Greater Binanderean languages

There is evidence that settlements of people speaking Oceanic languages along the Binanderean coast were gradually absorbed into inland communities speaking Binanderean languages (Bradshaw 2017). For instance, the SOV word order of Papuan Tip languages is due to Binanderean influence. Korafe displays significant influence from Oceanic languages. Meanwhile, Maisin, spoken in Oro Province, is an Oceanic language with very heavy Binanderean influence and shows characteristics typical of mixed languages. Spoken in Morobe Province, Guhu-Samane is divergent, which may be due to extensive historical contact with Oceanic languages such as Numbami. ==Classification==

Greater Binanderean consists of the Guhu-Samane language and the Binanderean languages proper. Smallhorn (2011:444) provides the following classification: • Greater Binanderean • Guhu-Samane • Binanderean • Yekora • North Binanderean • Suena • Zia • Nuclear Binanderean • Binandere • South Binanderean • Orokaivic • Aeka (Northern Orokaiva) • Orokaiva • Hunjara (Mountain Orokaiva) • Coastal Binanderean • Notu-Yega (Ewage) • Gaena-Korafe • Baruga However, South Binanderean and Nuclear Binanderean are non-genealogical linkages. Usher (2020), who calls the Binanderean languages proper "Oro" after Oro Province, classifies them very similarly, apart from not reproducing the non-cladistic linkages: • Guhu–Oro (= Greater Binanderean) • Guhu-Samane • Oro (= Binanderean) • Binandere • Yekora • Ewage-Notu • Suena–Zia (= North Binanderean) • Suena • Zia • Central Oro (= Orokaivic) • Aeka • Orokaiva • Hunjara • Southeast Oro (= Coastal Binanderean, minus Ewage-Notu) • Baruga • Gaina–Korafe • Gaina • Korafe-Yegha ==Demographics==

Smallhorn (2011:3) provides population figures for the following Binanderean languages. • Guhu-Samane: 12,800 • Suena: 3,000 • Yekora: 1,000 • Zia: 3,000 • Mawae: 943 • Binandere: 7,000 (including Ambasi) • Aeka: 3,400 • Orokaiva: 24,000 • Hunjara: 8,770 • Notu: 12,900 (including Yega) • Gaena: 1,410 • Baruga: 2,230 • Doghoro: 270 • Korafe: 3,630 ;Total: about 80,000 ==Proto-language==

Pronouns Ross (2005) reconstructs both independent pronouns and verbal person prefixes: : Only 1sg continues the Trans-New Guinea set. Vocabulary The following selected reconstructions of Proto-Binanderean and other lower-level reconstructions are from the Trans-New Guinea database: : ==Evolution==

Greater Binanderean reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea (pTNG) etyma are: Binandere language: • ‘lightning’ < * • ‘nose’ < * • ‘kidney, testicles’ < * ‘internal organs’ • ‘eye’ < * • ‘sap’ < * ‘sap, milk’ • ‘breast’ < * • ‘head’ < * • ‘teeth’ < * ‘tooth’ • ‘spittle’, - ‘to spit’ < * ‘to spit’ • ‘father’ < * • ‘man’ < * • ‘tree’ < * • ‘stone’ < * • ‘darkness’ < * ‘night’ • ‘lightning’ < * ‘(fire)light’ • ‘fire’ < * ‘ashes’ • ‘bird’ < * • ‘eat, drink’ < * • ‘to blow’ < * + verb • ‘short’ < * Korafe language: • ‘egg’ < * ‘internal organs’ • ‘urine’ < * • ‘burning stick’ < * ‘ashes’ • ‘give’ < * • ‘hear, understand’ < * ‘know’ Suena language: • ‘destitute’ < * ‘orphan, widow and child’ • ‘mother’ < * • ‘night’ < * • ‘taro’ < * • ‘netbag’ < * Yega language: • ‘ear’ < * ==Phonotactics==

Like the Koiarian languages, Binanderean languages only allow for open syllables and do not allow final CVC. ==References==