Suarmin language

Suarmin, or Asaba, is a Sepik language spoken in Sandaun Province, Papua-New Guinea. Alternative names are Asabano, Akiapmin, Duranmin.

Glottolog leaves it unclassified.

Pronouns
Pronouns are:



! !! sg !! du !! pl ! 1incl ! 1excl ! 2 ! 3
 * || adi || abe
 * a || nadi || nesine
 * abo || abodua || apa
 * yo || atadua || ata
 * }

Noun classes
In Asaba, noun class affixes are suffixed to nouns. There are five noun classes. Examples:



! class !! singular (ex.) !! plural (ex.) !! gloss (ex.)
 * class 1 || nu-bu || nu-le || house(s)
 * class 2 || mena-du || mena-no || pig(s)
 * class 3 || kabia-si || kabia-le || stone(s)
 * class 4 || moko-ni || moko-le || fork(s)
 * class 5 || nomo-so || nomo-l || stone adze(s)
 * }
 * class 4 || moko-ni || moko-le || fork(s)
 * class 5 || nomo-so || nomo-l || stone adze(s)
 * }
 * class 5 || nomo-so || nomo-l || stone adze(s)
 * }

Class 1 is the default noun class.

Modifying adjectives agree with head nouns in class:

na-bu kamaya-bu

tree-I.SG big-I.SG

‘tall tree’

kaiyebe-du kamaya-du

cassowary-II.SG big-II.SG

‘big cassowary’