Kwerba language

Papuan language spoken in Indonesia
Kwerba
Sasawa
Native toIndonesia
RegionSarmi Regency, Papua
Native speakers
(2,500 cited 1996)[1]
Language family
Foja Range
  • Kwerbic
    • Nuclear Kwerba
      • Kwerba
Dialects
  • Serikenam
  • Sasawa
  • Nogukwabai
Language codes
ISO 639-3kwe
Glottolognucl1595

Kwerba is a Papuan language of Indonesia. Alternate names are Airmati (Armati), Koassa, Mataweja, Naibedj, Segar Tor, Tekutameso.

Kwerba is spoken in Apiaweti, Aurime, Munukania, Tatsewalem, and Wamariri villages in Sarmi Regency.[2]

Phonology

Consonants[3]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Plosive p t k
Fricative s
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Approximant w r j
  • The consonants /p k/ can be heard as [ɸ x] intervocalically.
  • The plosive and affricate consonants can be aspirated word-finally.
  • /s/ sometimes varies to [h] word initially and intervocalically for some speakers.
  • /r/ does not occur word-initially.
Vowels[3]
Front Central Back
High i u
Near-high ɪ
Mid-high e ə o
Mid-low ɛ
Low a

Stress occurs on the penultimate syllable.[3]

Pronouns

Kwerba nominative pronouns as given in Foley (2018):[4]

singular dual plural
1st person excl co nano’ nino
incl na’no neno
2nd person am nono nom
3rd person iiniim iinembwano iinembwa

References

  1. ^ Kwerba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2019). "Indonesia languages". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (22nd ed.). Dallas: SIL International.
  3. ^ a b c Slizer, Peter J. (1976). Suharno, Ignatius; Pike, Kenneth L. (eds.). "A six-week phonemic analysis of Air Mati with a tentative orthography". From Baudi to Indonesian. Jayapura: Cenderawasih University and Summer Institute of Linguistics: 192–201.
  4. ^ Foley, William A. (2018). "The languages of Northwest New Guinea". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 433–568. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Malayo-Sumbawan
Javanese
Celebic
Lampungic
Northwest Sumatra–
Barrier Islands
South Sulawesi
Barito
Kayan–Murik
Land Dayak
North Bornean
Philippine languages
Central Philippine
Gorontalo-Mongondow
Minahasan
Sangiric
Aru
Central Maluku
Flores–Lembata
Halmahera-
Cenderawasih
Kei-Tanimbar
Selaru
Sumba–Flores
Timor–Babar
Western Oceanic
North Halmahera
Timor–Alor–Pantar
Asmat–Mombum
West Bird's Head
South Bird's Head
East Bird's Head
West Bomberai
Dani
Paniai Lakes
Digul River
Foja Range
Lakes Plain
East Cenderawasih Bay
Yawa
Demta–Sentani
Ok
Momuna–Mek
Skou
South Pauwasi
East Pauwasi
West Pauwasi
Kaure–Kosare
Marind–Yaqai
Bulaka River
Kayagar
Border
Senagi
Mairasi
Kolopom
Yam
Lower Mamberamo
Others
Other languages
Creoles and Pidgins
Malay-based creoles
Other creoles and pidgins
Immigrant languages
Chinese
European
Indian
Middle Eastern
Others
Sign languages

This Papuan languages-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e