Misima language


Misima-Panaeati, also called Misiman or panapanaeati, is an indigenous Austronesian language spoken on the islands of Misima, Panaeati, and the islands of the eastern half of the Calvados Chain of Papua New Guinea.

Phonology

Vowels

Misima-Paneati has five vowel phonemes.

Consonants

Misima-Paneati has 17 consonant phonemes.

Syllables

In Misima-Paneati, the following syllable types commonly occur: V, CV, CVC, and VC.
The open syllables V and CV are found in all positions of words, whereas the closed syllables CVC and VC are only found word finally and across morpheme boundaries, with the exception of the following five words:
  • – 'feelings'
  • – 'centre pole'
  • – 'fingernail'
  • – 'centre rib of coconut leaf'
  • – 'sneeze'
The only monomorphemic consonant clusters that always occur across syllable boundaries are:
*