Mek languages
The Mek languages are a well established family of Papuan languages spoken by the Mek peoples. They form a branch of the Trans–New Guinea languages in the classifications of Stephen Wurm and of Malcolm Ross.
Mek, then called Goliath, was identified by M. Bromley in 1967. It was placed in TNG by Wurm.Languages
The Mek languages form three dialect chains :
Usher reconstructs the consonant and vowel inventories as 'perhaps' as follows:Pronouns are:
The difference between the two 3pl forms is not known. 2pl and 3pl have parallels in Momuna /kun tun/.Evolution
Mek reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea etyma are:
Eipo language:
- mun ‘belly’ < *mundun ‘internal organs’
- kuna ‘shadow’ < *knan
- saŋ ‘dancing song’ < *saŋ
- getane ‘sun’ < *kVtane
Bime language:
- mundo ‘belly’ < *mundun ‘internal organs’
Kosarek language:
- ami ‘louse’ < *niman
- si ‘tooth’ < *ii
- tomo < *ktuma ‘night’
Yale language:
- de ‘to burn’ < *nj
- mon ‘belly’ < *mundun ‘internal organs’
- xau ‘ashes’ < *kambu
