Rao language

Ramu language spoken in Papua New Guinea
Rao
Rao Breri
Native toPapua New Guinea
Regionwestern Madang Province
Native speakers
(6,000 cited 1992)[1]
Language family
Ramu
  • Ramu proper
    • Annaberg
      • Rao
Dialects
  • Li’o
  • Ndramini’o
Language codes
ISO 639-3rao
Glottolograoo1244
ELPRao

Rao is a Ramu language of western Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. In older literature it was called Annaberg.

Phonology

Consonants[2]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive p b t d tʃ dʒ k g ʔ
Prenasalized ᵐb ⁿd ᵑg
Fricative f v s z (h)
Nasal m n ŋ
Approximant w r j
  • /w/ is often heard as [β] word-initially and intervocalically.
  • /f/ has only been found word-initially.
  • /h/ is very rare and may be an allophone of /g/.
  • /r/ can also be realised as [l].
Vowels[2]
Front Central Back
High i ɨ u
Mid e ə o
Low a

Additionally, the following diphthongs have been observed: /ia/, /ai/, /ea/.

Stress falls on the first syllable with a /ʔ/ in coda position. Otherwise, stress is fixed on the first syllable.[2]

References

  1. ^ Rao at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c Stanhope, John M. (2004). Rao Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.
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Official languagesMajor Indigenous
languagesOther Papuan
languages
Angan
Awin–Pa
Binanderean
Bosavi
Chimbu–Wahgi
New Ireland
Duna–Pogaya
East Kutubuan
East Strickland
Engan
Eleman
Ok–Oksapmin
Teberan
Tirio
Turama–Kikorian
Larger families
Sign languages

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