Mian language
| Mian | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Papua New Guinea |
| Region |
Sandaun province, Telefomin district |
| Ethnicity | Mianmin |
|
Native speakers
|
from 1,400 (2000 census) to 3,500 (2007) |
|
Trans–New Guinea
|
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | mian1256 |
Mian is an Ok language spoken in the Telefomin district of the Sandaun province in Papua New Guinea by the Mian people. It has some 3,500 speakers spread across two dialects: West Mian with approximately 1,000 speakers in around Yapsiei and East Mian with approximately 2,500 speakers in and around Timeilmin, Temsakmin, Sokamin, Gubil, Fiak and Hotmin.Phonologically, Mian is very similar to other Papuan languages in the size of its phoneme inventory, but it nevertheless has some peculiarities, such as its contrast between a plain [a] and a pharyngealized [aˤ]. It is also a tonal language.
Mian has 6 vowels, including the pharyngealized open front vowel.
And 4 diphthongs:
/ɛ/ is realized as [ə] in word-initial low-tone syllables, [ɛ] elsewhere.
/a/ is realized as [ɐ] in unaccented syllables, [ə] in word-initial low-tone syllables beginning with a consonant, [a] elsewhere.
/o/ is realized as [ɔ] in word-initial low-tone syllables and in syllables ending in a voiceless plosive or [ŋ], [o] elsewhere.
/u/ is realized as [ʊ] in word-initial low-tone syllables, [u] elsewhere.
Mian has 15 consonants:
/b/ is realized as [ᵐb] word-initially, [pʰ] or [p̚] syllable-finally, [b] elsewhere.
/t/ is realized as [tʰ] before vowels, [tʰ] or [t̚] syllable-finally.
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