Ama language (New Guinea)

Ama (Sawiyanu) is a Left May language of Papua New Guinea, in East Sepik Province. Former dialects have merged.

Ama
Sawiyanu
Native to	Papua New Guinea
Region	East Sepik Province
Native speakers	(490 cited 2000)[1]
Language family	Arai–Samaia Left May (Arai) Ama
Language codes
ISO 639-3	amm
Glottolog	amap1240
ELP	Ama

Ethnologue reports that it is spoken in Ama (Wopolu I) (4.103263°S 141.665012°E / -4.103263; 141.665012 (Ama)), Kauvia (Kawiya) (4.123436°S 141.662939°E / -4.123436; 141.662939 (Kavia)), Waniap creek (4.215844°S 141.728851°E / -4.215844; 141.728851 (Waniap)), Wopolu II (Nokonufa) (4.072957°S 141.706211°E / -4.072957; 141.706211 (Waburu 1&2)), and Yonuwai (4.193624°S 141.603848°E / -4.193624; 141.603848 (Yenuai)) villages of Tunap/Hunstein Rural LLG, East Sepik Province.^[1][2]

Phonology

Ama has 12 consonants, which are:^[3]: 344

p	t		k	kʷ
ɸ	s				h
m	n
w	ɻ	j

Ama has 7 vowels, which are:^[3]: 344

i	u
e	o
	ɔ
a	ɒ

Pronouns

Pronouns are:^[3]: 345

	sg	du	pl
1incl		moti	moi
1excl	yo/ya	koti	koi
2	nono/na	moti	moi
3	to/ta	toti	toi

Grammar

Ama has four tenses, which are marked by suffixes.

• remote past (-ki)
• near past (i. e. yesterday) (-a)
• present (today) (Ø, unmarked)
• future (-imoi ~ -i)