| Obokuitai | |
|---|---|
| Aliki | |
| Native to | Indonesia |
| Region | Obogoi village in East Central Mambermano District,Mamberamo Raya Regency, Papua |
Native speakers | (120 cited 2000)[1] |
Lakes Plain
| |
| Latin? | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | afz |
| Glottolog | obok1239 |
| ELP | Obokuitai |
Obokuitai (Obogwitai) is aLakes Plain language ofPapua,Indonesia. It is named afterObogoi village in East Central Mambermano District,Mamberamo Raya Regency.[2]
Obokuitai,Sikaritai, andEritai constitute adialect cluster.
The following discussion is based on Jenison & Jenison (1991).[3]
Unusual phonological features of Obokuitai and other Lakes Plain languages are the complete lack of nasals, even allophones, and a series of extra high or fricativized vowels that developed from loss of a following stop consonant.[4] Obokuitai has one of the smallest phonemic inventories in the world, equal to thePirahã andRotokas languages at 11 phonemes.
| Labial | Coronal | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stop | b | td | k | |
| Fricative | s | h |
The small consonant inventory is typical of Lakes Plain languages.
Obokuitai does have some more sounds as allophones. The voiced velar stop, [g], occurs syllable initial following a syllable final /k/. For example, /dikka/ -> [digga], 'husband of wife's sister'.
The voiced alveolar tap or flap, [ɾ], occurs between vowels in the syllable initial position and also as the second member of a consonant cluster in the syllable initial position. For example, /bɛda/ -> [bɛɾa], 'kind of sweet potato'.[5]
Obokuitai has five vowels.
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| High | i | u |
| Mid | ɛ | o |
| Low | a | |
Like the otherLakes Plain languages, Obokuitai istonal. L, H, and HL pitch contours occur on monosyllabic words. A phonological analysis of the tone system remains to be completed. However, the probable phonemic aspect of the tone is shown through the minimal triadkuik1 'rock',kuik2 'insect' (sp.) andkuik12 'lizard' (sp.).[6]
Possessive pronouns in Obokuitai are:[7]
| sg | pl | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | i ba | èdo |
| 2 | do | deo |
| 3 | o | |
Obokuitai has three verbal prefixes, which are:[7]: 538
Some examples of verbs with the prefixes, as compared to the verb roots without them:[7]: 538
didde
run
→
ke-didde
send
didde →ke-didde
run {} send
kúdde
talk
→
be-kúdde
talk to someone
kúdde →be-kúdde
talk {} {talk to someone}
tokoidde
throw
→
be-tokoidde
throw directly at something
tokoidde →be-tokoidde
throw {} {throw directly at something}
kdidde
pull
→
be-kdidde
pinch and pull back a bowstring with tautness
kdidde →be-kdidde
pull {} {pinch and pull back a bowstring with tautness}
tdaid
cut with a machete
→
be-tdaid
poke, stab, inject
tdaid →be-tdaid
{cut with a machete} {} {poke, stab, inject}
There are two aspectual verbal suffixes:[7]: 538
These also have "background" forms, used with what Foley refers to as "backgrounded collateral clauses".[7]: 538
Final particles in Obokuitai:[7]: 538–539