Chimbu–Wahgi languages

The Chimbu–Wahgi languages are a language family of New Guinea. They are sometimes included in the Trans–New Guinea proposal; Usher links them with the Engan languages in a Central New Guinea Highlands family.NewGuineaWorld, Central New Guinea Highlands

Languages There is little doubt that the Chimbu–Wahgi family is valid. The languages are:Usher, Timothy. Simbu-Western Highlands. New Guinea World.

Chimbu–Wahgi family Chimbu (Simbu) branch Kuman (Chimbu) Chuave Nomane Golin–Dom Salt-Yui Sinasina Western Highlands Jimi River Maring Narak–Kandawo Wahgi Valley Nii Wahgi North Wahgi (= Yu We?) Mount Hagen Melpa (Medlpa) Kaugel River Imbo Ungu Umbu-Ungu Mbo-Ung (Bo-Ung)

Phonology Several of the Chimbu–Wahgi languages, such as Nii, Wahgi, and Kuman, have uncommon lateral consonants.

Chimbu–Wahgi languages have contrastive tone.

Pronouns The singular pronouns are:

! !!sg |- !1 |*ná |- !2 |*nim |- !3 |*[y]é

Dual *-l and plural *-n reflect Trans–New Guinea forms.

Evolution

Middle Wahgi reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea (pTNG) etyma:

ama ‘mother’ < *am(a,i) amu ‘breast’ < *amu numan ‘louse’ < *niman numan ‘thought, mind, will’ < *n(o,u) man, muŋ ‘fruit, nut, lump’ muŋgum ‘kidney’ < *maŋgV ‘round object’ mundmuŋ ‘heart’ < *mundun-maŋgV mokum, mokem ‘knuckle, joint’ < *mo(k,ŋg)Vm ‘joint’ mundun mo- ‘be pot bellied’ < *mundun ‘internal organs, belly’ ŋaŋ ‘small male child’ < *ŋaŋ[a] ‘baby’ apa- ‘maternal uncle’ < *apa ‘father’ embe(m) ‘name’ < *imbi ‘name’ muk ‘blue’ < *muk tuk- ‘chop’ < *tVk- ‘cut, cut off’ no- ‘eat’ < *na- mek si- ‘to vomit’ mek ‘vomitus’ < *makV[C] + t(e,i)- ‘to vomit’

References

Chimbu–Wahgi languages

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