Bola language (Austronesian)

Oceanic language in Papua New Guinea
(Redirected from Xarua language)

Bola, or Bakovi, is an Oceanic language of West New Britain in Papua New Guinea. The Harua (Xarua) dialect developed on a palm plantation.

Bola
Bakovi
Native toPapua New Guinea
Native speakers
(14,000 cited 2000 census)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3bnp
Glottologbola1250

Phonology

Phonology of the Bola language:[2]

Consonant sounds
Labial Alveolar Velar
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive p b t d k g
Fricative β (s) ɣ
Rhotic r
Lateral l

/t/ is realized as /s, ʃ/ only when occurring in front of /i/. The voiced stops /b d ɡ/ can often sound prenasalized [ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ] among various speakers. /ɣ/ can be pronounced as a glottal fricative [h] among younger speakers.

Vowel sounds
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid ɛ ɔ
Low ɑ

/i/ before vowel sounds ɛ ɔ u/ is pronounced as a glide sound [j].[3]

References

  1. ^ Bola at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Wiebe, Brent (August 2004). "Bola (Bola-Bakovi) Language [BNP] East New Britain & West New Britain Province" (PDF). Organised Phonology Data.
  3. ^ van den Berg & Wiebe (2019)

Further reading

External links