Kovai language

Language

Kovai
Native to	Papua New Guinea
Region	Umboi Island, Morobe Province
Native speakers	6,000 (2011)^[1]
Language family	Trans–New Guinea Finisterre–Huon Huon Kovai
Language codes
ISO 639-3	`kqb`
Glottolog	`kova1243`

Kovai (Kobai, Kowai) is a Papuan language spoken on Umboi Island, halfway between mainland Papua New Guinea and the island of New Britain, and mostly within the caldera of that volcanic island.

Phonology

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		u
Mid	e		o
Open		a

Vowels may be heard as lax [ɪ ɛ ʌ ɔ ʊ] when in closed syllables.^[2]

Consonants

		Labial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar
Plosive	voiceless	p	t		k
Plosive	voiced	b			ɡ
Nasal		m	n		ŋ
Fricative	voiceless		s
Fricative	voiced		z
Trill			r
Approximant		w	l	j

In word-final position /b ɡ/ can be heard as devoiced [b̥ ɡ̊], and may also be realized as fricatives [β ɣ] in intervocalic positions.^[3]

References

^ Kovai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
^ Bugenhagen, Robert D. (1994). Language change on Umboi island. Tom Dutton and Darrell T. Tryon (eds.), Language contact and change in the Austronesian world: Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. p. 46.
^ Brown, Alan (1992). Kovai (Umboi) organized phonology data. SIL.

External links

For a list of words relating to Kovai language, see the Kovai language category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Languages of Papua New Guinea

Official languages

Major Indigenous
languages

Other Papuan
languages

Angan	Akoye Angaataha Ankave Hamtai Kamasa Kawacha Menya Safeyoka Simbari Susuami Tainae Yagwoia Yipma
Awin–Pa	Awin Pa
Binanderean	Baruga Binandere Ewage Korafe Orokaiva Suena Yekora Zia
Bosavi	Aimele Beami Edolo Kaluli Kasua Onobasulu Sonia
Chimbu–Wahgi	Chuave Dom Golin Kandawo Kaugel Kuman Maring Melpa Narak Nii Nomane Salt-Yui Sinasina Tembagla Wahgi
New Ireland	Bilur Fanamaket Kandas Konomala Kuanua Label Niwer Mil Patpatar Ramoaaina Siar Sursurunga Warwar Feni
Duna–Pogaya	Duna Pogaya
East Kutubuan	Fasu Fiwaga Foi
East Strickland	Fembe Gobasi Konai Kubo Odoodee Samo
Engan	Angal Bisorio Enga Huli Ipili Kewa Kyaka Lembena Samberigi
Eleman	Kaki Ae Keoru Opao Orokolo Toaripi Tairuma
Ok–Oksapmin	Bimin Faiwol Mian Ngalum Ninggerum Oksapmin Setaman Suganga Telefol Tifal Urap Yonggom
Teberan	Dadibi Folopa
Tirio	Abom Baramu Bitur Tirio Were
Turama–Kikorian	Ikobi Omati Rumu
Larger families	Finisterre–Huon Kainantu–Goroka Madang Ramu–Lower Sepik Sepik Southeast Papuan Torricelli

Sign languages

Finisterre–Huon languages

Finisterre

Erap	Finongan Gusan Mamaa Munkip Nakama Nek Nimi Nuk Numanggang Sauk Uri
Gusap–Mot	Iyo Madi Neko Nekgini Ngaing Rawa Ufim
Uruwa	Sakam Som Nukna Yau Weliki
Wantoat	Awara Wantoat Tuma-Irumu
Warup	Asaro'o Bulgebi Degenan Forak Guya Gwahatike Muratayak
Yupna	Bonkiman Domung Ma Nankina Yopno Yout Wam

Huon

Eastern	Dedua Kâte Kovai Kube Mape Migabac Momare Sene Tobo
Western	Burum Borong Kinalakna Komba Kumokio Mese Nabak Nomu Ono Selepet Sialum Timbe