Konai language

Konai is a Trans–New Guinea language of New Guinea, spoken on the west bank of the Strickland River.

Phonology

Konai has 6 vowels. All of them can be nasalized.

Vowels (orthographic)

Consonants (orthographic)

Sample

Toguei e̱ hegie degei. E̲ hegie ta mo͟͡uma nalamo͟͡u fima̱i̱. Toguei kaha̱ wai duguo, wai habiya kaha̱ awaimo͡u dugu. Toguei kaha̱ tawai, ke̱me na̱didade tawai. Kelege e̱ wai habiya koko͡u bo͡ufa̱i̱. Wai kaha̱ gofo͟͡u hiyedo degei. Toguei ka̱ha̱ suwa koko͡u gologumo͡u, e̱ toguei wolo saga̱i̱ degei. Na̱ hobo͡u a̱ woda. Sawisie ta hobo͡u a̱ na̱ dogo͡ugulo. Wai kaha̱ ye̱i̱. Yo̱ma mei degeimo͡u tobou, na̱ kugo͡u degeife̱i̱, a̱ na̱ dogo͡uguloyode tobou. Kegemo͡u, toguei e̱ kama fau. Kelege wai e̱me dibiko͡u ile tiei. O bolo̱u̱ dilie suluguali dugu, wai tilamo͡u dugu. Dile wai tageto͡u neke hebele file̱i̱. Wai nekeye̱ tou. Mowi suluguadi o ke̱dilie ho̱ho̱ degele i. Mowi suluguadi o ke̱dilie tiasiei. Wai e̱ tieli mei, gue̱ degeimo͡u.

'The rat was hungry. He thought about his hunger and what to eat. He saw a pig, and he saw the pig's tail moving. The rat thought it could be eaten. So he sunk his teeth into the pig's tail. The pig became very angry. The rat having bitten his tail, he (the pig) wanted to kill him. "You cannot kill me. Another time I can help you." The pig laughed. Having laughed he said, "How can you help me?" So the rat ran away. Then the pig went and slept in the bush. Two men walking around saw him lying there. The two of them threw a net on top of him. The pig was trapped by the net. The two hunters rejoiced. They slept. The pig did not sleep, he was afraid.'

References

Languages of Papua New Guinea
Official languages	English Hiri Motu Tok Pisin Papua New Guinean Sign Language
Major Indigenous languages	Adzera Amanab Awad Bing Barok Bimin Bola Bugawac Dedua Dobu Kâte Kobon Kovai Kuanua Kuman Kuot Kurti Lihir Mandara Mangseng Mbula Mende Mussau-Emira Mutu Nekgini Ngaing Nobonob Numanggang Nyindrou Pele-Ata Petats Ramoaaina Seimat Solong Somba-Siawari Suau Sulka Tobo Ura Vitu Waris
Other Papuan languages	Angan Akoye Angaataha Ankave Hamtai Kamasa Kawacha Menya Safeyoka Simbari Susuami Tainae Yagwoia Yipma Awin–Pa Awin Pa Binanderean Baruga Binandere Ewage Korafe Orokaiva Suena Yekora Zia Bosavi Aimele Beami Edolo Kaluli Kasua Onobasulu Sonia Chimbu–Wahgi Chuave Dom Golin Kandawo Kaugel Kuman Maring Melpa Narak Nii Nomane Salt-Yui Sinasina Tembagla Wahgi Duna–Pogaya Duna Pogaya East Kutubuan Fasu Fiwaga Foi East Strickland Fembe Gobasi Konai Kubo Odoodee Samo Engan Angal Bisorio Enga Huli Ipili Kewa Kyaka Lembena Samberigi Eleman Kaki Ae Keuru Opao Orokolo Toaripi Tairuma Ok–Oksapmin Bimin Faiwol Mian Ngalum Ninggerum Oksapmin Setaman Suganga Telefol Tifal Urap Yonggom Teberan Dadibi Folopa Tirio Abom Baramu Bitur Tirio Were Turama–Kikorian Ikobi Omati Rumu Larger Families Finisterre–Huon Kainantu–Goroka Madang Ramu–Lower Sepik Sepik Southeast Papuan Torricelli