South Pauwasi languages
# South Pauwasi languages

The South Pauwasi languages are a likely small language family of New Guinea, potentially consisting of Yetfa, Kimki, Lepki, Murkim and Kembra.

## Classification

Usher (2020) classifies the languages as follows,

### Yetfa – South Pauwasi River

* Yetfa
* South Pauwasi River
   * Kimki
   * Lepki–Murkim
      * Kembra
      * Lepki
      * Murkim

The relationship of the five languages was recognized in the early 2000s as Paul Whitehouse assembled unpublished data from the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Usher classifies them as a branch of the Pauwasi language family. Søren Wichmann (2013) agrees that Murkim and Lepki at least appear to be very closely related. Foley (2018) accepts that Kembra, which is very poorly attested, may be related as well.

## Cognates

Some cognates connecting the languages are as follows. There are also loanwords in common with Pyu.

    South Pauwasi cognates glossYetfaKimkiKembraLepkiMurkim waterket, keldierkɛlkel twokaiskaisikais headanokno-tɛlanok leafbwaitʰ (?)-βaibwaik skin/barkit-'bajitjaitʰ wormbriɸbrɛpbreɸ louse(n)jim-nimnimnɪmɪm hairitʰ-jetjɛt earbwabwibwi eyeiːɛ̃jijɛ-mɔn coconutwas-wæjswais- speechmamimi-mi knifetematmatə̆'matma canoekufõːpkuβkuɸ shitɲanain-ɲanjah ~ iãh personap ~ aɸrá-raɸra eggnela-lĕldɛlnel fire/woodjao (tree)jájajo ~ ja- housenammeːnimmi laughmamla-mwel-omwalo thissisisi cloudkoskos-kos- tonguearbakbrawprouk tailnókwajoukjakʷat~ɲakʷat whitelʊdol-lol faruje~udʒew̆ijɛwije~uje- come-ki-guj-kʷi 1plnamenakme 2plsamesakme-re
