| Maimai | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | easternSandaun Province,Papua New Guinea |
| Linguistic classification | Torricelli
|
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | nucl1590 |
 The Torricelli languages as classified byFoley (2018) | |
TheMaimai languages constitute a branch of theTorricelli language family. They are spoken just to the west ofNuku town in easternSandaun Province,Papua New Guinea (including inMaimai Wanwan Rural LLG).
Pronouns in Maimai languages are:[1]
| Beli | Siliput | Yahang | Heyo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1s | ki | oi | ai | ai |
| 2s | si | yi | is | is |
| 3s | ofo | tən | apan | apan |
| 1p | əfə | yep | epep | apap |
| 2p | yip | ipip | ipip | |
| 3p | afa | təmoŋ | apam |
The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968),[2] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.[3]
The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g.elktife,elaŋkitif for “tongue”) or not (e.g.nikiw,rakun,taŋən for “ear”).
| gloss | Minidien | Heyo | Siliput | Yahang | Beli |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| head | etwun | utüwe | paroŋ | wuntəf | |
| ear | nikiw | rakun | taŋən | raŋkun | ŋətə |
| eye | napə | napelkə | oi | nampəl | satoʔ |
| nose | mohau | luweka | luwet | ruwot | suwopən |
| tooth | panikye | parkita | panəm | paniŋk | niŋo |
| tongue | ləhe | elktife | yansɨ | elaŋkitif | life |
| leg | etiyə | itikya | tiŋ | youpep | papaŋ |
| louse | lumum | hipəp | yaflin | ||
| dog | panə | mpat | pat | mpat | pato |
| bird | pelhin | walfisa | hilít | felfis | walfun |
| egg | waltiye | laʔwo | yilhəf | lawo | lawiyen |
| blood | amkeʔ | wiyefa | wuji | wiyef | kuijwẽ |
| bone | loki | yefa | lokɨ | yefa | loknwẽ |
| skin | kirkeʔ | halipa | purko | halip | noʔoŋ |
| breast | mapi | maka | mayr | may | mapi |
| tree | lowɨ | lowə | lou | lou | lowo |
| man | məsən | mohon | matan | mukun | masən |
| woman | nuka- pyene | nuweteʔ | yukətet | nuwot | sakwoto |
| sun | amwo | fala | olok | fala | watli |
| moon | auniye | onifəʔ | aune | kwonif | waluko |
| water | supɨ | hipelə | sifyer | himpel | ite |
| fire | yakel | yafa | ya | yaʔaf | safi |
| stone | alpɨl; kitampa | paleka | wotə | wətə́f | kalkopo |
| two | yatowiye | oloʔw | wuríkrŋ | kolou | wosoŋ |