Awtuw language

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Awtuw
RegionEast Wapei Rural LLG, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
Native speakers
700 (2014)[1]
Sepik
Language codes
ISO 639-3kmn
Glottologawtu1239
ELPAwtuw

Awtuw (Autu), also known as Kamnum, is spoken in Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea. It is a polysynthetic language closely related to Karawa and Pouye. It is spoken in Galkutua, Gutaiya (3°33′56″S 142°00′06″E / 3.565508°S 142.001655°E / -3.565508; 142.001655 (Gutaiya)), Kamnom (3°33′09″S 141°59′39″E / 3.552454°S 141.994165°E / -3.552454; 141.994165 (Kamnom)), Tubum (3°34′03″S 142°00′13″E / 3.567408°S 142.003722°E / -3.567408; 142.003722 (Tubum)), and Wiup (3°33′14″S 141°59′04″E / 3.553766°S 141.9845°E / -3.553766; 141.9845 (Wiup)) villages in Kamnom East ward, East Wapei Rural LLG, Sandaun Province.[1][2]

It is an endangered language, being widely replaced by Tok Pisin.

Phonology[edit]

Awtuw consonants are:[3]

Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive p t k
Rhotic r ɻ
Lateral l
Semivowel w j

Awtuw vowels are:[3]

Front Central Back
Close i u
Close-mid e ə o
Near-open æ
Open a

Pronouns[edit]

Pronouns are:[3]

sg du pl
1 wan nan nom
2 yen an om
3m rey ræw rom
3f tey

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Awtuw at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ United Nations in Papua New Guinea (2018). "Papua New Guinea Village Coordinates Lookup". Humanitarian Data Exchange. 1.31.9.
  3. ^ a b c Foley, William A. (2018). "The Languages of the Sepik-Ramu Basin and Environs". 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. 197–432. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.