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Bayono–Awbono languages

Bayono–Awbono is a recently discovered Papuan language cluster spoken in Papua Province, Indonesia, to the south of the Somahai languages. All that is known of them is a few hundred words recorded in first-contact situations recorded in Wilbrink (2004) and Hischier (2006).

Languages[edit]

Wilbrink (2004) lists 4 distinct language varieties.^[1][2]

• Bayono (Enamesi, Swesu), Kovojab (Kvolyab, Kopoyap)
• Awbono, Densar

Classification[edit]

Noting insufficient evidence, Pawley and Hammarström (2018) leave Bayono–Awbono as unclassified rather than as part of Trans-New Guinea.^[3] However, according to Dryer (2022), based on a preliminary quantitative analysis of data from the ASJP database, Bayono–Awbono is likely to be a subgroup of Trans–New Guinea.^[4]

Timothy Usher finds enough evidence to classify Awbono–Bayono within the Greater Awyu (Digul River) family.^[5]

Wilbrink (2004) notes limited similarity with the neighboring Ok languages, and does not classify Bayono–Awbono with Ok.^[1]

Pronouns[edit]

The pronouns demonstrate resemblances to the neighboring Ok and Greater Awyu languages, and the pronouns are consistent with Bayono-Awbono belonging to the Trans–New Guinea family:

Lect	1SG	2SG
Awbono	nɛ	ɡu
Bayono	ne	ɡwe
proto-Awyu–Dumut	*nu-p	*gu-p
proto-Ok	*na-	*ka-b-/*ku-b-
proto-TNG	*na	*ga

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Hischier, Phyllis (2006). Exploration of the Remote Kopayap and Urajin Areas in West Papua, Indonesia: A First Contact in Kopayap and Urajin. Manuscript.
• Wilbrink, Ans (2004). The Kopkaka of Papua: Provisional notes on their language, its language affiliation and on the Kopkaka culture. MA thesis, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

External links[edit]

Wiktionary has word lists at Appendix:Bayono-Awbono word lists

• Timothy Usher, New Guinea World, Proto–Awbono–Bayono