Abstract
This article provides an overview of the phonologies of Southern New Guinea languages, based on the six languages in this special issue plus two others for which JIPA illustrations have recently been published Yelmek (Yelmek-Maklew family), Ngkolmpu, Nmbo and Nen (Yam family), Idi and Ende (Pahoturi River), Bitur (Marind-Anim branch of Trans-New Guinea) and Urama (Kiwaian branch of Trans-New Guinea). It surveys overall inventory sizes (maximal 28 consonants and 8 vowels, in Nmbo, minimal 13 consonants plus 5 vowels in Urama), and the most important segment types characteristic of the region, including retroflexion in Idi and Ende, labial-velar stops (Nen, Nmbo), rounded stops (Nmbo), relatively large liquid inventories (Pahoturi River) and prenasalised stop phonemes (Ngkolmpu, Nen, Nmbo).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Language Documentation and Conservation Special Publication 24: Phonetic fieldwork in southern New Guinea |
| Editors | Kate L. Lindsey & Dineke Schokkin |
| Place of Publication | Manoa |
| Publisher | University of Hawaii Press |
| Pages | 5-12 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780997967326 |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |