Moronene language

Moronene
Native toIndonesia
RegionSulawesi
Native speakers
37,000 (2000)[1]
Dialects
  • Wita Ea (Rumbia, Poleang)
  • Tokotu’a (Kabaena)
Language codes
ISO 639-3mqn
Glottologmoro1287

Moronene is an Austronesian language spoken in Bombana Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs to the Bungku–Tolaki branch of the Celebic subgroup.

Phonology

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Moronene has the following consonant inventory:[2]

Consonants
Labial Alveolar Retroflex Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive voiceless plain p t k ʔ
prenasalized ᵐp ⁿt ᵑk
voiced plain b d g
prenasalized ᵐb ⁿd ᵑg
Fricative β s h
Flap r ɽ

The vowel phonemes are /a e i o u/. Sequences of two like vowels are pronounced as a long vowel, e.g. nee [ne:].[2]

Grammar

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Word order

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Moronene has flexible word order. However, there is a high frequency of clause-initial verbs in "connected narrative discourse." Noun phrases are not marked for case.[3] The language has prepositions.

Pronouns

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There are two forms of pronouns, free pronouns and absolutive clitics.[2] There are singular and plural forms, there are no dual, trial or paucal forms. There is an inclusive/exclusive distinction in the first person plural forms. There is no gender, and there appears to be no present-day politeness distinction.

Moronene Free Pronouns and Absolutive Clitics[2]
Person Free Absolutive
1SG [i'?aku] ['?aku] ['aku] ~ [’?aku] ~ ['haku]
2SG [i'tʃoʔo] ['tʃoʔo] [ko]
3SG [i'a:] [o]~[?o]~[ho]
1PL (Inclusive) [i'tʃita] ['tʃita] ['kita]
1PL (Exclusive) [i'tʃami] ['tʃami] ['kami]
2PL [itʃo'miu] [tʃo'miu] [ko'miu]
3PL [i'ʔiɾa] ['ʔiɾa] ['ʔiɾa]~['hiɾa]

Genitive pronouns

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There are two classes of genitive pronouns in Moronene which must be learned by speakers, which is unique among Bungku–Tolaki languages.[4] There are singular and plural forms; there are no dual, trial or paucal forms. There is an inclusive/exclusive distinction in the first person plural forms. Example (1) demonstrates the class 1 first person genitive pronoun in use with the noun 'hair'.[4]

(1)

wulu-ngku

hair-1SG.GEN

wulu-ngku

hair-1SG.GEN

'My hair'

Moronene Genitive Pronouns[4]
Person Class 1 Class 2
1SG -ngku -ku
2SG -u, -'u
3SG -no -no
1PL (EX.) -mami -mami
1PL (IN) -nto, -to
2PL -miu -miu
3PL -ndo, -do

Number

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Moronene has a decimal numeral system.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Moronene at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c d Andersen, T. David (1999), "Moronene phonology" (PDF), in Wyn D. Laidig (ed.), Studies in Sulawesi linguistics, part VI, Jakarta: Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya, pp. 1–45.
  3. ^ Andersen, Suree. 1999. When the Moronene say no. In David Mead (ed.), Studies in Sulawesi linguistics part V, 73-112. Jakarta, Indonesia: Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya.
  4. ^ a b c Mead, David. 1998. Proto–Bungku-Tolaki: Reconstruction of its phonology and aspects of its morphosyntax. PhD dissertation. Houston: Rice University.
  5. ^ Andersen, T. David. 1999. Moronene numbers. In David Mead (ed.), Studies in Sulawesi linguistics part V, 1-72. Jakarta, Indonesia: Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya.

Further reading

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  • Mead, David. 1998. Proto–Bungku-Tolaki: Reconstruction of its phonology and aspects of its morphosyntax. PhD dissertation. Houston: Rice University.
  • Mead, David. 1999. The Bungku–Tolaki languages of south-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Series D-91. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
  • Andersen, T. David. 1999. Moronene numbers. In David Mead (ed.), Studies in Sulawesi linguistics part V, 1-72. Jakarta, Indonesia: Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya.
  • Andersen, T. David. 2006. Topicality and functional voice in Hebrew and Moronene, with application to translation. (Doctoral dissertation, Fuller Theological Seminary; 346pp.)
  • Andersen, Suree. 1999. When the Moronene say no. In David Mead (ed.), Studies in Sulawesi linguistics part V, 73-112. Jakarta, Indonesia: Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya.
  • Muthalib, Abdul and Johannes F. Pattiasina and Adnan Usmar and Rambe, {}. 1983. Struktur bahasa Moronene. Ujung Pandang: PPBSIDSS. vii+136pp.