Chapter XXX: Section II: II. Comparison

The three groups of languages illustrated in these vocabularies present the usual Papuan characteristics of great differences. A certain amount of resemblance may be found in some of the pronouns, and possibly in a few other words, but generally speaking the languages are not only quite unconnected with each other, but are also distinct from the known Papuan languages surrounding them.

I. Thou. He. We. You. They.
I. Fuyuge na, nani nu, nuni u, uni di, dini yi, yini tu, tuni
Kambisa na nu u -- -- ha-ru
Sikube na-nio nu-ni -- -- -- --
Kabana nau -- -- -- -- --
II. Afoa na nu-i ome -- -- --
Tauata na, nai nu, nu-i ome, ome-i nane, nane-i nune, nunei ote, ote-i
III. Kovio na ni pi -- -- --
Oru-Lopiko na, naro ni, niro pi, piro dae, daro ali, alero valo, valoro
West Toaripi ara-o a-o are-o ela-o e-o ere-o
Namau na-i ni-i u ene-i noro oro
Kiwai mo ro nou nimo nigo nei
North-east, Binandele na imo owa kaena, nakare imomae owawa
East, Koita da a au no yai yau
South-east, Mailu ia ga noa gea aea omoa

It is interesting here to note the agreement in the forms of the first and second persons singular, with a wide difference in the other pronouns. Similar words for these two pronouns occur in other Papuan languages as _e.g._, Kai (Finschhafen) _no_, Kelana Kai _nai_, "I," and Bongu and Bogadjim (Astrolabe Bay), _ni_, Kelana Kai _ne_, "thou."

The widespread use of a suffix, used when the pronoun is emphatic, is noteworthy. The possessive case also is formed as in some other Papuan languages by a suffix added to the root of the pronoun. _Cf._--

My. Thy. His. Our. Your. Their. Fuyuge nau(le) nu(le) u(le) diu(le) yu(le) ta(le) naula(ne) nula(ne) ula(ne) diula(ne) yula(ne) tala(ne) Kambisa narando nurando hurando -- -- haruando Tauata neve nie omene nanene nuvene otene Kovio nemai nimai pimai -- -- -- Oru-Lopiko nema nima pima daema alima valoma Toaripi arave ave areve elave eve ereve Binandele nato ito ounda, kaenato itomane omida owanda

Sometimes the simple form of the pronoun is prefixed to the noun in Tauata to indicate the possessive, as in Namau and Koita. Tauata _na ate_, Koita _di omote_, Namau, _na uku_, "my head."

The numerals also show great differences. As far as "three" they appear as follows:

Fuyuge. Korona. Sikitbe. Afoa. Tauata. Kovio. Oru Lopiko. 1. fida(ne) fida(ne) fidana koane kone uniuni konepu 2. gegeto gegeda iuara atolowai atoloai karaala kalotolo 3. gegeto m'inaa gegeda-fidane iuara-minda atolowai-itime atoloai-laina naralavievi-napuevi konekhalavi

Some of these words have other meanings. Thus Fuyuge 2, _gegeto_ is given also as "few." In Tauata 1, _kone_ duplicated as _konekone_ is "few," whilst _onioni_, means "alone." In Oru Lopiko 1, _konepu_ compares with _onionipu_, "few."

These numerals are all different from Mailu, Koita, Binandele, Toaripi and Namau.

Mailu. Koita. Binandele. Toaripi. Namau. Kiwai. 1. omu kobua, igagu da farakeka monou nao 2. ava abu tote orakoria morere netowa. 3. aiseri abi-gaga tamonde oroisoria morere-monou netowa-naobi

The vocabulary shows very few agreements, and there is very little evidence in support of a connection of any one of these dialects with its neighbours. The following correspondences may be purely accidental.

Bamboo. Afoa, _ila_; Namau, _ina_.

Banana. Korona, _haba_; Iworo, _sabari_.

Barter. Afoa, _tavatava_; Toaripi, _tavatava_.

Belly. Oru Lop., _data_; Sogeri, Koiari, _detu_.

Black. Fuyuge, _dube, duba_; Neneba, _aduve_; Koiari, Koita, _dubu_.

Blood. Fuyuge, _tana_; Koiari, Koita, _tago_.

Bone. Fuyuge, _fude, &c._; Toaripi, _uti_.

Child. Fuyuge, _me(le_); Binandele, _mai_; Berepo, _me_.

Fuyuge, _isia_; Kambisa, _isa_; Ubere, _esi_; Neneba, _eche_.

Coconut. Kambisa, _bao_; Koiari, _bagha_.

Crocodile. Fuyuge, _fua, fuai_; Koiari, _fuie_.

Dig. Fuyuge, _etsia_; Toaripi, _isei_.

Dog. Fuyuge, _oi, ho_; Agi, Ubere, _o_; Koiari, &c., _to_.

Eat, Drink. Fuyuge, _na, nene_; Namau, _na_.

Fire. Tauata, _ena_; Koiari, _vene_; Koita, _veni_.

Foot. Fuyuge, &c., _soge, suga_; Amara, _joka_.

Male. Tauata, _mu_; Toaripi, _mo_. Oru Lopiko, _vitapu_; Toaripi, _vita_.

Man. Fuyuge _a(ne_); Neneba, _ana_; Koiari, Koita, _ata_.

Mother. Oru Lopiko, Kovio, _nei_, Uberi, _neia_; Koita, _neina_; Tauata; _ine_; Koiari, _ine_.

Pig. Kambisa, _sika_; Musa River, _siko_.

Fuyuge, _avo_; Koiari, _ofo_; Koita, _oho_.

Rope. Fuyuge, _konange_; Gosisi, _goda_; Koiari, Koita,_gote_.

Salt. Fuyuge, _ama(ne_); Neneba, Iworo, _amani_.

Taro. Fuyuge, &c., _munde_, _muda_; Neneba, _muda_.

Tree. Fuyuge, _i_, _iye_; Kovio, _ida_; Koiari, Koita, _idi_.

Water. Fuyuge, &c., _yu_; Afoa, _i(pe_); Neneba, _ei_; Ubere, _e_.

Woman. Fuyuge, _amu_; Iworo, Neneba, _amuro_, wife.