Kuman language (New Guinea)
Kuman (also Simbu or Chimbu) is a language of Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea. In 1994, it was estimated that 80,000 people spoke Kuman, 10,000 of them monolinguals;[3] in the 2000 census, 115,000 were reported, with few monolinguals.[1]
Like other Chimbu languages, Kuman has rather unusual lateral consonants. Besides the typical /l/, it has a "laterally released velar affricate" which is voiced medially and voiceless finally (and does not occur initially).[4] Based on related languages, this is presumably /k͡ʟ̝̊/, allophonically [ɡ͡ʟ̝] (see voiceless velar lateral fricative).
Grammar
Kuman is an SOV language.
References
Hardie, Peter. 2003. Is Kuman Tonal? An account of basic segmental and tonological structure in the Papuan language Kuman. MA thesis: Australian National University
External links
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| Major Indigenous languages | |
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| Other Papuan languages | |
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