BAHASA AWBAN DI YAHUKIMO, PAPUA: KAJIAN AWAL TERHADAP BAHASA MINORITAS PADA TATARAN FONOLOGI DAN LEKSIKONNYA (Awban Language in Yahukimo, Papua: A Preliminary Study on Phonology and Lexicon Aspect toward a Minority Language)

Abstract

There are several languages in Indonesia that can be classified as minority languages. One of the minority languages is Awban, which is spoken in Awban Village, Kolf Braza District, Asmat. In 2012, speakers of this language are not more than 30 people; the smallest number compared to speakers of other languages around them. Its speakers are diminishing because of the plague. The remote location of the inland, extremely difficult access, social status, economy, education, and their incapacity in many ways makes the Awban language increasingly marginalized. This study attempts to present the Awban language on the linguistic perspective before the language and its speakers are completely marginalized or 'lost'. In terms of language, using comparative method, the Awban language does not have affinity with the surrounding languages, such as the Momuna, Tokuni, and Samboga. In terms of phonology, the Awban language has sound phonemes, namely [i], [|], [e], [E], [a], [o], [u], and [O]. These vowels are free distributed and some are non-free distributed. Consonant sounds are almost the same as Indonesian languages. There is uvular consonant [X] sound in Awban language, but [c], [q], [v], and [z] are not found. Some vocabulary found are loan words from Indonesian or Malay Papua as a result of the language contact, either as a whole or with adjustment, for example ayam hu 'chicks', pusi 'cat', and vocabulary with sound adaptation, such as [cincin] ~ [sinsin].