Asmat languages

Asmat is a Papuan language cluster of South Papua.

Asmat
Geographic distribution	Asmat Regency and Mappi Regency, South Papua
Ethnicity	Asmat, Citak
Linguistic classification	Trans–New Guinea Asmat–Kamoro Asmat
Subdivisions	Casuarina Coast Citak North Asmat Central Asmat
Language codes
Glottolog	asma1257

Languages

The principal varieties, distinct enough to be considered separate languages, are:^[1]

• Asmat
  • Kamrau Bay (Sabakor/Buruwai):^[2]
  • Casuarina Coast (Kaweinag), the most divergent
  • North and Central Asmat
    • Citak (Kaünak)
    • North Asmat
    • Central Asmat (dialects: Keenok, Sokoni, Keenakap, Kawenak)

Ethnically, speakers are either Asmat or Citak.

Evolution

See also: Asmat–Kamrau languages § Evolution

Below are some reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea proposed by Pawley (2012):^[3]

proto-Trans-New Guinea	Asmat (Flamingo Bay)
*maŋgat[a] ‘teeth, mouth’	me
*(m,mb)elak ‘light, lightning’	mer
*niman ‘louse’	(Kamoro namo)
*na- ‘eat’	na-
*ni, *nu ‘1PL’	na ‘1PL.INCL’, na(r) ‘1PL.EXCL’
*mun(a,i,u)ka ‘egg’	manaka
*niman ‘louse’	(cf. Kamoro namo)
*kasin ‘mosquito’	isi
*mbena ‘arm’	man [ban]
*mb(i,u)t(i,u)C ‘fingernail’	fit
*imbi ‘name’	yipi
*si(mb,p)at[V] ‘saliva’	(me)sep
*(mb,p)ututu- ‘to fly’	(?) pimedial
*kV(mb,p)(i,u)t(i,u) ‘head’	kuwus
*inda ‘fire’	(Central Coast Asmat isi)
*tututu[ku] ‘straight’	toror
*k(i,u)tuma ‘night, morning’	iram
*tututu[ku] ‘straight’	toror
*ti, *titi ‘tooth’	ji
*ata ‘excrement’	asa
*(ŋg,k)atata ‘dry’	soso
*kV(mb,p)(i,u)t(i,u) ‘head’	kuwus
*kasin ‘mosquito’	(Citak Asmat isi)
*inda ‘fire’	(Central Coast Asmat isi)
*ke(nj,s)a ‘blood’	es
*maŋgV ‘compact round object’	moko-per ‘navel’
*mun(a,i,u)ka ‘egg’	manaka
*ke(nj,s)a ‘blood’	es
*kasin ‘mosquito’	(Central Asmat isi)
*k(i,u)tuma ‘night, morning’	yiram
*kV(mb,p)(i,u)t(i,u) ‘head’	kuwus
*(m,mb)elak ‘light, lightning’	(Flamingo Bay Asmat mer ‘lightning’)
*ya ‘3SG’	a

Verbs

In Flamingo Bay Asmat, light verbs are combined with adjuncts to form predicative expressions.^[4]

• e- ‘do’
  • atow e- /play do/ ‘play’
  • caj e- /copulate do/ ‘copulate’
  • yan e- /ear do/ ‘listen’
• yi- ‘say’
  • po yi- /paddle say/ ‘paddle’
  • yan yi- /ear say/ ‘hear’
  • mesa yi- /saliva say/ ‘spit’
• af- ‘hit’
  • yaki af- /sneeze hit/ ‘sneeze’
  • namir af- /death hit/ ‘die’
  • omop af- /blow hit/ ‘beat’