Papuan Tip languages

Updated on Dec 12, 2023

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Geographic distribution Eastern New Guinea		Glottolog papu1253

Linguistic classification Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Western Oceanic Papuan Tip Subdivisions Nuclear Papuan Tip Sualic North Mainland – D'Entrecasteaux Peripheral Papuan Tip Kilivila–Misima Nimoa–Sudest Central Papuan Tip

The Papuan Tip languages are a branch of the Western Oceanic languages consisting of 60 languages. All Papuan Tip languages, except Nimoa, Sudest, and the Kilivila languages (all spoken on islands off the coast of mainland Papua New Guinea), have SOV word order due to influences from nearby Papuan languages (Lynch, Ross, & Crowley 2002:104). Universally, this is considered to be a typologically unusual change.

Languages

According to Lynch, Ross, & Crowley (2002), the structure of the family is as follows:

Nuclear Papuan Tip linkage

Suauic linkage: Buhutu, 'Auhelawa, Oya'oya, Unubahe, Saliba, Suau, Bwanabwana, Wagawaga

North Mainland – D'Entrecasteaux linkage

Anuki

Gumawana

Bwaidoga: Bwaidoka, Diodio (West Goodenough), Iamalele, Iduna, Koluwawa, Maiadomu

Dobu–Duau: Dobu, Molima, Bunama, Boselewa, Duau, Galeya, Mwatebu, Sewa Bay

Kakabai: Dawawa, Kakabai

Are–Taupota

Are: Are, Arifama-Miniafia, Doga, Gapapaiwa, Ghayavi, Kaninuwa, Ubir

Taupota: Gweda, Haigwai, Maiwala, Minaveha, Taupota, Tawala, Wa'ema, Wedau, Yakaikeke

Kilivila–Misima linkage

Kilivila family: Budibud, Kilivila, Muyuw

Misima language

Nimoa–Sudest family: Nimoa, Sudest

Central Papuan Tip family

Oumic: Magoric (Magori, Yoba, Bina), Ouma

Sinagoro–Keapara: Hula–Keapara, Sinaugoro

West Central Papuan Tip

Motu

Abadi

Nuclear West Central Papuan Tip: Toura, Kuni, Mekeo, Lala, Waima

Maisin is difficult to classify, but its Austronesian component likely belongs with Nuclear Papuan Tip.

References

Papuan Tip languages Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA