Kaian language

Ramu language spoken in Papua New Guinea
Kaian
Kayan
Native toPapua New Guinea
RegionYawar Rural LLG, Madang Province
Native speakers
740 (2013)[1]
Language family
Ramu
  • Ramu proper
    • Lower Ramu
      • Ottilien
        • Watam
          • Kaian
Language codes
ISO 639-3kct
Glottologkaia1245
ELPKaian
Coordinates: 4°03′16″S 144°44′12″E / 4.054465°S 144.736539°E / -4.054465; 144.736539 (Kaian)

Kaian (Kayan) is a Ramu language of Kaian village (4°03′16″S 144°44′12″E / 4.054465°S 144.736539°E / -4.054465; 144.736539 (Kaian)) in Yawar Rural LLG, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.[1][2]

Phonology

Consonants[3]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive p b t d dʒ k g ʔ
Prenasalized ᵐb ⁿd ⁿdʒ ᵑg
Fricative s
Nasal m n ŋ
Approximant w r j
  • /p t k/ are aspirated preceding a vowel.
  • /k/ is heard as [ʔ] word-finally or preceding another plosive.
  • /dʒ/ can be pronounced [ʒ] or [z] by some speakers.
  • /r/ is voiceless [r̥] word-finally.
Vowels[3]
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid e o
Low a

Additionally, the following diphthongs have been observed: /ai/, /au/, /ae/, /ao/, /ea/, /ia/, /iu/, /oa/, /oi/, /ou/, /ua/.

Stress is always found on the antepenultimate syllable. On shorter words, stress falls on the initial syllable.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Kaian at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ United Nations in Papua New Guinea (2018). "Papua New Guinea Village Coordinates Lookup". Humanitarian Data Exchange. 1.31.9.
  3. ^ a b c Lillie, Pat; Easton, Catherine (2004). Kaian Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.
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Official languagesMajor Indigenous
languagesOther Papuan
languages
Angan
Awin–Pa
Binanderean
Bosavi
Chimbu–Wahgi
New Ireland
Duna–Pogaya
East Kutubuan
East Strickland
Engan
Eleman
Ok–Oksapmin
Teberan
Tirio
Turama–Kikorian
Larger families
Sign languages

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