Muyuw language

Muyuw
RegionEastern New Guinea
Native speakers
(6,000 cited 1998)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3myw
Glottologmuyu1244

Muyuw language (Egum, Murua, Murua Dukwayasi, Murua Kaulae, Muruwa, Muyu, Muyua, Muyuwa) is one of the Kilivila–Louisiades languages (of the Austronesian language family), spoken on the Woodlark Islands, in the Solomon Sea within Papua New Guinea.

As of 1998, the number of speakers is 6,000, 3,000 of whom are monolinguals. Speakers also use Dobu, Kilivila or Misima-Paneati. Latin script is used.

Dialects include Yanaba, Lougaw (Gawa), Wamwan, Nawyem, and Iwa. The Iwa dialect is transitional between Muyuw and Kilivila. Its lexical similarity with Kilivila is 68%.

Phonology

Phonology of the Muyuw language:[2]

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
plain lab. plain lab.
Plosive voiceless p pʷ t k kʷ
voiced b bʷ d ɡ ɡʷ
Nasal m mʷ
Fricative v s
Lateral l
Approximant w j

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i u
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ʌ ɔ
Open a

References

  1. ^ Muyuw at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Lithgow, Daphne & David (1974). Muyuw language. Dictionaries of Papua New Guinea, 1.; Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: Ukarumpa: Summer Institute of Linguistics.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

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