Language
name and location:
Biwat,
Papua
New
Guinea
[Refer to
Ethnologue ] |
1. natek |
2. alavu, aravu |
3. ailam, airam |
4. nɡanɡrep, nɡanɡlep |
5. kirik, kilik |
6. kilik indanɡ kilik e natek |
7. kilik indanɡ kilik e alavu |
8. kilik indanɡ kilik e ailam |
9. kilik indanɡ kilik e nɡanɡrep |
10. kilia alavu kunɡumu |
15. ɡabanɡ kunɡumu |
20. ɡabi alavu kunɡumu |
Linguist providing data and dateː Dr. Glen A. Lean, Department of
Communications, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Lae, Papua
New Guinea, 1991. |
Other comments: Biwat, or Mundugumor, is spoken by about 3,000 speakers in six villages ( Laycock, 1973, p.37) located around the lower and middle Yuat River, East Sepik Province. The Biwat system is a digit-tally one with four basic numerals. The number word for 5 is 'kirik' or 'kilik' i.e. 'hand', and for 10 we have 'kilia alavu kunɡumu', i.e. 'hands two whole (or complete)'. The number word for 15 is 'ɡabanɡ kunɡumu', i.e, 'foot whole (or complete), and 20 is 'ɡabi alavu kunɡumu', i.e. 'feet two whole (or complete)'. No informant indicated the use of 'one man' for 20, however three indicated the existence of a 'man' cycle in construction large numbers. New data needed to compare with the old one. |
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