Imonda language
| Imonda | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Papua New Guinea |
| Region | Sandaun Province |
Native speakers | (250 cited 1994)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | imn |
| ELP | Imonda |
Imonda is a Papuan language of Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.
Numerals
Imonda's numerals are based on compounding. For example 3 is denoted sabla mugõ (lit., two one) and 5, sabla sabla mugõ (two two one)[2].
Noun-classifiers
Imonda classifies nouns using verbal prefixes which evolved from serial verbs[3]. These serial verbs typically had to do with handling and preparing objects, and the noun classifiers are only required before a small set of common nouns, with meanings like 'give', 'put', 'throw', 'hold', and 'carry'. There are around 100 different noun classes, but some nouns belong to multiple classes; for example, as they are prepared, coconuts have to be picked, husked, and split. If a coconut has been picked but not husked, it will take the classifier põt, which is identical to the verb for picking. Similar classifiers specify each state of preparation. Though they are historically derived from serial verb usage with meanings like 'pick that and hand it to me', they have entirely lost that meaning and Imonda speakers are not always aware of the similarity.
Some of Imonda's classifiers[3] form members likely source source verb meaning l- edible greens, books les pile up pui- biscuits, coconuts, items normally split puiual split (something) in two u- Small animals; fish, frogs unknown unknown i- water i scoop water out of dammed fish trap bas- netbags unknown unknown lëg- clothing, flat things lëg give birth nëh- things which can be tied nëhe tie up tit- betelnuts tit pick betelnuts
There are two classifiers, fa- and g-, which can occur with a large set of nouns not following any apparent pattern, and even replace other classifiers in situations they normally are used. Loanwords also fall into these classes. There is some evidence that fa-, the most common classifier in the language, did not derive from a verb at all, but instead was reanalyzed from an initial f on several common verb stems (the same verbs which require classifiers)[3].
Verbs which always require classifiers[3] ai 'give' eha 'put' pi 'get' (f)ia 'get' keda 'hang up' hõdõ 'put up' nugahõ 'fill in shi 'stick into' api 'throw' ula 'hold, posess' uluh 'hold' ue 'put into fire'
Motion verbs such as uagl "go" can take classifiers, and change meaning to something like "carry" when they do so. Unlike with other verbs, -i- separates the classifier from the motion verb. Because of this, use of an actual serial verb construction can be distinguished from use of a classifier (the -i- will be missing).
Several verbs can use classifiers or not, with no change in meaning.
Verbs which optionally have classifiers[3] ne 'eat' pada 'hold' li 'lie'
Imonda also classifies nouns into three large sets using several copula-like verbs which can only be used with certain nouns. Roughly speaking the classes correspond to tall or vertical things, flat or horizontal things, and a third class which is neither. These copulas evolved out of the verbs for "stand", "sit" and "lie".[4]
Number
Imonda has a dual number as well as a plural. Verbs simultaneously agree with their subject's and object's number; subject agreement involves only distinct singular and plural forms, but object agreement uses singular, dual, and plural forms.
In contrast to most other languages, the Imonda language features a non-plural marker:
singular plural Imona toad-ianèi toad English boy boy-s
References
Bibliography
- Seiler, Walter. (1985). Imonda: A Papuan Language. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.