[PapuanLanguages] Languages named "No"

[Matthew Dryer]

The custom of using the word for ‘no’ as the name of the language is 
without exception in the region I work in northern PNG, in the vicinity 
of Aitape and inland from there.Most of the languages that follow this 
convention that I am aware of are Torricelli languages, but it includes 
Mehek, a Sepik language, and appears to include at least some of the 
Austronesian languages on the coast in this area.

But I think it is also necessary to distinguish the names used by 
speakers for their own language and the names used by speakers of other 
languages.Namely, while the use of the word for ‘no’ is pervasive as the 
name used by speakers of other languages, speakers frequently have a 
different name for their own language, though they may use that name 
interchangeably with their word for ‘no’.

Because words for ‘no’ are often cognate among related languages, it is 
often the case that there are similarities in the names among related 
languages and this can be a source of confusion for linguists. The 
following are all names for Torricelli languages based on their word for 
‘no’ that appear to be cognate:

Alu, Galu, Olo, Aro, Aruop, Oru

I’m curious what the geographical expanse of this in PNG is. Bill 
Foley’s email implies that it extends well to the east of where I work, 
while Sasha Aikhenvald’s email implies that it doesn’t extend too far 
inland (though the Ndu languages do extend to the coast). It isn’t clear 
how far west it extends. It apparently does include the Skou language 
Barupu (Corris 2005) but it does not include Poko-Rawo, a Skou language 
spoken near Leitre between Vanimo and Aitape (at least as a name they 
use for their own language).

Matthew Dryer



On 2/24/16 11:31 PM, Aikhenvald, Alexandra wrote:
> This is not at all the case for any of  the Ndu languages in the East Sepik (nor for many of their neighbours).
>
> A few Huon-Finisterre languages base their name on the word for what: Hannah Sarvasy (Hannah.Sarvasy at anu.edu.au) will be able to provide all the details.
>
> As a matter of comparison - I am aware of at least one set of languages in Amazonia, named after the form for 'no': Kurripako, Karutana, Karo - all dialects of the Baniwa of Içana/Kurripako continuum (North Arawak). Speakers are aware of this, and comment on this.
>
> Sacha
>
> Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald, PhD, DLitt, FQAAS, FAHA
> Distinguished Professor and Australian Laureate Fellow
> Director of the Language and Culture Research Centre
> James Cook University
> PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
> http://www.jcu.edu.au/faess/JCUPRD_043649.html
> mobile 0400 305315, office 61-7-42321117
> fax 61-7-4232 1880  http://www.aikhenvaldlinguistics.com/
> http://research.jcu.edu.au/lcrc
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PapuanLanguages [mailto:papuanlanguages-bounces at anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Joyce Wood
> Sent: Thursday, 25 February 2016 2:29 PM
> To: papuanlanguages at anu.edu.au
> Subject: Re: [PapuanLanguages] Languages named "No"
>
> 'no' (English) / 'nogat' (Tok Pisin)
> is the naming convention for languages in the Sepik region of PNG. See Laycock 1975 in Pacific Linguistics. Sorry this is not a full citation.
>
> I've always wondered which came first: Laycock's written records, or the language names? I used to think Laycock started it, but now I'm thinking that the convention was established among the language speakers themselves, long before Laycock visited there. Info anyone?
> - Joyce Wood
>
> On 2/25/2016 1:24 PM, Tom Honeyman wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have often heard anecdotal evidence of a naming pattern, supposedly widespread, in various parts of both PNG and Australia of languages "named" for the word meaning “no” (or “no-having”, or the negator) in that language.
>>
>> I'm sure I have a memory of someone either publishing or at least blogging about this in the last 10 years or so, but I can't for the life of me find the source. “No” is of course not the only convention either.
>>
>> Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Tom Honeyman
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