The Wapei languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family according to Laycock (1975) (quoted from Foley 2018). Glottolog does not accept this grouping. They are spoken in mountainous regions of eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.
Languages Languages are: Alu–Galu: Alu, Sinagen A.O.E: Au, Olo, Elkei Yau–Yis: Yis, Yau Ningil–Yil: Yil, Ningil West Palai [perhaps Palei languages]: Yeri (Yapunda), Walman
Gnau may also belong here.
Pronouns Pronouns in Wapei languages are:
|+ Wapei pronouns ! !! Elkei !! Yau !! Yis !! Au !! Yil !! Ningil |- ! 1s | ki || ki || ki || xi || i || yi |- ! 2s | ite || yi || yi || ti || a || pay |- ! 3s | elel || rən || rən || xərak || an || pan |- ! 1p | ku || kufu || kufu || xaiw || aw || you |- ! 2p | yife || yifi || yifi || yi || ɨ || piyou |- ! 3p | elpel || rəl || rəl || xər || aral || pəram
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. wupli, wopli, wufliyəx for “sun”) or not (e.g. yipwur, maləx, nəfənək for “nose”).
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! gloss !! Au !! Dia !! Elkei !! Ningil !! Olo !! Sinagen !! Yil !! Yis !! Yau |- ! head | faʔan || pale || palau || waʔal || uːru || peine || ariyi || lülü || nülü |- ! ear | nikif || ma || ŋipi || məkər || məŋkam || ma || mək || yapot || yampər |- ! eye | naʔan || yampax || || namək || lüs || napaka || nap || kwutiyane || kwuriyaf |- ! nose | yipwur || maləx || || nəfənək || minopoŋko || malka || nupuŋk || minityu || minit |- ! tooth | yaxas || yaŋkən || nulpo || naː || nelpə || naːkən || nak || yanət || yaːnət |- ! tongue | niːn || yilwat || yuwaŋ || waːr || non || || war || || yimyau |- ! leg | xət || xuwə || tiye || yau || orou || walək || suː || kiriu || kiriu |- ! louse | nəmk || raləx || nəmeiləm || nəmaŋkar || nəmom || rarka || namkar || kwutəl || kwurəl |- ! dog | napara || patə || palel || faréː || pele || pata || par || asi || piːren |- ! bird | xoura || antə || aulon || aprei || nafle || nata || afər || yafren || yafren |- ! egg | yinu || yilkit || yülam || yuːlək || yiləm || puta || wiːlər || yilip || walilip |- ! blood | amkra || amkə || omkol || niːkri || təlüs || leŋka || nək || nawan || nawe |- ! bone | xəmik || lakət || emiŋel || ləmeʔi || emio || lakita || nimik || kəmiene || kumialen |- ! skin | yilik || pawült || paulou || faːwal || topo || pawulta || pawar || tərkwaf || ternan |- ! breast | nəm || mate || niman || maːʔ || nemer || mata || mak || nəmar || numar |- ! tree | nuː || lowə || nipel || luː || nəmpe || niːpa || loː || nifif || nimpip |- ! man | mitik || teralkit || monol || masin || metene || matei || məsin || metfaine || ruːtil |- ! woman | mite || yuː || matal || naʔ aipi || moːto || nusakei || matei || kulum || wapur |- ! sun | wupli || wopli || wopli || wufliyəx || epli || xahi || wupli || kwapli || kwipli |- ! moon | wunkə || ouyi || auniyil || onyil || ane || aunəxə || uni || noulai || nuːlai |- ! water | təpar || niː || tipel || niː || tepe || wɨn || niː || tipal || təpal |- ! fire | siː || yalix || wul || walk || weli || yakə || walk || wəti || weli |- ! stone | || xəte || talmanəf || xəroi || erau || kita || yir || kranə || krapene |- ! two | wikat || wiye || wiŋe || wilal || wiŋkes || fiyə || wiyem || wiyum || wiyəm
References