Benabena language

Benabena (Bena) is a Papuan language spoken in the Goroka District of Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Phonology

Vowel sounds /i, e, a, o, u/ can also be heard as [ÃÂª, ÃÂ, ÃÂ, ÃÂ, ÃÂ] in word-initial or word-medial positions.

/p, t, k/ can be heard as aspirated [pÃÂ°, tÃÂ°, kÃÂ°] in syllable-initial position, and can be heard as unreleased as [pÃÂ, tÃÂ, kÃÂ] when preceding a consonant.
/ÃÂ²/ can be heard as a stop [b] in word-initial position, and also may rarely fluctuate with a glide [w].
/ÃÂ/ can be heard as a glide [j] in stressed syllable word-initial position and can be heard as [z] in word-initial unstressed syllable position.
/s/ can be heard as [ÃÂ] before high vowels /i, u/.
/ÃÂ£/ can be heard as [ÃÂ¡] in free variation among speakers.
/ÃÂ/ can be heard as a tap [ÃÂ½] in free variation.