Koiarian languages
The Koiarian languages Koiari are a small family of Trans-New Guinea languages spoken in the "Bird's Tail" of New Guinea. They are classified within the Southeast Papuan branch of Trans-New Guinea.Languages
The languages are:
Dutton classifies the Koiarian languages as:
- Baraic
- *Ömie
- *Barai–Managalasi
- Koiaric
- *Mountain Koiari
- *Koita – Grass Koiari
Pronouns
Usher reconstructs the pronouns as:Evolution
Koiarian reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea etyma are:
Koiari language:
- muka ‘lump’ < *maŋgV ‘round object’
- uni ‘egg’ < *munka
- idu ‘tree’ < *inda
- iya ‘cassowary’ < *kua
- karika ‘dry’ < *atata
- muni ‘stone < *muna
- nana ‘older same-sex sibling’ < *nan
- u-tuvu ‘ashes’ < *kambu-sumbu
Managalasi language:
- ata ‘bone’ < *kondaC
- muka ‘lump’ < *maŋgV ‘round object’
- iha ‘name’ < *imbi
- uma ‘louse’ < *iman
- uka ‘bird’ < *yaka
- tuua ‘short’ < *tukumba
- muna ‘stone’ < *muna
- ija ‘tree’ < *inda
- otoka ‘knee’ < *atuk
- kora ‘dry’ < *atata
Phonotactics
Like the Binanderean languages, Barai and other Koiarian languages only allow for open syllables and do not allow final CVC.
