Wipi language explained

Wipi
Nativename:Gidra
States:Papua New Guinea
Speakers:3,500
Date:1999
Ref:e18
Familycolor:Papuan
Fam1:Trans-Fly
Fam2:Eastern Trans-Fly
Iso3:gdr
Glotto:wipi1242
Glottorefname:Wipi
Glottofoot:no

Wipi, also known as Gidra, Jibu or Oriomo, is a Papuan language of New Guinea. It is a member of the Eastern Trans-Fly family, the other languages of this family being Gizrra, Meriam Mir and Bine. The family has influenced the neighbouring Kiwai language as well as Kalau Lagau Ya.

Distribution

Wipi is spoken in fourteen main villages, with the Wipim village as the centre. Wipi speakers occupy a broad swathe of inland territory in the eastern plains between the Fly River and the Torres Strait, specifically around the Oriomo River and Binaturi River.[1]

Phonology

Phonology of the Wipi language:[2] [3]

Consonants

LabialAlveolarPalatalVelar
Plosivepronounced as /link/ pronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/ pronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/ pronounced as /link/
Implosivepronounced as /link/
Nasalpronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/
Rhoticpronounced as /link/
Fricativepronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/
Lateralpronounced as /link/
Approximantpronounced as /link/

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Highpronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/
Midpronounced as /link/pronounced as /link/
Lowpronounced as /link/

Notes and References

  1. Book: Evans, Nicholas . Palmer . Bill . 2018 . The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide . The languages of Southern New Guinea . The World of Linguistics . 4 . Berlin . De Gruyter Mouton . 641–774 . 978-3-11-028642-7.
  2. Anne Dondorp and Jae-Wook Shim. 2013 [1997]. Wipi Grammar Essentials. 128pp.
  3. SIL; Shim. Jae-Wook. September 2000. Wipi (Gidra, Oriomo, Jibu) Language [GDR] Daru – Western Province]. Organised Phonology Data..