The Maimai languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family. They are spoken just to the west of Nuku town in eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea (including in Maimai Wanwan Rural LLG).
Languages Maimai Beli, Laeko-Libuat Wiaki Siliput, Yahang, Heyo
Pronouns Pronouns in Maimai languages are:
|+ Maimai pronouns ! !! Beli !! Siliput !! Yahang !! Heyo |- ! 1s | ki || oi || ai || ai |- ! 2s | si || yi || is || is |- ! 3s | ofo || tən || apan || apan |- ! 1p | əfə || yep || epep || apap |- ! 2p | || yip || ipip || ipip |- ! 3p | afa || təmoŋ || apam ||
Vocabulary comparison The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968),Laycock, Donald C. 1968. Languages of the Lumi Subdistrict (West Sepik District), New Guinea. Oceanic Linguistics, 7 (1): 36-66. as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.
The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. elktife, elaŋkitif for “tongue”) or not (e.g. nikiw, rakun, taŋən for “ear”).
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! gloss !! Minidien !! Heyo !! Siliput !! Yahang !! Beli |- ! head | etwun || utüwe || paroŋ || wuntəf || |- ! ear | nikiw || rakun || taŋən || raŋkun || ŋətə |- ! eye | napə || napelkə || oi || nampəl || satoʔ |- ! nose | mohau || luweka || luwet || ruwot || suwopən |- ! tooth | panikye || parkita || panəm || paniŋk || niŋo |- ! tongue | ləhe || elktife || yansɨ || elaŋkitif || life |- ! leg | etiyə || itikya || tiŋ || youpep || papaŋ |- ! louse | lumum || hipəp || || yaflin || |- ! dog | panə || mpat || pat || mpat || pato |- ! bird | pelhin || walfisa || hilít || felfis || walfun |- ! egg | waltiye || laʔwo || yilhəf || lawo || lawiyen |- ! blood | amkeʔ || wiyefa || wuji || wiyef || kuijwẽ |- ! bone | loki || yefa || lokɨ || yefa || loknwẽ |- ! skin | kirkeʔ || halipa || purko || halip || noʔoŋ |- ! breast | mapi || maka || mayr || may || mapi |- ! tree | lowɨ || lowə || lou || lou || lowo |- ! man | məsən || mohon || matan || mukun || masən |- ! woman | nuka- pyene || nuweteʔ || yukətet || nuwot || sakwoto |- ! sun | amwo || fala || olok || fala || watli |- ! moon | auniye || onifəʔ || aune || kwonif || waluko |- ! water | supɨ || hipelə || sifyer || himpel || ite |- ! fire | yakel || yafa || ya || yaʔaf || safi |- ! stone | alpɨl; kitampa || paleka || wotə || wətə́f || kalkopo |- ! two | yatowiye || oloʔw || wuríkrŋ || kolou || wosoŋ
References