Eastern Trans-Fly languages

Language family of New Guinea

Eastern Trans-Fly

Oriomo Plateau
Geographic
distribution| Oriomo Plateau, Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait Islands (Australia)
Linguistic classification| Trans-Fly or independent language family

* Eastern Trans-Fly

Language codes
Glottolog| `east2503`

Map: The Eastern Trans-Fly languages of New Guinea

The Eastern Trans-Fly languages

Trans–New Guinea languages

Other Papuan languages

Austronesian languages

Australian languages

Uninhabited

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)

The Eastern Trans-Fly (or Oriomo Plateau) languages are a small independent family of Papuan languages spoken in the Oriomo Plateau to the west of the Fly River in New Guinea.

## Classification

[edit]

The languages constituted a branch of Stephen Wurm's 1970 Trans-Fly proposal, which he later incorporated into his 1975 expansion of the Trans–New Guinea family as part of a Trans-Fly – Bulaka River branch. They are retained as a family but removed from Trans–New Guinea in the classifications of Malcolm Ross and Timothy Usher.

Wurm had determined that some of the languages he classified as Trans-Fly were not actually part of the Trans-New Guinea family but were instead heavily influenced by Trans-New Guinea languages. In 2005, Ross removed most of these languages, including Eastern Trans-Fly, from Wurm's Trans-New Guinea classification.

Timothy Usher links the four languages, which he calls Oriomo Plateau, to the Pahoturi languages and the Tabo language in an expanded Eastern Trans-Fly family.

## Languages

[edit]

* Meriam (within the national borders of Australia)
* Bine
* Wipi (Gidra)
* Gizrra

Oriomo (Eastern Trans-Fly) languages and respective demographic information listed by Evans (2018) are provided below.[1] Geographical coordinates are also provided for each dialect (which are named after villages).[2]

List of Oriomo (Eastern Trans-Fly) languages  Language | Location | Population | Alternate names | Dialects

|
|
|
|

Gizrra | south Oriomo-Bituri Rural LLG, Western Province (Papua New Guinea) | 1,050 | Gizra | Western Gizra and Waidoro (9°11′56″S 142°45′32″E﻿ / ﻿9.199001°S 142.758852°E﻿ / -9.199001; 142.758852﻿ (Waidoro)) dialects
Bine | south Oriomo-Bituri Rural LLG, Western Province (Papua New Guinea) | 2,000 |  | Kunini (9°05′29″S 143°00′33″E﻿ / ﻿9.091499°S 143.009076°E﻿ / -9.091499; 143.009076﻿ (Kunini)), Boze-Giringarede (9°03′39″S 143°02′18″E﻿ / ﻿9.06073°S 143.03836°E﻿ / -9.06073; 143.03836﻿ (Boze)), Sogal (8°56′24″S 142°50′28″E﻿ / ﻿8.93995°S 142.841073°E﻿ / -8.93995; 142.841073﻿ (Sogale)), Masingle (9°07′52″S 142°57′03″E﻿ / ﻿9.130976°S 142.950793°E﻿ / -9.130976; 142.950793﻿ (Masingara)), Tate (9°04′43″S 142°52′39″E﻿ / ﻿9.078728°S 142.877514°E﻿ / -9.078728; 142.877514﻿ (Tati)), Irupi-Drageli (9°08′07″S 142°51′47″E﻿ / ﻿9.135394°S 142.862977°E﻿ / -9.135394; 142.862977﻿ (Iru'upi); 9°09′41″S 142°53′32″E﻿ / ﻿9.161472°S 142.892287°E﻿ / -9.161472; 142.892287﻿ (Drageli)), and Sebe (9°03′03″S 142°41′54″E﻿ / ﻿9.050889°S 142.698247°E﻿ / -9.050889; 142.698247﻿ (Sebe)) dialects
Wipi | east Oriomo-Bituri Rural LLG, Western Province (Papua New Guinea) | 3,500 | Wipim, Gidra, Oriomo, Jibu | Dorogori (9°01′47″S 143°12′55″E﻿ / ﻿9.029768°S 143.215139°E﻿ / -9.029768; 143.215139﻿ (Dorogori No. 2)), Abam (8°55′37″S 143°11′28″E﻿ / ﻿8.926818°S 143.19112°E﻿ / -8.926818; 143.19112﻿ (Abam)), Peawa (8°53′10″S 143°11′31″E﻿ / ﻿8.886084°S 143.192049°E﻿ / -8.886084; 143.192049﻿ (Peawa (Woigi))), Ume (9°01′17″S 143°04′10″E﻿ / ﻿9.021446°S 143.069507°E﻿ / -9.021446; 143.069507﻿ (U'ume)), Kuru (8°54′07″S 143°04′28″E﻿ / ﻿8.901837°S 143.074435°E﻿ / -8.901837; 143.074435﻿ (Kuru No 1)), Woigo (8°53′50″S 143°11′53″E﻿ / ﻿8.897189°S 143.19818°E﻿ / -8.897189; 143.19818﻿ (Woigi)), Wonie (8°50′12″S 142°58′28″E﻿ / ﻿8.836602°S 142.974578°E﻿ / -8.836602; 142.974578﻿ (Wonie)), Iamega (8°46′07″S 142°55′02″E﻿ / ﻿8.768564°S 142.91733°E﻿ / -8.768564; 142.91733﻿ (Yamega (iamega))), Gamaewe (8°57′17″S 142°55′58″E﻿ / ﻿8.954618°S 142.932798°E﻿ / -8.954618; 142.932798﻿ (Gamaewe)), Podari (8°51′46″S 142°51′37″E﻿ / ﻿8.862731°S 142.860353°E﻿ / -8.862731; 142.860353﻿ (Podare)), Wipim (8°47′12″S 142°52′16″E﻿ / ﻿8.786604°S 142.871224°E﻿ / -8.786604; 142.871224﻿ (Wipim)), Kapal (8°37′14″S 142°48′56″E﻿ / ﻿8.620541°S 142.815635°E﻿ / -8.620541; 142.815635﻿ (Kapal)), Rual (8°34′13″S 142°51′22″E﻿ / ﻿8.570315°S 142.85601°E﻿ / -8.570315; 142.85601﻿ (Rual No. 1)), Guiam, and Yuta dialects
Meryam Mir | Australia: Torres Strait Islands of Erub (Darnley Island),
Ugar (Stephen Island), and Mer (Murray Island) | 700 | Meriam Mir | Erub (no longer used) and Mer dialects

## Pronouns

[edit]

The pronouns Ross reconstructs for proto–Eastern Trans-Fly are,

I | *ka | exclusive we | *ki

|
|
|

inclusive we | *mi
thou | *ma | you | *we
he/she/it | *tabV; *e | they | *tepi

There is a possibility of a connection here to Trans–New Guinea. If the inclusive pronoun is historically a second-person form, then there would appear to be i-ablaut for the plural: *ka~ki, **ma~mi, **tapa~tapi. This is similar to the ablaut reconstructed for TNG (*na~ni, *ga~gi). Although the pronouns themselves are dissimilar, ablaut is not likely to be borrowed. On the other hand, there is some formal resemblance to Austronesian pronouns (*(a)ku I, *(ka)mu you, *kita we inc., *(ka)mi we exc., *ia he/she/it; some archeological, cultural and linguistic evidence of Austronesian contact and settlement in the area exists (David et al., 2011; McNiven et al., 2011; McNiven et al., 2006; McNiven et al., 2004: 67-68; Mitchell 1995).

## Vocabulary comparison

[edit]

The following basic vocabulary words for Bine (Täti dialect), Bine (Sogal dialect), Gizra (Kupere dialect) and Wipi (Dorogori dialect) are from the Trans-New Guinea database.[3] The equivalent words for Meriam Mir are also included.[4]

The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. iřeʔu, iřeku, ilkʰəp for “eye”) or not (e.g. dřeŋgo, ume, yɔŋg for “dog”).

gloss | Bine (Täti dialect) | Bine (Sogal dialect) | Gizra (Kupere dialect) | Wipi (Dorogori dialect) | Meriam Mir

|
|
|
|
|

head  | mopo | mopo | siŋɨl | mopʰ | kìrìm
hair  | ede ŋæři | mopo ŋæři | eřŋen | mop ŋɨs | mus
ear  | tablam | tablamo | gublam | yəkəpya | girip, laip
eye  | iřeʔu | iřeku | ilkʰəp | yəř | erkep
nose  | keke | keke | siəkʰ | sok | pit
tooth  | giřiʔu |  | ziřgup |  | tìrìg
tongue  | wætæ | wærtæ | uːlitʰ | vlat | werut
leg  | er̃ŋe | er̃ŋe | wapʰər̃ | kwa | teter
louse  | ŋamwe | ŋamo | ŋəm | bɨnɨm | nem
dog  | dřego | dřeŋgo | ume | yɔŋg | omai
pig  | blomwe | blomo |  | b'om | borom
bird  | eře | eře | pʰöyɑy | yi | ebur
egg  | ku | ku | uŕgup | kʰɨp | wer
blood  | uːdi | uːdi | əi | wɔːdž | mam
bone  | kaːke | kaːko | kʰus | kʰakʰ | lid
skin  | tæːpwe | tæːpo | sopʰai | gɨm | gegur
breast  | nono | ŋamo | ŋiam | ŋɔm | nano
tree  | uli | uli | nugup | wʉl | lu(g)
man  | řoːřie | řoːřie | pʰam | r̃ɨga | kimiar
woman  | magebe | magobe | kʰoːl | kʰɔŋga | koskìr
sun  | abwedži | bimu | abɨs | lom | lìm
moon  | mřeːpwe | mabye | mɛlpal | mobi | meb
water  | niːye | niːye | nai | ni | nì
fire  | ulobo | ulikobo | uːř | par̃a | ur
stone  | kula | kula | iŋlkʰup | gli | bakìr
name  | ŋi | ŋi | ŋi | niː | nei
eat  |  |  | waː aloda | nina wavwin | ero
one  | neːteřa | yepæ | dər̃pʰan | yəpa | netat
two  | neneni | neneni | niːs | nɨmɔg | neis

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Evans, Nicholas (2018). "The languages of Southern New Guinea". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4\. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 641–774\. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.641-774&rft.pub=De+Gruyter+Mouton&rft.date=2018&rft.isbn=978-3-11-028642-7&rft.aulast=Evans&rft.aufirst=Nicholas&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Eastern+Trans-Fly+languages" class="Z3988">
2. ^ United Nations in Papua New Guinea (2018). "Papua New Guinea Village Coordinates Lookup". Humanitarian Data Exchange. 1.31.9.
3. ^ Greenhill, Simon (2016). "TransNewGuinea.org - database of the languages of New Guinea". Retrieved 5 November 2020.
4. ^ McNiven, Ian J.; Hitchcock, Garrick (2015). "Goemulgaw Lagal: Natural and Cultural Histories of the Island of Mabuyag, Torres Strait" (PDF). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Culture. 8. Retrieved 18 May 2022.

* Ross, Malcolm (2005). "Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages". In Andrew Pawley; Robert Attenborough; Robin Hide; Jack Golson (eds.). Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 15–66\. ISBN 0858835622. OCLC 67292782.15-66&rft.pub=Pacific+Linguistics&rft.date=2005&rft_id=info:oclcnum/67292782&rft.isbn=0858835622&rft.aulast=Ross&rft.aufirst=Malcolm&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Eastern+Trans-Fly+languages" class="Z3988">
* David, B., McNiven, I.J., Mitchell, R., Orr, M., Haberle, S., Brady, L. & Crouch, J. 2004. Badu 15 and the Papuan-Austronesian settlement of Torres Strait. Archeology in Oceania 39(2): 65-78.
* Fleischmann, L. and Turpeinen, S. "A Dialect Survey of Eastern Trans-Fly Languages". In Reesink, G.P., Fleischmann, L., Turpeinen, S. and Lincoln, P.C. editors, Papers in New Guinea Linguistics No. 19. A-45:39-76. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University, 1976. doi:10.15144/PL-A45.39
* McNiven, I.J., Dickinson, W.R., David, B., Weisler, M., Von Gnielinski, F., Carter, M., & Zoppi, U. 2006. Mask Cave: red-slipped pottery and the Australian-Papuan settlement of Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait). Archaeology in Oceania 41(2): 49-81.
* McNiven, I.J., David, B., Richards, T., Aplin, K., Asmussen, B., Mialanes, J., Leavesley, M., Faulkner, P., UlmM, S. 2011 New directions in human colonisation of the Pacific: Lapita settlement of south coast New Guinea. Australian Archaeology 72:1-6.
* Mitchell, R. 1995. Linguistic Archeology in Torres Strait. Unpublished MA thesis (James Cook University: Townsville).

## External links

[edit]

* Eastern Trans-Fly languages database at TransNewGuinea.org

* v
* t
* e

Papuan language families
(Palmer 2018 classification)

Trans-New Guinea
subgroups|

| Central Papua, Indonesia|

* Ok-Oksapmin
* Dani
* Asmat-Kamoro
* Mek
* Paniai Lakes
* West Bomberai
* Somahai

|

Southeast Papua, Indonesia|

* Anim
* Greater Awyu
* Kayagaric
* Kolopom
* Marori

Southwest Papua New Guinea|

* Gogodala-Suki
* Turama-Kikori
* Kiwaian
* Awin-Pa

Central Papua New Guinea|

* Madang
* Finisterre-Huon
* Kainantu-Goroka
* Chimbu-Wahgi
* Enga-Kewa-Huli
* Bosavi
* East Strickland
* Kutubu
* Duna-Bogaya
* Wiru

Papuan Peninsula|

* Angan
* Greater Binanderean
* Dagan
* Mailuan
* Koiarian
* Goilalan
* Yareban
* Kwalean
* Manubaran

Eastern Nusantara
families and isolates|

* Timor-Alor-Pantar
* North Halmahera

* Tambora†

Bird's Head Peninsula
families and isolates|

* South Bird's Head
* Nuclear South Bird's Head
* Inanwatan–Duriankere
* Konda–Yahadian
* East Bird's Head
* Nuclear East Bird's Head
* Hatam–Mansim
* West Bird's Head

* Abun
* Mpur
* Maybrat
* Mor
* Tanah Merah

Northern Western New Guinea
families and isolates|

* Tor-Kwerba
* Lakes Plain
* Border
* Sko
* East Cenderawasih Bay
* Pauwasi
* East
* West
* Nimboran
* Sentani
* Mairasi
* Kaure
* Lepki-Murkim
* Senagi (Angor-Dera)
* Tofanma-Namla
* Yapen

* Abinomn
* Burmeso
* Elseng
* Kapauri
* Kembra
* Keuw
* Kimki
* Massep
* Mawes
* Molof
* Usku
* Yetfa

Central Western New Guinea
families and isolates|

* Bayono-Awbono

* Dem
* Uhunduni

Sepik-Ramu basin
families and isolates|

* Torricelli
* Sepik
* Lower Sepik-Ramu
* Lower Sepik
* Ramu
* Kwomtari
* Leonhard Schultze (Walio-Papi)
* Upper Yuat (Arafundi-Piawi)
* Yuat
* Left May
* Amto-Musan

* Busa
* Tayap
* Yadë

| Torricelli subgroups|

* Marienberg
* Arapesh
* Urim
* Maimai
* Wapei
* Palei
* One (West Wapei)
* Monumbo?

|

Sepik subgroups|

* Middle Sepik
* Ndu
* Nukuma
* Yellow River
* Yerakai
* Upper Sepik
* Wogamus
* Iwam
* Abau
* Sepik Hill
* Tama
* Ram
* Amal

Ramu subgroups|

* Lower Ramu
* Ottilien
* Misegian
* Middle Ramu
* Grass?
* Tamolan
* Ataitan (Tanggu)

Gulf of Papua and southern New Guinea
families and isolates|

* Yam
* Pahoturi River
* Eleman
* Oriomo
* Teberan
* Doso-Turumsa
* Komolom
* Yelmek-Maklew

* Dibiyaso
* Kaki Ae
* Kamula
* Karami
* Pawaia
* Porome
* Purari
* Tabo

Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands
families and isolates|

* Baining
* North Bougainville
* South Bougainville
* Central Solomons
* Butam-Taulil

* Anêm
* Ata
* Kol
* Kuot
* Makolkol
* Sulka

Rossel Island
isolate|

* Yélî Dnye

Proposed groupings|

* West Papuan
* Northwest Papuan
* South Pauwasi
* East Papuan
* Southeast Papuan
* Papuan Gulf
* Binanderean–Goilalan
* Arai–Samaia
* Asmat–Mombum
* Trans-Fly–Bulaka River
* Trans-Fly
* Dani–Kwerba
* East Bird's Head – Sentani
* Kwomtari–Fas
* Left May – Kwomtari
* Tor–Kwerba–Nimboran
* West Trans–New Guinea
* West Papuan Highlands
* Central and South New Guinea
* Central West New Guinea
* East New Guinea Highlands
* Yele – West New Britain
* Sepik–Ramu
* Indo-Pacific

Proto-language|

* Proto-Trans–New Guinea

* v
* t
* e

Primary language families

Africa|

* Afroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Khoe–Kwadi
* Kx'a
* Niger–Congo
* Nilo-Saharan?
* Tuu
* Mande?
* Songhay?
* Ijaw?
* Ubangian?
* Kadu?

Isolates|

* Bangime
* Hadza
* Jalaa
* Sandawe
* Laal?
* Shabo?

Eurasia
(Europe
and Asia)|

* Afroasiatic
* Ainu
* Austroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Chukotko-Kamchatkan
* Dravidian
* Eskaleut
* Great Andamanese
* Hmong–Mien
* Hurro-Urartian
* Indo-European
* Japonic
* Kartvelian
* Koreanic
* Kra–Dai
* Mongolic
* Nivkh
* Northeast Caucasian
* Northwest Caucasian
* Ongan
* Sino-Tibetan
* Tungusic
* Turkic
* Tyrsenian
* Uralic
* Yeniseian
* Yukaghir
* Digaro?
* Hrusish?
* Kho-Bwa?
* Mijiic?
* Miju?
* Siangic?

Isolates|

* Basque
* Burushaski
* Elamite
* Hattic
* Kenaboi?
* Kusunda
* Minoan?
* Nihali
* Shompen?
* Sumerian
* Tambora?

New Guinea
and the Pacific|

* Arai–Samaia
* Austronesian
* Binanderean–Goilalan
* Border
* Bulaka River
* Central Solomons
* Chimbu–Wahgi
* Demta–Sentani
* Doso–Turumsa
* East Geelvink Bay
* East New Britain
* East Strickland
* Eleman
* Engan
* Fas
* Foja Range
* Kaure–Kosare
* Kiwaian
* Kutubuan
* Lakes Plain
* Lower Mamberamo
* Lower Sepik
* Madang
* Mairasi
* North Bougainville
* Pauwasi
* Ramu
* Senagi
* Senu River
* Sepik
* Skou
* South Bougainville
* Teberan
* Torricelli
* Trans-Fly
* Trans–New Guinea
* Turama–Kikorian
* Upper Yuat
* West Papuan
* Yam
* Yawa
* Yuat
* Northwest Papuan?
* Papuan Gulf?

Isolates|

* Abinomn
* Abun
* Anêm?
* Ata?
* Kol
* Kuot
* Maybrat
* Mpur
* Pawaia
* Porome
* Sulka?
* Taiap?
* Tambora?
* Wiru

Australia|

* Arnhem/Macro-Gunwinyguan?
* Bunuban
* Darwin Region?
* Eastern Daly
* Eastern Tasmanian
* Garawan
* Iwaidjan
* Jarrakan
* Marrku–Wurrugu?
* Mirndi
* Northern Tasmanian
* Northeastern Tasmanian
* Nyulnyulan
* Pama–Nyungan
* Southern Daly?
* Tangkic
* Wagaydyic
* Western Daly
* Western Tasmanian
* Worrorran
* Yangmanic (incl. Wagiman)?

Isolates|

* Giimbiyu
* Malak-Malak (Northern Daly?)
* Tiwi

North
America|

* Algic
* Alsea
* Caddoan
* Chimakuan
* Chinookan
* Chumashan
* Comecrudan
* Coosan
* Eskaleut
* Iroquoian
* Kalapuyan
* Keres
* Maiduan
* Muskogean
* Na-Dene
* Palaihnihan
* Plateau Penutian
* Pomoan
* Salishan
* Shastan
* Siouan
* Tanoan
* Tsimshianic
* Utian
* Uto-Aztecan
* Wakashan
* Wintuan
* Yukian
* Yuman–Cochimí

Isolates|

* Chimariko
* Esselen
* Haida
* Karuk
* Kutenai
* Seri
* Siuslaw
* Takelma
* Timucua
* Tonkawa
* Waikuri
* Washo
* Yana
* Yokuts
* Yuchi
* Zuni

Mesoamerica|

* Chibchan
* Jicaquean
* Lencan
* Mayan
* Misumalpan
* Mixe–Zoque
* Oto-Manguean
* Tequistlatecan
* Totonacan
* Uto-Aztecan
* Xincan

Isolates|

* Cuitlatec
* Huave
* Tarascan/Purépecha

South
America|

* Andoque–Urequena
* Arauan
* Araucanian
* Arawakan
* Arutani–Sape
* Aymaran
* Barbacoan
* Boran
* Cahuapanan
* Cariban
* Catacaoan
* Chapacuran
* Charruan
* Chibchan
* Choco
* Chonan
* Guaicuruan
* Guajiboan
* Harákmbut–Katukinan
* Jirajaran
* Jivaroan
* Katembri–Taruma
* Mascoian
* Matacoan
* Nadahup
* Nambikwaran
* Otomákoan
* Pano-Tacanan
* Peba–Yaguan
* Quechuan
* Piaroa–Saliban
* Ticuna–Yuri
* Timotean
* Tiniguan
* Tucanoan
* Tupian
* Uru–Chipaya
* Witotoan
* Yanomaman
* Zamucoan
* Zaparoan
* Bora-Witoto?
* Chimuan?
* Esmeralda–Yaruro?
* Hibito–Cholón?
* Lule–Vilela?
* Macro-Jê?
* Tequiraca–Canichana?

Isolates
(extant in 2000)|

* Aikanã?
* Alacalufan
* Camsá
* Candoshi
* Chimane
* Chiquitano
* Cofán?
* Fulniô
* Guató
* Hodï/Joti
* Irantxe?
* Itonama
* Kunza
* Leco
* Maku (Maku-Auari/Jukude)
* Movima
* Mura-Pirahã
* Nukak?
* Páez
* Puinave
* Huaorani/Waorani
* Trumai
* Urarina
* Warao
* Yamana
* Yuracaré

Sign
languages|

* Arab
* BANZSL
* Chinese
* Francosign
* Germanosign
* Indo-Pakistani
* Japanese
* Original Thai
* Swedish
* Tanzanian?

Isolates|

* See list of sign languages

See also|

* Constructed languages
* Creoles
* Language isolates
* Mixed languages
* Pidgins
* Unclassified languages

* Families with question marks (?) are disputed or controversial.
* Families in italics have no living members.
* Families with more than 30 languages are in bold.

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