Ese is a language of Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. Although it is also known as Managalasi, which the Summer Institute of Linguistics regards as pejorative possibly because it is a corruption of Hiri Motu phrase meaning the equivalent of "know nothings", the term "Upper Managalasi" indicates Ömie, another member of Baraic languages. Dialects are Muaturaina, Chimona, Dea, Akabafa, Nami, Mesari, Averi, Afore, Minjori, Oko, Wakue, Numba, Jimuni, Karira. Perhaps 40% of speakers are monolingual.
It is spoken in the Kawawoki Mission area of Popondetta.
Phonology Consonants BilabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottalStop/Affricatevoiceless voiced Fricative Nasal Tap
Allophones of phonemes /β, tɕ, dʑ, ɾ/ exist as [b, ts, ɖʐ, ɺ].
Vowels
FrontBackHigh Mid Low
A central vowel sound [ʉ] can be heard as a result of /i/ preceding /u/. Allophones of /e, a, o/, exist as [ɛ ə ɔ]. A semivowel sound [w] occurs when /u/ precedes a stressed vowel.
Further reading Parlier, James. 1970. Managalasi sentences. Manuscript. Ukarumpa: SIL-PNG. Parlier, Judith and James Parlier. 1981. Managalasi Dictionary. Ukarumpa: SIL-PNG.
References