Guhu-Samane language


Guhu-Samane, also known as Bia, Mid-Waria, Muri, Paiawa, Tahari, is a divergent Trans–New Guinea language that is related to the Binanderean family in the classification of Malcolm Ross.
The divergence of Guhu-Samane from other Binanderean languages may be due to extensive historical contact with Oceanic languages such as Numbami.

Dialects

Smallhorn gives the following dialects:
  • Kipu
  • Bapi
  • Garaina
  • Sekare
  • Sinaba
The dialect differences are principally lexical, but two voiced obstruents also show regular variants. The coronal obstruent is realized as /dz/ upriver in Bapi and Garaina, /d/ downriver to Asama, and /j/ farther downriver in Papua. The voiced bilabial is realized as /b/ inland but as /w/ at the coast .