Matbat language


Matbat is a heavily Papuan-influenced Austronesian language spoken in West Papua on the island of Misool, Raja Ampat islands. Dialects are Magey and Tomolol. Like neighboring Ma'ya, it is one of a handful of Austronesian languages with true lexical tone rather than a pitch-accent system or complete lack of phonemic tonal contrasts as with most other Austronesian languages.

Phonology

Phonology of the Matbat language:
LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottal
Plosivep bt dk g
Fricativeɸsh
Nasalmnŋ
Laterall
Glidejw

Tones

Matbat has five lexical tones: high falling 41, high 3, low rising 12, low level 1, and low falling 21, which in open syllables has a peaking allophone, 121. Most Matbat words are monosyllabic; additional syllables in polysyllabic words are often weak and toneless, though a few words do have two tonic syllables. Examples of some of the longer monomorphemic words are 'star', 'sea shore', 'round', 'butterfly'.

Evolution

in Matbat remains unclear. Some Matbat reflexes of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian proto-forms are listed below.