Alekano language


Alekano, or Gahuku, is a Papuan language spoken in Gahuku Rural LLG of Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. There are about 25,000 speakers.
Alekano is also known as Gahuku, after the name of the largest clan of speakers, or Gama, after the second largest clan. Calling the language by these names has been rejected by speakers who are not members of these clans, and Alekano has been largely adopted as the official name. The latter name means "bring it". In two closely related languages spoken directly to the northwest, Tokano and Dano, it has the same meaning.

Phonology

Alekano has 5 vowels, all unrounded, which is exceptional. It has 12 consonants, but is found only in the village Wanima, in derivations or in pidgin loanwords.

Vowels

Glottal coda

In Alekano, a syllable may be closed only with a glottal stop, as in "enough". That is currently not treated as a consonant, but it is unclear if words written as vowel initial begin with a glottal stop. It is written as an acute accent in the orthography, for example, ánesí.

Consonants

The lateral is initially and between vowels.

Syllables

The most complex syllables are of the form : VV may be a diphthong of,, or followed by or, or of. Other vowels may also occur in sequence.

Tone

Alekano has low and high tones but with a very low functional load. HL receives strong stress, LH lesser stress.

Grammar

Alekano is a subject–object–verb language.

Orthography

Alekano uses the Latin script.
IPAɑeɣhiklmnɤpsztɯβ
LetterAaEeGgHhIiKkLlMmNnOoPpSsZzTtUuVv