Wantoat language explained

Wantoat
Nativename:	Taap
States:	Papua New Guinea
Region:	Morobe Province
Speakers:	8,200
Date:	1978
Ref:	e18
Familycolor:	Papuan
Fam1:	Trans–New Guinea
Fam2:	Finisterre–Huon
Fam3:	Finisterre
Fam4:	Wantoat languages
Map2:	Lang Status 20-CR.svg
Iso3:	wnc
Glotto:	want1252
Glottorefname:	Wantoat

Wantoat, named after the Wantoat River, is one of the Finisterre languages of Papua New Guinea. Dialects are Wapu (Leron), Central Wantoat, Bam, Yagawak (Kandomin), continuing on to Awara, though the last is only 60–70% lexically similar with Wantoat and Wapu. Major Wantoat villages are Gwabogwat, Mamabam, Matap, Ginonga, Kupung.

Phonology

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Bilabial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar
plain			lab.
Nasal		m	n		ŋ	ŋʷ
Stop	plain	p	t		k	kʷ
	pre.	ᵐb	ⁿd		ᵑɡ	ᵑɡʷ
Fricative	plain		s
	pre.		ⁿz
Approximant				j		w

Consonants clusters with mixed voicing occur within words:

pronounced as /okᵑɡa/ 'your uncle', pronounced as /kaotⁿdu/ 'half', pronounced as /ɡeᵐbikᵐbik/ 'lip', pronounced as /temⁿzin/ 'they will shoot it', pronounced as /kapⁿza/ 'strong'

i				u
e				o
		ə
	æ
			ɑ

Vowel sequences are pronounced as //ie iə iɑ iu, ee eə eɑ eu, əə, ææ æə, ɑɑ ɑo ɑu, oi oə oɑ, uu//.

Syllables are minimally V and maximally CVVC. Stress is distinctive but has a low functional load.

Sample Texts

Sample text in Wantoat

1. Buyambam tapa, gata kakuya na nanduyuayak kapanin. Unzingge nata sanga tapatue dapnanga dua.
2. Ita na tasiwan zongazonga kaya noman komune pekgat. Siwan ita na yangga mateknga kuma zipmakaingune nanitakuwan nata tangoke yuwa takanggak.
3. Sike ita nae kekeknga kayuk namunggak. Namuke ita na kepi noman tapaapane nanitake kunggak. Unzing ita tupa tasinangge yakut taknga tawake tasinggak.
4. Anutu, nata damene zikaa dakaatang kuke ngana gata gatangami akumnanga akngae nata dua gwaumbit. Dasingge? Ga naat gatake yuamak. Nata ga gandupa gusou sipsipde kakuya tasikaingga pakaing kapaapa apanggayak. Unzing kake natane musipma kwikwikngata yuwit. Nata wai sinanga dua.
5. Gata natane nanama take siknga keu aanggaman komune pandaknganggayak. Siwan natane iwanata moo nanduke sanga takngatu tasinanga dua. Ge, gata naat nasimde apbakngake naninggayak. Gata nanamu nae kwaapzang siknga pewi dopan namunggayak.
6. Gata nae banip gwaang natake sanga take akngakan tasingamunggayakge tapduk bamu nata kayuk yuwawa gata nae musip kwikwiu asinggan natangamuya. Unzingge nata yotdane asinggan asinggan yuwit.

Translation

1. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, comfort me.
5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.