Yagwoia language
Language
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yagwoia (Yeghuye), or Kokwaiyakwa, is an Angan language of Papua New Guinea. Dialects are named after the five ethnicities, Iwalaqamalje, Hiqwaye, Hiqwase, Gwase, Heqwangilye (Yeqwangilje dialect).
NativetoPapua New Guinea
RegionMorobe, Eastern Highlands, Gulf provinces
Native speakers
10,000 (2005)[1]| Yagwoia | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Papua New Guinea |
| Region | Morobe, Eastern Highlands, Gulf provinces |
Native speakers | 10,000 (2005)[1] |
Trans–New Guinea
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | ygw |
| Glottolog | yagw1240 |
Distribution
Yagwoia is spoken in:[1]
- Eastern Highlands Province: Iqwalaqamalje
- Gulf Province: Gwase
- Morobe Province: Hiqwase, Hiqwaye, and Yeqwangilje
Phonology
- /p t k/ tend to become voiced [b d g] in clusters with nasals or /l/.
- /m n ŋ l/ can be syllabic.
- /s/ is in free variation with [z]. Older speakers tend to pronounce it as [ts~dz].
- /t/ can often be heard as [r].
- /ɨ/ is rare.
Additionally, the following diphthongs have been observed: /ei/, /ai/, /ae/, /au/, /ou/.
Yagwoia is tonal, distinguishing high and low tone. However, tone has a low functional load, and so remains unwritten.[2]
