Phonology
Consonants
* /p/ can fluctuate to aspirated ʰin stressed syllables. * /b d ɡ/ can also be heard as b ⁿd ᵑɡword-initially in stressed syllables. * /b/ can be heard as a fricative intervocalically in word-medial position. * /d/ can be heard as a tap intervocalically in word-medial position. * /s/ can be heard as a more fronted ̪in unstressed syllables following vowels /ɛ, a/. * Prevoicing of the lateral flap ̬ɺmay also occur in initial positions. * /ɺ/ may also be heard as a retroflex flap depending on the dialect of the speaker. It can also be heard as ̬ɽwhen realized as prevoiced in word-initial positions. * /w/ may fluctuate to a labio-dental among some speakers. * /j/ may be realized as a dental approximant ̞when before /a/.Vowels
* /a/ is heard as before and after a labialized consonant, or with sounds /w/, /ʔ/. It is also heard as word-medially and word-finally in unstressed syllables. * /ʊ/ is heard as word-medially and word-finally but never following labialized consonants, or semivowels /w, j/. It is heard as when following sounds /s t̪ʰ/. * /o/ can be heard as when preceding a glottal stop /ʔ/.References
Nuclear Papuan Tip languages Languages of Milne Bay Province D'Entrecasteaux Islands {{PapuanTip-lang-stub