Chimbu–Wahgi languages


The Chimbu–Wahgi languages are a language family of New Guinea. They are sometimes included in the Trans–New Guinea proposal; Usher links them with the Engan languages in a Central New Guinea Highlands family.

Languages

There is little doubt that the Chimbu–Wahgi family is valid. The languages are:
Several of the Chimbu–Wahgi languages have uncommon lateral consonants: see Nii, Wahgi, and Kuman for examples.
Chimbu–Wahgi languages have contrastive tone.

Pronouns

The singular pronouns are:
Dual *-l and plural *-n reflect Trans–New Guinea forms.

Evolution

reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea etyma:
  • ama ‘mother’ < *am
  • amu ‘breast’ < *amu
  • numan ‘louse’ < *niman
  • numan ‘thought, mind, will’ < *n
  • man, muŋ ‘fruit, nut, lump’
  • muŋgum ‘kidney’ < *maŋgV ‘round object’
  • mundmuŋ ‘heart’ < *mundun-maŋgV
  • mokum, mokem ‘knuckle, joint’ < *moVm ‘joint’
  • mundun mo- ‘be pot bellied’ < *mundun ‘internal organs, belly’
  • ŋaŋ ‘small male child’ < *ŋaŋ ‘baby’
  • apa- ‘maternal uncle’ < *apa ‘father’
  • embe ‘name’ < *imbi ‘name’
  • muk ‘blue’ < *muk
  • tuk- ‘chop’ < *tVk- ‘cut, cut off’
  • no- ‘eat’ < *na-
  • mek si- ‘to vomit’
  • mek ‘vomitus’ < *makV + t- ‘to vomit’