Mairasi ( Faranyao and Kaniran) is a Papuan language of the Bomberai Peninsula of West Papua, Indonesia.
The Northeastern dialect may be a distinct language.
Distribution Locations:
Kaimana Regency Interior villages: Umbran, Jamna Fata, Matna, Tarwata, Sara, Kasira, Orai, Wangatnau, Faranyau, and Sarifan Coastal villages: Sisir, Foroma Jaya, Warasi, Lobo, Lomira, Morona, Nanggwaromi, Omay (May may), and Warika Teluk Wondama Regency Naikere District villages: Sararti, Oya, Yabore, Wosimo, Undurara, and Inyora
Phonology + Consonants Bilabial Alveolar Post-alveolar Velar Glottal Nasal Plosive Fricative Liquid Semivowel
+ Vowels Front Back Close Mid Back
Pronouns Mairasi possessor prefixes are:
! !! sg !! pl |- ! 1 | o- || ee- |- ! 2 | ne- || e- |- ! 3 | na- || ne-
Morphology Case markers Noun phrase case markers in Mairasi: instrumental suffix -t locative postposition ar allative postposition ev(i)
Some examples:
Possessors Mairasi possessor prefixes:
! !! sg !! pl |- ! 1 | o- || ee- |- ! 2 | ne- || e- |- ! 3 | na- || ne-
Examples of inalienable possessors:
Directionals Mairasi has two directional suffixes, which are only used with movement verbs. -aʔi ‘up, inland’ -ari ‘down, seaward’
Examples of directional suffixes in use:
Animacy Animacy is marked by the adjective modifier n-, as exemplified by the contrast in the following two noun phrases.
Vowel changes can modify the number of animate nouns:
References