Phonological Reconstruction of the Air Matoa Language: A Contribution to the Documentation and Preservation of a Dormant Papuan Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1602.27Keywords:
Air Matoa language, consonants, extinct language, phonotactic, vowelsAbstract
The Air Matoa language, formerly spoken in the Etna Bay region of Kaimana, West Papua, has been classified as extinct since the death of its last speaker in 2017. The extinction represents a significant loss of linguistic diversity and highlights the urgent need to document endangered languages before they disappear. As such, the phonological system of the Air Matoa Language needs to be documented so that it is recorded as a form of linguistic wealth. This study aims to identify and reconstruct the vowels, consonants, and phonotactics of the Air Matoa language based on data collected in 2008 through interviews with the last three native speakers. Using a qualitative approach, which places the researcher as the primary instrument, the study found that not all concepts in the Swadesh list have lexical equivalents in the Air Matoa language due to cultural differences. Overall, ths work identified five vowel phonemes, including: /i/, /u/, /e/, /o/, and /a/, and fifteen consonant phonemes, including: /b/, /d/, /f/, /ɡ/, /j/, /k/, /m/, /n/, /p/, /r/, /s/, /t/, /w/, /y/, and /ŋ/; syllable forms in the Air Matoa language follow the patterns of V, VC, CV, CVC, and CCV. The results of this study are essential for preserving linguistic and cultural heritage, especially for endangered or extinct languages.
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