The Maimai languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family. They are spoken just to the west of Nuku town in eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea (including in Maimai Wanwan Rural LLG).

Languages

1. Maimai

2. Beli, Laeko-Libuat

3. Wiaki

4. Siliput, Yahang, Heyo

Pronouns

Pronouns in Maimai languages are:

1. {|

|+ Maimai pronouns ! !! Beli !! Siliput !! Yahang !! Heyo |- ! 1s | ki || oi || ai || ai |- ! 2s | si || yi || is || is |- ! 3s | ofo || tən || apan || apan |- ! 1p | əfə || yep || epep || apap |- ! 2p | || yip || ipip || ipip |- ! 3p | afa || təmoŋ || apam || |}

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968), as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.

The words cited constitute translation equivalents, whether they are cognate (e.g. elktife, elaŋkitif for “tongue”) or not (e.g. nikiw, rakun, taŋən for “ear”).

1. {| class="wikitable sortable"

! gloss !! Minidien !! Heyo !! Siliput !! Yahang !! Beli |- ! head | etwun || utüwe || paroŋ || wuntəf || |- ! ear | nikiw || rakun || taŋən || raŋkun || ŋətə |- ! eye | napə || napelkə || oi || nampəl || satoʔ |- ! nose | mohau || luweka || luwet || ruwot || suwopən |- ! tooth | panikye || parkita || panəm || paniŋk || niŋo |- ! tongue | ləhe || elktife || yansɨ || elaŋkitif || life |- ! leg | etiyə || itikya || tiŋ || youpep || papaŋ |- ! louse | lumum || hipəp || || yaflin || |- ! dog | panə || mpat || pat || mpat || pato |- ! bird | pelhin || walfisa || hilít || felfis || walfun |- ! egg | waltiye || laʔwo || yilhəf || lawo || lawiyen |- ! blood | amkeʔ || wiyefa || wuji || wiyef || kuijwẽ |- ! bone | loki || yefa || lokɨ || yefa || loknwẽ |- ! skin | kirkeʔ || halipa || purko || halip || noʔoŋ |- ! breast | mapi || maka || mayr || may || mapi |- ! tree | lowɨ || lowə || lou || lou || lowo |- ! man | məsən || mohon || matan || mukun || masən |- ! woman | nuka- pyene || nuweteʔ || yukətet || nuwot || sakwoto |- ! sun | amwo || fala || olok || fala || watli |- ! moon | auniye || onifəʔ || aune || kwonif || waluko |- ! water | supɨ || hipelə || sifyer || himpel || ite |- ! fire | yakel || yafa || ya || yaʔaf || safi |- ! stone | alpɨl; kitampa || paleka || wotə || wətə́f || kalkopo |- ! two | yatowiye || oloʔw || wuríkrŋ || kolou || wosoŋ |}

References