Fas language

Fas (a.k.a. Momu, Bembi) is the eponymous language of the small Fas language family of Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.

Fas
Momu
Region	Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
Native speakers	(2,500 cited 2000 census)[1]
Language family	Fas Fas
Language codes
ISO 639-3	fqs
Glottolog	fass1245
ELP	Fas
Coordinates: 3.253331°S 141.425202°E / -3.253331; 141.425202 (Fugumui)

Fas was once mistakenly placed in the Kwomtari family, confusing their classification. Its only demonstrated relative is actually Baibai, with which it is 40% cognate. See Fas languages for details.

Locations

Ethnologue lists Fas-speaking villages as Fas (3.198947°S 141.479718°E / -3.198947; 141.479718 (Fas 2); 3.335326°S 141.652462°E / -3.335326; 141.652462 (Fas 3)), Fugumui (3.253331°S 141.425202°E / -3.253331; 141.425202 (Fugumui)), Kilifas, Utai (3.390507°S 141.583997°E / -3.390507; 141.583997 (Utai)), and Wara Mayu villages of Walsa Rural LLG and Amanab Rural LLG of Sandaun Province.^[1]

Baron (2007) lists Fas-speaking villages as Yo, Sumumini, Wara Mayu, Kilifas, Fugumui, Fas 2, Fas 3, Finamui, Fugeri, Aiamina, Tamina 1, Nebike, Tamina 2, Utai, Mumuru, Savamui, and Mori.^[2]

Phonology

Consonants^[3]

	Labial	Alveolar	Velar	Glottal
Plosive	p	t	k	ʔ ⟨h⟩
Fricative	f	s
Nasal	m	n
Trill	ʙ ⟨b⟩	r
Approximant	w	j

• /ʔ/ appears as [h] before /a/.

Vowels^[3]

	Front	Central	Back
High	i		u
Mid	e	(ə)	o
Low		a

• /ə/ may be an allophone of /i/.