Fuyug language
In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Fuyug language, a topic that has captured the attention and interest of people around the world. With a rich history and significant influence on different aspects of daily life, Fuyug language has played a fundamental role in society over time. Through an in-depth analysis, we will examine the different aspects and dimensions of Fuyug language, from its origin and evolution to its impact today. Whether you are an expert on Fuyug language or just getting into this topic, this article will provide you with valuable information and unique perspectives that will allow you to better understand its importance and relevance in today's world.
| Fuyug | |
|---|---|
| Region | Papua New Guinea |
Native speakers | 14,000 (2003)[1] |
Trans-New Guinea?
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | fuy |
| Glottolog | fuyu1242 |
Fuyug (Fuyuge, Fuyughe, Mafulu) is a language of Papua New Guinea spoken in the Central Province of the country. The language's 14,000 speakers live in 300 villages in the Goilala District.[2]
Phonology
The usual orthographic convention used to transcribe Fuyug is to use a for /ɑ/, e for /ɛ/, y for /j/, and the corresponding IPA characters for the remaining phonemes.
Vowels
Fuyug possesses five vowel phonemes.[3]
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Close | i | u |
| Mid | ɛ | o |
| Open | ɑ |
The vowel /ɛ/ is pronounced as the diphthong when word-final as well as before a word-final consonant. For example, ateg ("truth") is pronounced and ode ("where") as .[4]
All vowels are nasalised before a nasal consonant, as in in ("pandanus") , ung ("nose") , em ("house") .[5]
Consonants
Fuyug has 14 consonant phonemes.[6]
| Labial | Coronal | Velar | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | Voiceless | p | t | k |
| Voiced | b | d | ɡ | |
| Fricative | Voiceless | f | s | |
| Voiced | v | |||
| Nasal | m | n | ||
| Approximant | w | j | ||
| Liquid | l | |||
The voiceless plosive are aspirated in a word-final position and before /i/: endanti ("outside") , oki ("fire") , eyak ("return") .[6]
The nasal phoneme /n/ assimilates before a velar consonant becoming : yangos ("rain") .[7]
The pronunciation of the liquid /l/ is in free variation between a lateral and a flap . However, with the exception of words of foreign origin where the word in the source language is written with an r, this is represented in the orthography as l.[4]
Syllables
Fuyug syllables come in the shape (C)V(C)(C). There cannot be more than two consonants adjacent to one another word-internally and the only final clusters permitted are mb, nd and ng. Within a word vowels may not follow one another.[8]
Stress
Stress in Fuyug is predictable. Stress falls on the final syllable in mono- and disyllabic words and on the antepenult in words of three of four syllables. Affixes do not alter the stressed syllable.[9]
Morphophonology
Certain suffixes (notably the illative -ti) cause a change in the end of the word to which it is attached:[10]
- m assimilates to n before t: im + -ti → inti ("in the eye")
- l is elided before t: uwal + -ti → uwati ("in the heart")
- Voiced plosives are devoiced at the end of a word when the following word begins with a vowel or a voiceless consonant: enamb + fidan → enamp fidan ("a road"), asang + ukas → asank ukas ("a lot of sand").
- an i is inserted between two consonant if the first is not l or a nasal: ev + -ti → eviti ("in the Sun"). With certain verbal suffixes an e is inserted: id + -ngo → idengo ("is sleeping").
- When a root with a final vowel has suffix or clitic attached to it that begins with a vowel, the first vowel is deleted: ne + -a → na ("he eats").
Grammar
Personal pronouns
Fuyug has personal pronouns for three numbers (singular, dual, plural) but not gender distinction.
| Person | Singular | Dual | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | na | da | di |
| 2nd | nu | ya | yi |
| 3rd | hu | tu | mu |
These pronouns can take four different suffixes: the genitive -l or -le, the emphatic -ni, the comitative -noy and the contrastive -v.[11]
Numerals
Numerals in Fuyug are very restricted, having only fidan ("one") and yovalo ("two"). The numbers 3, 4 and 5 are composed of 1 and 2:
- 3: yovalo hul mindan ("two its other")
- 4: yovalo ta yovalo ("two and two");
- 5: yovalo ta yovalo ta hul mindan ("two and two and its other").
After five English numerals are used (numbers less than five often do so as well). The quantifier huka ("a lot") is also used after three.[12]
References
- ^ Fuyug at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, p. 2
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, p. 14
- ^ a b Bradshaw 2007, p. 17
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, p. 18
- ^ a b Bradshaw 2007, p. 15
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, p. 16
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, pp. 21–24
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, p. 24
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, pp. 24–27
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, pp. 39–41
- ^ Bradshaw 2007, p. 45
Bibliography
- Bradshaw, Robert L. (2007). Fuyug Grammar Sketch. Data Papers on Papua New Guinea Languages. Vol. 53. SIL-PNG Academic Publications. ISBN 9980-0-3353-3.