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.

Palei
Geographic distribution	eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
Linguistic classification	Torricelli Wapei–Palei Palei
Language codes
Glottolog	nucl1722  (Nuclear Palai) wana1269  (Wanap) west2788  (West Palai)
The Torricelli languages as classified by Foley (2018). Palei and Wapei languages are yellow.

Languages

Languages are:^{[citation needed]}

• 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:^[1]

Palei pronouns

	Kayik	Aru	Aruop	Aiku	Nambi
1s	kəmex	au	am	wup	ai
2s	kiyox	i	yi	yit	yi
3s	təno		din	tuwun
1p	kupox	amən	mendi	miyan	ep
2p	kinox	yi	yimi	yip	yip
3p	təmo	may	dim	ti	rəm

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968),^[2] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.^[3] Nabi words are from Laycock (1968) and Voorhoeve (1971, 1975).^[4][5]

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

gloss	Agi	Aruop	Amol	Nabi	Wanap	Yangum Mon
head	paikwa	wantu		wotuf	peləf	wah
ear	muᶇkwalnta	yaŋkole	taŋkən	kik	nuŋkul	yiŋkuːl
eye	juwol	yolta	nəmalal	nampəkat	yilp	yilkŋum
nose	tuwarka	mup	mipan	minif	təlom	yimwar
tooth	nai	na	owayen	naf	nef	awak
tongue	naliya	aləta	akaŋ	wulaf	kəːləp	yalip
leg	safiel	ala	aŋ	tip	kelfek	rak
louse	watokəl	yimunə	yimukun	kakyerk	yiməl	yimul
dog	nəmpo	yimpa	yimpan	pat	yimpa	yimpak
pig				bene
bird	nol	ali	alin	napet	kal	al
egg	nəŋkoi	yoltə	yinalən	ponorire; yufəlip	yiplop	yulp
blood	xaməŋka	səna	səneimpən	amk	komkok	yuwanip
bone	kamənaŋkil	pəniŋki	lapən	lə	lekəl	yiklia
skin	jiwota	wiye	yakən	wiyírk	saf	yikisiw
breast	nəmai	yimá	yimawoŋ	nəmap	yimaŋkəf	yimán
tree	numwol	nəmpə	nimpən	nip	nimp	nim
man	kamwol	makenti	maikən	məsəmiyen	nyiŋkilpən	almias
woman	wukora	simi	asək	ri	kekəntə	wasi
sun	wota	wa	wan	waf	kentief	təkŋan
moon	uni	anyə	ayen	wunɨ	keːnyif	mərəŋkil
water	wul	suku	səpən	sup; wer	kuː	sulp
fire	ni	yimpu	niŋ	nɨ; wetai	nif	niw
stone		atauka	səmpeiken	et; rubukia	kipru	pikiyap
one				eso
two	piyami	piya	nantiyou	mantio; ru	poyomp	piyak