Pondi, also known as Langam, is a
Keram language
The Keram languages of New Guinea are part of the Ramu family. They are the Mongol–Langam languages and a pair of languages sometimes thought to belong to the Grass family. (See Grass languages for the history of classification.)
Foley (2018) ...
spoken in Langam village () of
Keram Rural LLG
Keram Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.
Wards
*01. Chimundo
*02. Kambot
*03. Kambot
*04. Kambot
*05. Bobten
*06. Korokopa
*07. Pusyten
*08. Kekten
*09. Buten
*10. Yemen
*11. Manu
*12. Kambugu
* ...
,
East Sepik Province
East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 433,481 people (2010 census) and is 43,426 km square in size.
History
Cherubim Dambui was appointed as East Sepik's first premier ...
,
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
.
The majority of Pondi speakers are ethnic-Pondis. Due to the small community in which Pondi is spoken, the language has no known dialect.
The most notable language variation in Pondi is based on age as the older generations are more fluent.
It is related both
Ulwa and Mwaki. Pondi is endangered because of the growing use and popularity of the
Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin (,Laurie Bauer, 2007, ''The Linguistics Student’s Handbook'', Edinburgh ; Tok Pisin ), often referred to by English speakers as "New Guinea Pidgin" or simply Pidgin, is a creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an ...
language, which is used more by the younger generations of speakers. The language is predicted to not be spoken in the next one hundred years.
The lexicon of the Pondi language has many words that they acquired from other languages, however, it is nearly impossible to know the origins of these words.
Consonants
Pondi contains three voiceless stops, /p/(Labial), /t/(Alveolar), /k/(Velar). Pondi also contains three Prenasalised voiced stops, /mb (mb)/(Labial), /nd (nd)/(Alveolar), /ng (ŋɡ)/(Velar). There is only one Prenasalised voiced affricate, /nj (ndʒ)/(Palatal). Pondicontains three Nasals, /m/(Labial), /n/(Alveolar), /ny (ɲ)/(Velar). Pondi only contains one Liquid, /l/(Alveolar). Pondi has one Fricative, /s/(Alveolar). Finally, there are two Glides, /w/(Labial) and /y (j)/(Palatal).
Vowels
Pondi contains three high vowels which are: /i/ (Front), /ï/ (Back), which is also denoted by /ɨ/, and /u/ (Central). The language has two mid vowels which are: /e/ (Front) and /o/ (Central). Finally, Pondi has only one low vowel, which is: /a/ (Back).
References
Languages of East Sepik Province
Mongol–Langam languages
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