Sepik-ramu

All told, Sepik-Ramu consists of a hundred languages of the Sepik and Ramu river basins of northern Papua New Guinea , spoken by only 200 000 people in all. The languages tend to have simple phonologies, with few consonants or vowels and usually no tones.

The best known Sepik-Ramu language is Iatmül . The most populous are Iatmül's fellow Ndu languages Abelam and Boiken, with about 35 000 speakers apiece.

Malcolm Ross re-evaluated the Sepik-Ramu hypothesis and found no evidence that it forms a valid family. However, all of the constituent branches, except for Yuat within Ramu, hold together in his evaluation. Ross links Nor-Pondo to Ramu in a Ramu-Lower Sepik proposal, places Leonhard Schultze (tentatively broken up into Walio and Papi) within an extented Sepik family, and treats Yuat and Taiap and independent families.

CLASSIFICATION

This list is a mirror of the Ethnologue article here .

Sepik-Ramu phylum (based on Laycock 1973)

'' Taiap '' isolate (80 speakers)

Leonard Schultze stock

--- Walio family: Walio , Pei , Yawiyo , Tuwari (700 speakers)

--- Papi family: Papi , Suarmin (200 speakers)

Nor-Pondo stock (6 languages)

--- Nor family: Murik , Kopar (1200 speakers)

--- Pondo family: Chambri , Yimas , Karawari , Angoram , (12 000 speakers)

Ramu subphylum (37 languages)

--- Ramu superstock (29 languages)

-- Grass stock (5 languages)

- '' Banaro '' isolate

- Grass family: Kambot , Aion , Adjora , Gorovu

-- Arafundi family: Alfendio , Meakambut

-- Annaberg stock (3 languages)

- '' Rao '' isolate

- Aian family: Anor , Aiome

-- Ruboni stock (8 languages)

- Ottilien family: Watam , Gamei , Kaian , Bosman , Awar

- Misegian family: Giri , Sepen , Mikarew

-- Goam stock (11 languages)

- Ataitan family: Andarum , Igom , Tangu , Tanguat

- Tamolan family: Romkun , Breri , Kominimung , Igana , Akrukay , Itutang , Midsivindi

--- Yuat-Langam superstock (13 languages)

-- Mongol-Langam family: ( Langam , Mongol , Yaul

-- Yuat-Maramba stock

- '' Maramaba '' isolate

- Yuat family: Changriwa , Kyenele , Mekmek , Miyak , Biwat ( Mundugumor ), Bun

Sepik subphylum (50 languages)

--- Biksi: Kimki , Yetfa (family-level group or closer?)

--- Upper Sepik stock

-- '' Abau '' isolate

-- Iwam family: Iwam , Sepik Iwam , Amal

-- Wogamusin family: Wogamusin , Chenapian

--- Ram family: Karawa , Bouye , Autu

--- Tama family: Ayi , Pasi , Pahi , Mehek , Yessan-Mayo

--- Yellow River family: Namie , Ak , Awun

--- Middle Sepik stock

-- '' Yerakai '' isolate

-- Nukuma family: Kwoma , Kwanga

-- ''', Ngala , Manambu , Kaunga , Abelam , Boiken , Sawos , Kwasengen

--- Sepik Hill stock

-- Sanio family: Sanio , Paka , Gabiano , Piame , Bikaru , Hewa

-- Bahinemo family: Bitara , Bahinemo , Mari , Bisis , Watakataui , Kapriman , Sumariup

-- Alamblak family: Kaningara , Alamblak

Information About

Sepik-ramu