Asmat is a Papuan language cluster of West New Guinea. Languages The principal varieties, distinct enough to be considered separate languages, are: Kamrau Bay (Sabakor): Casuarina Coast (Kaweinag), the most divergent North and Central Asmat Citak (Kaünak) North Asmat Central Asmat (dialects: Keenok, Sokoni, Keenakap, Kawenak) Ethnically, speakers are either Asmat or Citak. Evolution Below are some reflexes of proto-Trans-New Guinea proposed by Pawley (2012): Verbs In Flamingo Bay Asmat, light verbs are combined with adjuncts to form predicative expressions. e- ‘do’ atow e- /play do/ ‘play’ caj e- /copulate do/ ‘copulate’ yan e- /ear do/ ‘listen’ yi- ‘say’ po yi- /paddle say/ ‘paddle’ yan yi- /ear say/ ‘hear’ mesa yi- /saliva say/ ‘spit’ af- ‘hit’ yaki af- /sneeze hit/ ‘sneeze’ namir af- /death hit/ ‘die’ omop af- /blow hit/ ‘beat’ References External links PARADISEC archive of Asmat language recordings Asmat. New Guinea World. Kamrau Bay. New Guinea World. Asmat-Kamoro languages Languages of western New Guinea