Sogeram languages


The Sogeram languages are a family of languages in the Madang stock of New Guinea. They are named after the Sogeram River.
In earlier classifications, such as that of Wurm, most of the Sogeram family were called "Wanang", after the Wanang River. The exceptions were Faita, placed as a separate branch of the Southern Adelbert languages, and Mum–Sirva, which were classified with the other branch, Josephstaal.

Languages

Daniels classifies the Sogeram languages in three branches, including some recently documented languages.
;Sogeram
  • West Sogeram
  • *Mand
  • *Nend
  • Central Segeram
  • *Manat
  • *Apalɨ
  • *North Central Sogeram : Mum, Sirva
  • "East" Sogeram
  • *Gants
  • *Kursav
  • *Aisian: Magɨ, Aisi
Daniels, following Pawley, resolves the issue of Gants by classifying it as East Sogeram, closest to Kursav though he refrains from claiming the two languages form a clade. He notes that the name "East Sogeram" is no longer geographically appropriate, as Gants would be the westernmost Sogeram language.
Recently discovered Magɨyi may also be a Sogeram language, with the forms of identified cognates closest to Mum.
Because these languages form a chain, where each influences its neighbors, the branching of the family is not clear. Usher divides the languages in nearly the same way, differing only in the placement of Manat:
  • Sogeram River
  • *West Sogeram River
  • **Atemple–Nend: Atemble, Nend
  • **Paynamar
  • *Central Sogeram River
  • **Apali
  • ** Mum–Sirva: Mum, Sileibi
  • *South Sogeram River
  • **Faita
  • **Gants
  • **Musak

    Names

Below are Sogeram language names in Daniels compared to names listed in Z'graggen, along with their respective meanings.
Daniels meaningZ'graggen meaning
Mand‘no’Atemplevillage name
Nend‘no’Angauademonym
Manat‘no’Paynamarvillage name
Apalɨ‘no’Emerumvillage name
Mum‘what’Katiativillage name
Sirvalanguage nameSileibivillage name?
Magɨ‘no’
Aisi ‘why ’Musakvillage name
Kursavlanguage nameFaitavillage name
Gantslanguage nameGantslanguage name

Proto-language

A phonological reconstruction of Proto-Sogeram has been proposed by Daniels.

Phonology

Proto-Sogeram phonemic inventory according to Daniels :
*p*t*k*kʷ
*s
*m*n*ɲ <ñ>
*r

Pronouns

Daniels reconstructs the pronouns as follows:
Compare Ross's proto-Madang singular pronouns *ya, *na, *nu/*ua.

Lexicon

Selected lexical reconstructions from Daniels are listed below.
Proto-SogeramGlossScientific name
*akwasabetelnutAreca catechu
*karibetelnutAreca catechu
*kasambreadfruitArtocarpus altilis
*kuimaŋcoconutCocos nucifera
*mirkwacordylineCordyline fruticosa
*kunsayamDioscorea sp.
*mɨntasword grassImperata cylindrica
*mimpɨŋironwood treeIntsia bijuga
*makinsagoMetroxylon sp.
*manɨŋbananaMusa sp.
*kamurabetel pepperPiper betle
*akɨrusugarSaccharum officinarum
*sakaibamboo
*umaibean
*kɨñakwpaint tree
*sukanreed sp.

Proto-SogeramGlossScientific name
*kɨñakuŋwattled brush-turkeyAepypodius arfakianus
*siarstarlingAplonis sp.
*kaiaŋkisulphur-crested cockatooCacatua galerita
*muiamcassowaryCasuarius unappendiculatus
*ikakarachickenGallus gallus
*kumpinVictoria crowned pigeonGoura victoria
*kwɨñaŋpalm cockatooProbosciger aterrimus
*kukɨsago grubRhynchophorus ferrugineus
*aŋamcollared brush-turkeyTalegalla jobiensis
*kuyivbird-of-paradiseParadisaeidae
*karivflying foxPteropus
*iŋkɨnground possumPhalangeridae
*muŋmibee
*kapabird
*apaparabutterfly
*kuntarcentipede
*mavracrocodile
*upridog
*kɨmparameel
*iaufish
*kukasafrog
*naŋramfrog
*imanlouse
*kamɨŋauamillipede
*ñaŋkurmosquito
*iranparrot species
*urirparrot species
*sampaNpig
*sarsnake
*takwɨsnake

Comparisons

The following is a comparative table of reconstructed forms in Proto-Sogeram and Proto-Northern Adelbert.
glossProto-SogeramProto-Northern Adelbert
breast*aman ‘breast’*men ‘breast’
cook in pot*imu ‘put in pot’*im- ‘boil, cook in pot’
see*iŋka ‘see, perceive’*ag- ‘see’
turn*ir, irɨ- ‘turn, spin’*girik- ‘turn’
fight*kira ‘fight’*war- ‘hit, fight’
bow*kɨmi ‘bow’*kemi ‘bow’
die*kɨmu ‘die’*um- ‘die’
walk, go*kɨnta ‘walk’*iduw- ‘go’
root*kɨntɨr ‘root’*durun ‘root’
roast*kra ‘roast’*id- ‘roast’
arm, hand*kuman ‘arm, hand’*waben ‘arm, hand’
centipede*kuntar ‘centipede’*wisir ‘centipede’
egg*maŋka ‘egg’*munag ‘egg’
husband*-mum ‘husband’*muŋ ‘husband, man’
eat*ña ‘eat’*an- ‘eat’
heavy, weight*pɨm ‘weight’*bin ‘heavy’
snake*takwɨ ‘snake’*duag ‘snake’
heart, liver*umpaŋ ‘heart’*gemaŋ ‘liver’
call*ura ‘call out’*par- ‘call’