    jo  
   *-j-  j  j  j  j  j
 fear  *ija    ia [la]    'ija  
 wind  *ojau  o'jau  o'jau  o'jau  o'jau  o'jau
 get up/stand up *uja-  uja-  uja-  uja-  uja-  uja-
 crocodile  *uwaja  uwai-ia [gh]      u'waja  uwaiju [ws]
 cassowary  *ujau  uiau [gh]      u'jau  
 short  *pu[wi]ja  ɸuja  ɸu  ɸuja    huwia

Unlike bilabial /*w/, palatal /*j/ is not occluded, and the distinction between segments such as /*ia *ija/ isn't obvious; for example /*waija/ or /*waia/ “garden” (q.v. Weimer and Weimer 1974: 284, 1977: 4.)

Final consonants on verbs … :

   Musa River Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
   *-n  n/ø  n/ø  n/ø  n/ø  n/ø
 walk/go  *an-  an-  an-  an-  a(n)-  an-
 lie down  *ain-  'ain-  'ain-  'ain-  'ai(n)-  'ain-
 take  *mun-    mun- [la]    mu(n)-  
   *-t  x/ø  kʰ/ø  tʰ ≈ s/ø tʰ ≈ s/ø tʰ ≈ s/ø
 eat/drink  *it-    i- [la]    i'(tʰ)-  
 bite/chew  *a[ʔa]t-    aʔa [la]    a(tʰ)-  
 die  *uit-        ui(tʰ)-  
 do  *ut-  u(x)-  u(kʰ)-  u(tʰ)-  u'(tʰ)-  u'(tʰ)-
 give  *mat-  ?ma'nax- ma(kʰ)-  ma(tʰ)-  ma('tʰ)-  ma(tʰ)-
 hear/listen *naut-    nau- [la]    'nau(tʰ)-  
   *-d  d/ø  d/ø  d/ø  d/ø  d/ø
 put  *od-  od-  od-  od-  o'(d)-  od-
   *-ɾ  ɾ/ø  ɾ/ø  ɾ/ø  ɾ/ø  ɾ/ø
 see  *e[ʔe]ɾ-  e'ɾ-  eʔe'ɾ-  e'ɾ-  e'(ɾ)-  e'ɾ-
 come  *aʔaɾ-  a'ʔaɾ-  aʔa'ɾ-  'aɾ-  'a(ɾ)-  a'ʔaɾ-
 hit/kill  *uɾ-    u- [la]    u(ɾ)-  
 blow  *puɾ-    pu- [la]    ɸu  
 sit  *jauɾ-  jau(ɾ)-  jau(ɾ)-  jau(ɾ)-  jau(ɾ)-  jau-

Pronouns

Musa River free pronouns are reconstructed as follows (q.v. Weimer 1978: 14):

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba Bariji
 1 sg.  *na  na  na  na  na  na
 2 sg.  *a  a  a  a  a  a
 3 sg.  *dawa  dawa  dawa  dawa  da'wa  dawa
 1 pl. excl. *ewa  ewa  eva [la]  —  —  —
 1 pl. incl. *i[j]a  —  ija  ija  ja  ja
 2 pl.  *ja  ja  ja  ja  ja  ja
 3 pl.  *ema(wa)  emua  emua ≈ ema ima ≈ uma e'ma  uma ≈ ima
 1 dl.  *uwa  uwa  uwa  uwa  wa  uwa

There are reasons besides their conspicuous phonological parallelism to consider the third persons and the first person plural exclusive and dual, as well as historically the first person plural inclusive, to share a demonstrative enclitic /*-wa/, an element also found on /*ewa/ “this” (cf. /etʰa/ “that”.) The Yareba third person singular possessive free form and prefix is /da(-nu)/, not /dawa(-nu)/, while the separability of /*ewa *eta/ is strongly suggested by /e'no/ “like this.” This would explain final stress as seen in Yareba /(i)'ja/, /e'wa/, /(u')wa/, /da'wa/. These suffixes are also found on corresponding Bauwaki and Cloudy Bay first person plural and dual forms /*gewa *guwa/ as well as /*iwa/ first person singular which, as Musa River /*na/ is original to Owen Stanley Range, must be an innovation and likely reflects the plural inclusive. Here as well /*-wa/ is dropped in possessive forms, thus Magi free forms /ia gea gua/ but possessives /i-na ge-na gu-na/ (q.v. Thomson 1975: 643.)

Verbal morphology

[under construction]

Musa River subject desinences on final verbs are reconstructed in seven tense forms as follows:

   realis      irrealis      
   past 1  near past present  imperative future  desiderative  benefactive
 1 sg. *[-j]e  *-ø-ne  *-a-ø-kune *-ma  *-ma-u  *-man-e  *-ma-inia
 2 sg. *[-j]i  *-i-nu  *-a-ø-tiu  *-a  *-b-atiu  *-b-a-[n]e  *-b-a-inia
 3 sg. *[-j]i  *-i-nu  *-a-i-tu  *-b-i  *-b[e]-tiu  *-b-i-[n]e  *-b-ø-inia
 1 pl. *[-j]i-ti *-i-ti  *-a-i-ti  *-be  *-be-i-ti  *-be-[n]e  *-be-inia
 2 pl. *[-j]i-ta *-i-ta  *-a-i-ta  *-awe  *-b-awe-i-ta *-b-awe-[n]e  *-b-aweita-inia
 3 pl. *[-j]i-ta *-i-ta  *-a-i-ta  *-b-i-ta  *-be-i-ta  *-be-i-ta[n]e *-be-i-ta-inia
 1 dl. *[-j]i-tu *-i-tu  *-a-i-tu  *-bu  *-bu-i-tu  *-bu-[n]e  *-bu-inia
 2 dl. *[-j]i-ti *-i-ti  *-a-i-ti  *-awa  *-b-awa-i-ti *-b-awa-[n]e  *-b-awa-inia
 3 dl. *[-j]i-ti *-i-ti  *-a-i-ti  *-b-i-ti  *-b-i-si-ti  *-b-i-si-[n]e *-b-i-s-inia

These are based upon the forms attested in Weimer and Weimer (1974: 493-501, Weimer 1978: 5-8.) It should be noted that, as Weimer and Weimer's example verb was /*ut/ “do,” underlying initial /*b/ in irrealis suffixes is realized as [*ɸ]; these are given here with reconstructed /*b/ in the paradigms which follow:

Past … The only difference between the past and near past in Aneme Wake is the retention of the stem final consonant in the near past. This might be explained in a number of ways, for example through the loss of a suffix-initial consonant, here shown speculatively as /*j/:

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
 1 sg.  *[-j]e  -o-e  -e  -e  -e  -e
 2/3 sg. *[-j]i  [-oɾi]  -i  -i  -i  -i
 1 pl.  *[-j]iti  -o-i  -isi  -si  -si  -hi
 2/3 pl. *[-j]ita  -o-xa  -isa  -tʰa  -tʰa  -tʰa
 1 dl.  *[-j]itu  -o-xu  -isu  -tʰu  -tʰu  -tʰu
 2/3 dl. *[-j]iti  -o-i  -isi  -si  -si  -hi

Near past…

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
 1 sg.  *-ø-ne  [-ea]  -ne  -ne  -ne  -ne
 2/3 sg. *-i-nu  [-i]  -inu  -inu  -inu  -inu
 1 pl.  *-i-ti  -iwi  -isi  -isi  -isi  -ihi
 2/3 pl. *-i-ta  -isa  -isa  -itʰa  -itʰa  -itʰa
 1 dl.  *-i-tu  -isu  -isu  -itʰu  -itʰu  -itʰu
 2/3 dl. *-i-ti  -iwi  -isi  -isi  -isi  -ihi

Present …

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
 1 sg.  *-a-ø-kune [-ae]  -akʰune  [-autʰane] [-atʰane] -akʰune
 2/3 sg. *-a-ø-tiu  -axi  -akʰu  -asu  -asu  -ahu
 1 pl.  *-a-i-ti  -aiwi  -aisi  -aisi  -aisi  -aihi
 2/3 pl. *-a-i-ta  -aisa  -aisa  -aitʰa  -aitʰa  -aitʰa
 1 dl.  *-a-i-tu  -aisu  -aisu  -aitʰu  -aitʰu  -aitʰu
 2/3 dl. *-a-i-ti  -aiwi  -aisi  -aisi  -aisi  -aihi

Imperative …

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
 1 sg. *-ma  -ma  -ma  -ma  -ma  -ma
 2 sg. *-a  -a  -a  -a  -a  -a
 3 sg. *-b-i        [≈ ɸ/t_] -fi  -ɸi  -ɸi  -ɸi  -hi
 1 pl. *-be        [≈ ɸ/t_]  -fe  -ɸe  -ɸe  -ɸe  -he
 2 pl. *-awe  -wewe  -awe  -awe  -awe  [-awa]
 3 pl. *-b-i-ta   [≈ ɸ/t_]  -fisa  -ɸisa  -ɸitʰa -ɸitʰa -hitʰa
 1 dl. *-bu        [≈ ɸ/t_]  -fu  -ɸu  -ɸu  -ɸu  -hu
 2 dl. *-awa  -awa  -awa  -awa  -awa  -awa
 3 dl. *-b-i-ti    [≈ ɸ/t_]  -fosi (?) -ɸisi  -ɸisi  -ɸisi  -hihi

Future …

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
 1 sg. *-ma-u  -mau  -mau  -mau  -mau  -mau
 2 sg. *-b-a-tiu  -faxi  -ɸakʰu  -ɸasu  -ɸasu  -hahu
 3 sg. *-b[e]-tiu  -fisi  -ɸeekʰu  -ɸisu  -ɸisu  -hihu
 1 pl. *-be-iti  [-fenai] -ɸeisi  -ɸeisi  -ɸeisi  -heihi
 2 pl. *-b-awe-ita -foisa  -ɸoisa  -ɸoitʰa  -ɸoitʰa  -hoitʰa
 3 pl. *-be-ita  -feisa  -ɸeisa  -ɸitʰaitʰa -ɸitʰaitʰa -hitʰaitʰa
 1 dl. *-bu-itu  -fusu  -ɸuukʰu  -ɸisu  -ɸutʰu  -hutʰu
 2 dl. *-b-awa-iti -foai  -ɸuuwaisi  -ɸawaisi  -ɸawaisi  -hawaihi
 3 dl. *-b-ititi  -fioi  -ɸisisi  -ɸisisi  -ɸisisi  -hihihi

Desiderative …

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
 1 sg. *-man-e  -made  -mane  -mane  -mane  -mane
 2 sg. *-b-a-e  -fade  -ɸane  -ɸae  -ɸae  -hae
 3 sg. *-b-i-e  -fide  -ɸine  -ɸie  -ɸie  -hie
 1 pl. *-be-ne  [-fenade] -ɸene  -ɸene  -ɸene  -hene
 2 pl. *-b-awe-e  -fode  -ɸone  -ɸoe  -ɸoe  -hoe
 3 pl. *-be-i-ta-e -fisade  -ɸisane  -ɸitʰae -ɸitʰae -hitʰae
 1 dl. *-bu-ne  -fude  -ɸune  -ɸune  -ɸune  -hune
 2 dl. *-b-awa-e  -foade  -ɸuwane  -ɸawae  -ɸawae  -hawae
 3 dl. *-b-i-si-e  -fiode  -ɸisine  -ɸisie  -ɸisie  -hihie

Benefactive … . The second plural form has been replaced by the third plural in Central Musa River:

   Musa River  Moikodi  Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
 1 sg. *-ma-inia  -mainia  -manea  -mainia  -mainia  -mainia
 2 sg. *-b-a-inia  -fainia  -ɸanea  -ɸainia  -ɸainia  -hainia
 3 sg. *-b-ø-inia  [-fisia]  -ɸinea  -ɸinia  -ɸinia  -hinia
 1 pl. *-be-inia  [-fenainia] -ɸenea  -ɸeinia  -ɸeinia  -heinia
 2 pl. *-b-awe-i-tainia -foisainia  -ɸisanea  [-ɸitʰainia] [-ɸitʰainia] [-hitʰainia]
 3 pl. *-be-i-ta-inia  -feisainia  -ɸisanea  -ɸitʰainia  -ɸitʰainia  -hitʰainia
 1 dl. *-bu-inia  -fuinia  -ɸunea  -ɸuinia  -ɸuinia  -huinia
 2 dl. *-b-awa-inia  -foinia  -ɸuwanea  -ɸawainia  -ɸawainia  -hawainia
 3 dl. *-b-i-s-inia  [-foiania]  -ɸisinea  -ɸisinia  -ɸisinia  -hihinia

Same-subject medials are reconstructed as follows (q.v. Weimer and Weimer 1974: 488, 1977: 13, Weimer 1978: 11-12;) as the subject is indicated on the final verb, there is no distinction in person:

   Musa River Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
 serial  *-e  -e  -e  -e  -e  -e
 simultaneous *-[e/a]da  -ada  -ada  -ada  -eda  -ada
 sequential  *-ebe  -ebe  -ebe  -ebe  -ebe  -ebe

Loans from neighboring families

[under construction]

….

… Oro … . Several terms have undergone changes indicating a direct origin from Baruga:

   Oro  Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru  Yareba  Bariji
 elbow  *ũbuge        u'gubo  u'gubo
 light (weight) *peɣao          he'kʰau
 jaw/mouth  *be wetu      be'betʰu be'betʰu  be'betʰu
 stick  *ni tu        'isu  'isu
 eye  *diti        'ditʰi  
 new  *seka        'ɾekʰa  'ɾekʰa
 spring/wet  *sasã-ka        ɾa'ɾakʰa  ɾa'ɾakʰa
 intestines  *dze tini     de'sini  de'sini  de'sini
 taboo  *kakaɾa    kʰa'kʰaɾa    kʰa'kʰaɾa 
 coconut shell  *kopiɾi        kʰo'ɸiɾi  kʰo'hiɾi
 flying fox  *ɾĩ-beɾe        di'beɾe  
 snake  *jĩgabo          ni'gabo

Additionally …:

   Oro  Musa River
 woman/wife  *ewetu *aweta
 fog/cloud/rain *gousV *goso

… Managalas Plateau …:

   Managalas Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
 name *iɸu        iɸu  ihu

… Doromu-Maria …:

   Doromu-Maria Moikodi Aneme Wake Nawaru Yareba Bariji
 louse *gue  'gue        

… Oceanic …:

   …  Musa River
 tongue  *… *meana
 sweet potato  *… *moseɾa
 yellow  *… *boɾa
 pig  *… *boɾo
 path  *… *daʔaba
 black  *… *duba
 older brother *… *kaka
 waist/middle  *… *aba(na)
 chin  *… *aɾe