The Kiwaian languages form a language family of New Guinea. They are a dialect cluster of half a dozen closely related languages. They are grammatically divergent from the Trans–New Guinea languages, and typically have singular, dual, trial, and plural pronouns.
Classification The Trans–New Guinea identity of Kiwaiian is supported by a relatively large number of basic lexical items. Ross (2005) tentatively linked Kiwaiian to the erstwhile language isolate Porome. However, the evidence is only two pronouns, and the connection has not been accepted by other researchers.
Languages Kiwaian family: Kiwai, Bamu–Gama, Kerewo–Morigi, Waboda
Kiwaian languages and respective demographic information listed by Evans (2018) are provided below.
|+ List of Kiwaian languages ! Language !! Location !! Population !! Alternate names |- | Southern Kiwai || Kiwai Rural LLG || 20,000 || Island Kiwai |- | Wabuda || Kiwai Rural LLG || 2,750 || |- | Bamu || south Bamu Rural LLG || 6,310 || |- | Northeast Kiwai || West Kikori Rural LLG || 6,000 || Urama |- | Kerewo || West Kikori Rural LLG || 1,090 || |- | Morigi || West Kikori Rural LLG || ? ||
Proto-language Phonemes Usher (2020) reconstructs the consonant inventory as follows:New Guinea World, Kiwai
| *m || *n || || |- | *p || *t || *s || *k |- | *b || *d || || *g |- | *w || *ɾ || ||
| *i || || *u |- | *e || || *o |- | || *a ||
Pronouns Usher (2020) reconstructs the pronouns as,
! !!sg!!pl |- !1 |*mo||*nimo |- !2 |*oɾo||*nigo |- !3 | ?||*nei
Basic vocabulary Some lexical reconstructions by Usher (2020) are:
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! gloss !! Proto-Kiwai |- | head/hair || *kepuɾu |- | hair/feather || *mus[ua] |- | ear || *gaɾe |- | eye || *idomaɾi |- | nose || *wodi |- | tooth || *ibo(-nVɾV) |- | tongue || *uototoɾo[p/b]e |- | leg/foot || *sakiɾo |- | blood || *kaɾima; *sa[w]i |- | bone || *soɾo |- | skin/bark || *tama |- | breast || *amo |- | louse || *nimo |- | dog || *[k]umu |- | bird || *wowogo |- | egg/fruit || *kikopu |- | tree || *nuk₂a; *kota |- | man/male || *dubu |- | woman || *oɾobo; *upi |- | sun/day || *saɾik₂i; *si[w]io |- | moon || *sagomi; *owe |- | water || *kobo |- | fire || *keɾa |- | stone || *(nok₂oɾa-)kopi |- | path || *gabo |- | name || *paini, *paina |- | eat/drink || *oɾuso (sg.), *iɾiso (pl.) |- | one || *nak[o/u] |- | two || *netoa
Evolution
Kiwaian reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea (pTNG) etyma are:
Southern Kiwai language: magota ‘mouth’ < *maŋgat[a] amo ‘breast < *amu gare ‘ear’ < *kand(e,i)k(V] pitu ‘fingernail’ < *mb(i,u)t(i,u)[C] baba ‘father’ < *mbapa sagana ‘moon’ < *takVn[V] tuwo ‘ashes’ < *sumbu era ‘tree’ < *inda nimo ‘louse’ < *niman epuru ‘head’ < *kV(mb,p)utu kopu ‘short’ < *kutu(p,mb)a abida ‘sister’ < *pi(n,nd)a
Other languages: Waboda kepuru < *kV(mb,p)utu Kerewo bena ‘shoulder’ < *mbena ‘arm’ Morigi kota ‘leg’ < *k(a,o)ndok[V] N.E. Kiwai modi ‘nose’ < *mundu Bamu kukamu ‘cold’ < *kukam(o,u)
References
Further reading Wurm, S.A. "The Kiwaian Language Family". In Franklin, K. editor, The linguistic situation in the Gulf District and adjacent areas, Papua New Guinea. C-26:217-260. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1973. Wurm, Stefan. 1951. Studies in the Kiwai Languages, Fly Delta, Papua, New Guinea. Wien: Herold.
External links Timothy Usher, New Guinea World, Proto-Kiwai