| Minigir | |
|---|---|
| Vinitiri | |
| Spoken in | Papua New Guinea |
| Region | Gazelle Peninsula, East New Britain Province |
| Native speakers | 600 (2000) |
| Language family |
Austronesian
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | vmg |
Minigir is spoken by a small number of the Tolai people of Papua New Guinea, who live on the Gazelle Peninsula in East New Britain Province. It is often referred to in the linguistics literature as the Tolai "dialect" with an /s/. However, it is not one of the Patpatar–Tolai languages.
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Minigir belongs to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian language family. The most immediate subgroup is the Patpatar–Tolai group of languages which also includes Kuanua (also spoken on the Gazelle Peninsula) and Patpatar (spoken on New Ireland).
Minigir is spoken on Ataliklikun Bay, in the villages of Lungalunga, Kabaira and Vunamarita, located on the Gazelle Peninsula in the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea.
Minigir pronouns have four number distinctions (singular, dual, trial and plural) and three person distinctions (first, second and third) as well as an inclusive/exclusive distinction. There are no gender distinctions.
| Singular | Dual | Trial | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st exclusive | iau (I) |
iamiru (he/she and I) |
iamitalu (both of them, and I) |
iamamami (all of them, and I) |
| 1st inclusive | - | iadori (thou and I) |
iadatalu (both of you, and I) |
iada (all of you, and I) |
| 2nd | iavau (thou) |
iamuru (you two) |
iamutalu (you three) |
iamui (you guys) |
| 3rd | ia (he/she) |
idiru (they two) |
iditalu (they three) |
idi (they) |
The usual word order of Minigir is SVO.