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Left May Languages
Information concerning Left-May languages
Where are these languages spoken ?
These languages are spoken on the left bank of the River May in Papua New Guinea.
Total number of speakers (estimates) :
2000 according to the ethnologue.com web site
Classification
Rocky Peak (alternative name : Yinibu)
Nakwi
Iteri
Bo
Ama
Nimo
Owiniga
Comments on the classification of Left-May languages :
These languages have been theoretically linked to Kwomtari languages, but there is no consensus on this association. We have adopted Foley’s (2006) classification and that of ethnologue.com (15th edition).
NB: Ethnologue includes Iteri, Ama, Nimo and Owiniga in a “Left May” or “Arai” branch linked to the Kwomtari language in an “Arai-Kwomtari” grouping
Sources :
Foley, William A. The languages of New Guinea, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (2006)
Ross, Malcolm (2005). “Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages.” In: Andrew Pawley, Robert Attenborough, Robin Hide and Jack Golson, eds, Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
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