Lower Ramu languages

The Lower Ramu or Ottilien–Misegian languages consist of two branches in the Ramu language family. They are all spoken in Yawar Rural LLG, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.^[1][2]

Lower Ramu
Ottilien–Misegian
Geographic distribution	Yawar Rural LLG, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
Linguistic classification	Ramu Ramu proper Lower Ramu
Subdivisions	Ottilien Misegian (Ruboni)
Language codes
Glottolog	lowe1439

Classification

The Lower Ramu languages as classified by Usher and by Foley (2018) are:^[3][4]

Lower Ramu languages

• Ottilien languages
  • Watam, Kaian
  • Gamay (Borei)
  • Bosmun, Awar
• Misegian languages (Ruboni languages)
  • Mikarew (Aruamu)
  • Sepen, Kirei

Lower Ramu as presented in Foley (2018) has been reduced in scope from the classification given in Foley (2005), which is as follows.^[5]

Lower Ramu

• Watam-Awar-Gamay (WAG) = Ottilien
  • Watam, Kaian
  • Gamay
  • Bosmun, Awar
• Mikarew-Kire (MK) = Misegian (Ruboni)
• Tangu, Igom

The Ataitan languages, including Tangu and Igom, are not included in Foley (2018).

Pronouns

Tentative proto-Lower Ramu pronoun reconstructions by Foley (2005) are:^[5]

	singular	dual	plural
1st person	*ŋgu	*aŋga	*ai
2nd person	*nu	*(n)oŋgo(a)	*ni/e
3rd person	*ma(n)	*mani(ŋg)	*mV(n)

Cognates

Like cognates between proto-Lower Sepik and proto-Lower Ramu listed by Foley (2005) are:^[5]

gloss	proto-Lower Sepik	proto-Lower Ramu
tongue	*minɨŋ	*mi(m)
ear	*kwand-	*kwar
lime	*awi(r)	*awi(r)
eat	*am(b)	*am(b)