Mombum languages

In this article, we will explore in depth the topic of Mombum languages, which has been the subject of interest and debate in various areas. From its origins to its relevance today, we will address its many facets and its impact on society. Through an exhaustive and rigorous analysis, we seek to shed light on different aspects related to Mombum languages, providing valuable information and diverse perspectives to enrich the knowledge of our readers. By exposing data, testimonies and relevant studies, we aim to offer a complete and objective vision that allows us to understand the importance of Mombum languages in different contexts and situations.

Mombum
Komolom
Muli Strait
Geographic
distribution		Komolom Island, southern New Guinea
Linguistic classificationTrans–New Guinea
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Glottologmomb1255
Map: The Mombum languages of New Guinea
  The Mombum languages
  Other Trans–New Guinea languages
  Other Papuan languages
  Austronesian languages
  Uninhabited

The Mombum languages, also known as the Komolom or Muli Strait languages, are a pair of Trans–New Guinea languages, Mombum (Komolom) and Koneraw, spoken on Komolom Island just off Yos Sudarso Island, and on the southern coast of Yos Sudarso Island, respectively, on the southern coast of New Guinea. Komolom Island is at the southern end of the Muli Strait.[1]

History of classification

Mombum was first classified as a branch isolate of the Central and South New Guinea languages in Stephen Wurm's 1975 expansion for Trans–New Guinea, a position tentatively maintained by Malcolm Ross, though he cannot tell if the similarities are shared innovations or retentions from proto-TNG. Usher instead links them to the Asmat languages.[1] Koneraw is clearly related to Mombum, but was overlooked by early classifications. Along with the Kolopom languages, they are the languages spoken on Yos Sudarso Island (Kolopom Island).

Noting insufficient evidence, Pawley and Hammarström (2018), who refer to the languages as the Komolom branch, tentatively leave it as unclassified rather than as part of Trans-New Guinea.[2]

Pronouns

Pronouns are:

sg pl
1 *nu *nu-mu, *ni
2 *yu *yu-mu
3 *eu

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from McElhanon & Voorhoeve (1970)[3] and Voorhoeve (1975),[4] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.[5]

The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. wonderam, wondrum for “head”) or not (e.g. iŋar, itöx for “bone”).

gloss Koneraw Mombum
head wonderam wondrum
hair cin xu-sin
eye dyan musax-nam
tooth cire zix
leg kan kaŋk
louse am am
dog ubui ipwi
pig u u
bird baŋa konji
egg yausil
blood iri iri
bone iŋar itöx
skin par par
tree to tu
man nam nam
sun dzuwo zawa
water mui mwe
fire war wad
stone mate mete
name ur ur
eat gim-nugu nuku-
one tenamotere te
two kuinam kumb

References

  1. ^ a b New Guinea World, Muli Strait
  2. ^ Pawley, Andrew; Hammarström, Harald (2018). "The Trans New Guinea family". 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. 21–196. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
  3. ^ McElhanon, K.A. and Voorhoeve, C.L. The Trans-New Guinea Phylum: Explorations in deep-level genetic relationships. B-16, vi + 112 pages. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1970. doi:10.15144/PL-B16
  4. ^ Voorhoeve, C.L. Languages of Irian Jaya: Checklist. Preliminary classification, language maps, wordlists. B-31, iv + 133 pages. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1975. doi:10.15144/PL-B31
  5. ^ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea". Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  • Ross, Malcolm (2005). "Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 15–66. doi:10.15144/PL-572. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.