Ambai, Ansus, Menawi and Biak Languages in Papua: A Premiere Report of Comparative Study

This study compares the Ambai, Ansus, Menawi, and Biak languages of Saireri Bay, Papua. These non-Austronesian languages are closely related (SIL, 2000). This research tries to identify genetic evidence linking these four languages. 200 fundamental Swadesh words were studied. This research uses a comparative approach including observation, interview, and documentation. Based on lexicostatistics from 200 Swedish basic vocabularies, the highest connected cognates reach 47%, while the lower-level approach 38%. The regency has more linked vocabulary than other languages. Qualitative evidences are common phonological and lexical innovations that reinforce quantitative evidences. PAAMB *j becoming /z/ and /d/, *h becoming /O/ on Biak. Metathesis, omission, and phoneme addition also occurred. After reconstruction, Proto-language Ansus-Ambai-Menawi and Biak (PAAMB) phonemes are five vowels and 15 consonant phonemes. The vowels of PAAMB are I *e, *a, *o, and *u, while the consonants are *p, *m, *h, and *b, *w, *f, *t, *d, *n, *s *r, *j, *k, *g, *y, and *h