Yamben (Yaben) is a Trans–New Guinea language of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. It was first documented by Andrew Pick in the 2010s and classified by Pick (2019) as a probable primary branch of Madang, though its precise classification is still pending further research.[1] Although surrounded by Croisilles languages, Yamben is not one of them.
Yamben (Yaben) was not previously noticed by other scholars due to confusion with the nearby language of the same name.[1]
Yamben is spoken in the single village of Yambarik (4°46′16″S 145°34′12″E / 4.771029°S 145.570102°E) in Imbab ward, Sumgilbar Rural LLG, and is reachable via a few hours' hike into the Adelbert Mountains from Tokain village.[3][4]
Phonology
Unlike other languages belonging to the Madang branch, Yamben has a palatal nasal consonant (/ɲ/) and a labiovelar consonant series.[1]
Basic vocabulary
Basic vocabulary in Yamben and nearby Croisilles languages:[1]
gloss Yamben Yaben Manep Gabak Barem man dambu munanu munu mur mamunden name buɲim uɲim(u) unim vin unim fire aŋgaji muta andup akut munduv tree aŋgan namu mundu ŋam wam louse aŋgun gunu gunu igun gun bird akiem malʌgwanu nambe liweŋ munuŋgan house mʷan muɲi amun kaven amun tooth ananji nʌna nanaŋ anek nanaŋ head kumu tazi kumu daut sa eye mambudum magiɲo musaŋ mek muaŋ
References
- ^ a b c d e Pick, Andrew (2019). "Yamben: A previously undocumented language of Madang" (PDF). 5th Workshop on the Languages of Papua. Universitas Negeri Papua, Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia.
- ^ "2023-006". SIL International. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ United Nations in Papua New Guinea (2018). "Papua New Guinea Village Coordinates Lookup". Humanitarian Data Exchange. 1.31.9.
- ^ Pick, Andrew (2019). "Gildipasi language project: tumbuna stories and tumbuna knowledge". Endangered Languages Archive at SOAS, University of London.