Palei languages

The Palei languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family according to Laycock (1975) (quoted from Foley 2018). They are spoken in mountainous regions of eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.

Languages

Languages are:

• Palai
• Nuclear Palai
• Braget, Amol (Aru), Aruop (Srenge)
• Aiku (Yangum), Ambrak
• West Palai
• Agi, Yeri (Yapunda) [perhaps a Wapei language]
• ? Walman [perhaps a Wapei language]
• ? Kayik (Wanap)

Nambi (Nabi) = Metan may also belong here, or may be one of the Maimai languages, or separate within the Torricelli languages.

Pronouns

Pronouns in Palei languages are:

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968), as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database. Nabi words are from Laycock (1968) and Voorhoeve (1971, 1975).

The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. yimunə, yimukun for “louse”) or not (e.g. muᶇkwalnta, yaŋkole for “ear”).

References