The Palei languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family according to Laycock (1975) (quoted from Foley 2018). They are spoken in mountainous regions of eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.
Languages Languages are:
Palai Nuclear Palai Braget, Amol (Aru), Srenge (Aruop) Aiku (Yangum), Ambrak West Palai Agi, Yeri (Yapunda) [perhaps a Wapei language] ? Walman [perhaps a Wapei language] ? Kayik (Wanap)
Nambi (Nabi) = Metan may also belong here, or may be one of the Maimai languages, or separate within the Torricelli languages.
Pronouns Pronouns in Palei languages are:
|+ Palei pronouns ! !! Kayik !! Aru !! Aruop !! Aiku !! Nambi |- ! 1s | kəmex || au || am || wup || ai |- ! 2s | kiyox || i || yi || yit || yi |- ! 3s | təno || || din || tuwun || |- ! 1p | kupox || amən || mendi || miyan || ep |- ! 2p | kinox || yi || yimi || yip || yip |- ! 3p | təmo || may || dim || ti || rəm
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. Nabi words are from Laycock (1968) and Voorhoeve (1971, 1975).Voorhoeve, C.L. Languages of Irian Jaya: Checklist. Preliminary classification, language maps, wordlists. B-31, iv + 133 pages. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1975. Voorhoeve, C.L. "Miscellaneous Notes on Languages in West Irian, New Guinea". In Dutton, T., Voorhoeve, C. and Wurm, S.A. editors, Papers in New Guinea Linguistics No. 14. A-28:47-114. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1971.
The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. yimunə, yimukun for “louse”) or not (e.g. muᶇkwalnta, yaŋkole for “ear”).
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! gloss !! Agi !! Aruop !! Amol !! Nabi !! Wanap !! Yangum Mon |- ! head | paikwa | wantu || || wotuf || peləf || wah |- ! ear | muᶇkwalnta | yaŋkole || taŋkən || kik || nuŋkul || yiŋkuːl |- ! eye | juwol | yolta || nəmalal || nampəkat || yilp || yilkŋum |- ! nose | tuwarka | mup || mipan || minif || təlom || yimwar |- ! tooth | nai | na || owayen || naf || nef || awak |- ! tongue | naliya | aləta || akaŋ || wulaf || kəːləp || yalip |- ! leg | safiel | ala || aŋ || tip || kelfek || rak |- ! louse | watokəl | yimunə || yimukun || kakyerk || yiməl || yimul |- ! dog | nəmpo | yimpa || yimpan || pat || yimpa || yimpak |- ! pig | | || || bene || || |- ! bird | nol | ali || alin || napet || kal || al |- ! egg | nəŋkoi | yoltə || yinalən || ponorire; yufəlip || yiplop || yulp |- ! blood | xaməŋka | səna || səneimpən || amk || komkok || yuwanip |- ! bone | kamənaŋkil | pəniŋki || lapən || lə || lekəl || yiklia |- ! skin | jiwota | wiye || yakən || wiyírk || saf || yikisiw |- ! breast | nəmai | yimá || yimawoŋ || nəmap || yimaŋkəf || yimán |- ! tree | numwol | nəmpə || nimpən || nip || nimp || nim |- ! man | kamwol | makenti || maikən || məsəmiyen || nyiŋkilpən || almias |- ! woman | wukora | simi || asək || ri || kekəntə || wasi |- ! sun | wota | wa || wan || waf || kentief || təkŋan |- ! moon | uni | anyə || ayen || wunɨ || keːnyif || mərəŋkil |- ! water | wul | suku || səpən || sup; wer || kuː || sulp |- ! fire | ni | yimpu || niŋ || nɨ; wetai || nif || niw |- ! stone | | atauka || səmpeiken || et; rubukia || kipru || pikiyap |- ! one | | || || eso || || |- ! two | piyami | piya || nantiyou || mantio; ru || poyomp || piyak
References