Reconstruction:Proto-Trans-New Guinea/mele

This Proto-Trans-New Guinea entry contains reconstructed words and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Trans-New Guinea

Etymology

Wanderwort that is widespread across different language phyla in New Guinea.

Alternative reconstructions

*mene

Noun

*mele

tongue

Descendants

East Strickland:
- Samo: mere(ma)
Dani:
- Grand Valley Dani: meli
- Western Dani: meli
Dagan:
- Daga: meri(nawa)

References

Pawley, Andrew; Hammarström, Harald (2018). "The Trans New Guinea family". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 21–196. →ISBN.