Austronesian language spoken in Papua New Guinea
Kaulong, or Pasismanua, is an Austronesian language spoken by about 4000 swidden farmers of the southwest hinterlands of Kandrian District, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on the island of New Britain.
Phonology
- The prenasalised stops /ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ/ are oral [b d g] word-initially.
- /β/ has the allophone /w/ when preceding back vowels.
- /t/ often appears as a tap [ɾ] when between vowels in rapid speech.
Additionally, Kaulong has the following diphthongs: /ei/, /ai/, /oi/, /ae/, /au/, /io/, /iu/, /ua/, /ue/, /ui/, /uo/.
References
- ^ Kaulong at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ Throop, Craig (1992). Kaulong Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.
