Sougb language


Sougb, or Sogh, is a Papuan language of the East Bird's Head language family spoken in the east of the Bird's Head Peninsula to the east of Meyah and to the south of Manokwari, including the area of Soug Jaya District, Teluk Wondama Regency. It consists of four dialects and is spoken by around 12,000 people in all. The language is alternatively known as Mantion, or Manikion, an originally derogatory term used by the Biak people.

Distribution

Locations:
  • Pegunungan Arfak Regency
  • *Anggi District
  • Manokwari Regency
  • *Manokwari Barat District and Warmare District
  • Manokwari Selatan Regency
  • *Dataran Isim District: Tubes and Duhugesa villages
  • Manokwari Selatan Regency
  • *Tahota District: Seimeba village
  • Teluk Bintuni Regency
  • *Manimeri District: Atibo, Pasamai, and Botai villages
  • *Bintuni District: Bintuni village
  • Teluk Wondama Regency
  • *Sougb Jaya District: Kaprus, Siresi, Yarmatum, Reyob, and Nuspairo villages
  • *Rumberpon District: Iseren and Watitindau villages

    Phonology

Consonants

  • Stops /b, d/ are always voiced in word-initial and intervocalic positions, but are heard as voiceless when in word-final positions.
  • The lateral and trill sounds /l, r/ are only heard interchangeably, freely among speech.
  • Glides are heard as a result of /i, u/ within vowel sequences.
  • /ɡʷ/ is written as gb, and normally heard as. But it may also be heard as,, or when in intervocalic positions.
  • /n/ can be heard as a palatal when following /i/, and as a velar when preceding a velar stop.
  • /h/ can be heard as when in word-final position.
  • /ɡ/ can also be heard as a voiced fricative in intervocalic positions.

    Vowels

  • /i/ can be heard as in unstressed syllables.
  • /a/ can be heard as in closed syllables.