Tonda languages
# Tonda languages

The Tonda languages form a branch of the Yam language family of southern New Guinea. There are over 10 languages.

Tonda languages share some areal features are shared with the Kolopom languages.

## Languages

The Tonda languages are:

### Tonda / West Morehead River

* Arammba
* Central Morehead River: Anta, Kómnzo, Wára, Wérè, Kémä, Kánchá
* Warta Thuntai
* Bensbach River
   * Upper Bensbach River
      * Mblafe–Ránmo
      * Ngarna–Rema
         * Nggarna (Sota)
         * Rema
   * Kanum
      * Ngkolmpu: Ngkâlmpw/Ngkontar, Bädi
      * South Kanum: Bârkâli-Smärki, Tämer

Notes (see Evans 2018: 681):

* Each terminal bullet point lists a different dialect chain.
* Ránmo is linguistically a dialect of Mblafe, but Ránmo speakers consider their language to be a separate, distinct language.
* Wérè is linguistically a dialect of Wára, but Wèré speakers consider their language to be a separate, distinct language.

## Numeral typology

Tonda languages are unique for their base-6 numeral systems, which likely originated from counting yams (rather than fingers or body parts as with most other languages).

