Rumu language

Rumu
Kairi
RegionPapua New Guinea
Native speakers
(700 cited 1990)
Language codes
ISO 639-3klq
Glottologrumu1243

Rumu (Rumuwa), or Kairi (Kai-Iri), is a Papuan language of Papua New Guinea. Other names for it are Dumu (Tumu) and Kibiri.

Phonology

Consonants
Labial Alveolar Dorsal
Plosive p t k
Fricative (s) h
Nasal m n
Approximant w r j
Vowels
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid-high e ⟨ë⟩ o ⟨ö⟩
Mid-low ɛ ɔ
Low a
Diphthongs
-i -e -ɛ -a -ɔ -u
i- ia iɔ
e- (ei) ea eɔ
ɛ- ɛi ɛa ɛu
a- ai ae aɔ au
o- (oi) oe oa
ɔ- ɔi ɔɛ ɔa ɔu
u- [ui] uɔ

Additionally, Rumu is tonal, distinguishing four tones: falling ⟨à⟩, rising ⟨á⟩, peaking ⟨â⟩, and level ⟨ā⟩.

References

  1. ↑ John Newman and Robert G. Petterson, 1990, “The Tones of Kairi'”, Oceanic Linguistics, 29:1, p. 75 n. 2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Petterson, Robert (1992). Rumu Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.