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 | |
Region | Yambarik village, Sumgilbar Rural LLG, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea |
Language family | Trans–New Guinea
|
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | None (mis ) |
Glottolog | yamb1257 |
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 (4.771029°S 145.570102°E / -4.771029; 145.570102 (Yambrik)) in Imbab ward, Sumgilbar Rural LLG, and is reachable via a few hours' hike into the Adelbert Mountains from Tokain village.[2][3]
Unlike other languages belonging to the Madang branch, Yamben has a palatal nasal consonant (/ɲ/) and a labiovelar consonant series.[1]
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 |
Madang languages | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Croisilles (Adelbert Range) |
| ||||||||||||||||
Kalam | |||||||||||||||||
Mabuso |
| ||||||||||||||||
Mindjim | |||||||||||||||||
Rai Coast (South Madang) |
| ||||||||||||||||
Southern Adelbert |
| ||||||||||||||||
Yaganon | |||||||||||||||||
(unclear) |