Telefol language

The Iligimin people also spoke Telefol, but they were defeated by the Telefol proper. ==Orthography==

Single and represent both their single and long vowels, since they rarely contrast. is written pre-consonantally and word-finally. Single is written intervocalically, and is written intervocalically. and are written and (since they're pronounced and respectively). Initial is also written with in loan words, e.g., 'God'. ==Phonology==

Consonants and only appear in a few particles and some exclamations. and only appear in a few loans. Vowels There are two contrastive phonemic tones in Telefol, high and low. For example, 'club' vs. 'planted'. and , and , are nearly in complementary distribution. Also, single and don't occur in one-syllable words or in terminal syllables. Vowel length only contrasts in initial syllables. However, in initial syllables single and , and and , don't contrast. Phonotactics Syllable structure is (C)V(ː)(C). does not occur word-initially. is allowed in medial, but not word-initial, onsets. ==Grammar==

Telefol is a subject–object–verb language. Verbal aspect Telefol has a rich aspectual system. Telefol verbs have "punctiliar" (momentary/completed) and "continuative" stems. Counting system Telefol uses a base-27 counting system. This is mapped onto the body by counting each of the following: the left pinky to the left thumb (1–5); the wrist, lower arm, elbow, upper arm, and shoulder (6–10); the side of the neck, ear, and left eye (11–13); the nose (14); and similarly on the right side in reverse order, from the right eye to the right pinky (15–27). Kinship Telefol has dyadic kinship terms (terms referring to the relationship two or more people have to each other), which are uncommon in the world's languages and not prevalent in Papua New Guinea. However, they are a salient feature of the Ok languages. Related terms are found in Oksapmin, Mian, and Tifal. ==Evolution==

Below are some reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea proposed by Pawley (2012): ==See also==