Mian language
Introduction '''Mian''' is an Ok language spoken in the Telefomin district of the Sandaun province in Papua New Guinea by the Mian people. It has some 3,500 speakers spread across two dialects: ''West Mian'' (a.k.a. ''Suganga''), with approximately 1,000 speakers in around Yapsiei, and ''East Mian'', with approximately 2,500 speakers in and around Timeilmin, Temsakmin, Sokamin, Gubil, Fiak and Hotmin.
Phonology Phonologically, Mian is very similar to other Papuan languages in the size of its phoneme inventory, but it nevertheless has some peculiarities, such as its contrast between a plain a and a pharyngealized aˤ. It is also a tonal language.=== Vowels ===Mian has six vowels, including the pharyngealized open front vowel.+Mian vowels Front Back Unrounded Rounded Close '''i'''  '''u'''  Close-mid  '''o'''  Open-mid '''e'''   Open '''a''' '''aa''' Mian also has four diphthongs:+Mian diphthongs Ending with  Ending with  '''ai'''  '''au'''  '''ei'''  '''ou''' /ɛ/ is realized as ə in word-initial low-tone syllables, ɛ elsewhere./a/ is realized as ɐ in unaccented syllables, ə in word-initial low-tone syllables beginning with a consonant, a elsewhere./o/ is realized as ɔ in word-initial low-tone syllables and in syllables ending in a voiceless plosive or ŋ, o elsewhere./u/ is realized as ʊ in word-initial low-tone syllables, u elsewhere.=== Consonants ===Mian has 16 consonants:+Mian consonants  Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Plain Labialized Plosive Voiceless          Voiced           Nasal          Fricative          Approximant          is realized as  word-initially,  or p̚ syllable-finally, b elsewhere. : Examples: '''banǒn''' ᵐbànǒn ''lower arm'', '''mǎab''' mǎˤːp̚ ''frog'', '''teběl''' tʰɛ̀bɛ̌l ''ant''/t/ is realized as tʰ before vowels, tʰ or t̚ syllable-finally. : Examples: '''tam''' tʰàm ''temple'', '''mát''' mát̚ ''gall bladder''/k/ is realized as kʰ before vowels, kʰ or k̚ syllable-finally, sometimes x between vowels, qʰ before aˤ. : Examples: '''kemin''' kʰèmìn ''to do'', '''manggěk''' màŋgɛ̌k̚ ''bee'', '''okok''' òxòk̚ ''work'', '''kaawá''' qʰàˤwá ''steel axe''/ɡ/ is realized as ᵑɡ word-initially, ɡ elsewhere. : Examples: '''gát''' ᵑɡát̚ ''mole'', '''manggěk''' màŋɡɛ̌k̚ ''bee''/ɡʷ/ is realized as ᵑɡʷ word-initially, ɡʷ elsewhere. : Examples: '''gwaán''' ᵑɡʷàán ''spider'', '''gwalgwal''' ᵑɡʷàlɡʷàl ''twins''=== Tones ===Mian has five tonemes:+Mian tones Tone Example Low '''am''' àm ''house'' High '''án''' án ''arrow'' Low-High '''ǎam''' ǎˤːm ''Pandanus species'' High-Low '''hâs''' hâs ''hat'' Low-High-Low '''aam''' àˤːm̂ ''older sister''The tones of Mian are very complex, as they are subject to various phonological processes, and furthermore, they can be used for indicating various grammatical aspects, especially in connection with verbs, where the tones are crucial for understanding.Consider the two verb forms below, being non-hodiernal and imperfective respectively:: '''dolâbībe''' dòlábíbè ''I wrote'': '''dolâbibe''' dòlábìbè ''I am writing''
Nouns Large objects in Mian are feminine, while small objects are masculine.
References
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