Genetic relationship between Kaili and Pamona languages: a historical comparative linguistics study

Abstract

Kaili and Pamona speakers are different language speaking communities living in the Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. This study aims to determine the genetic relationship of Kaili and Pamona languages by using lexicostatistics, glottochronology and reconstruction methods. Comparative historical linguistics is used to explain the level of relationship, glottochronology, and dividing evidence of Kaili and Pamona languages. This research reveals new findings strengthening the evidence that Kaili and Pamona are two linguistically and culturally distinct language groups. There are 9 phonemic correspondences between Kaili and Pamona: w ≈ β/-#V; w ≈ β/# -; w ≈ β/V - V (4) w ≈ ɸ/# -; l ≈ j/-#V; l ≈ j/V - V; m ≈ n/# -; b ≈ ɓ/# -; o ≈ a/# K -. In addition, 14 sound variations are also found: l ∼ j/# -; s ∼ β/# -; ŋg ∼ ŋk/V - V; nʤ ∼ nc/V - V; nʤ ∼ nc/# -; nʤ ∼ nc/- V#; ɸ ∼ w/V - V; a ∼ o/#K -; o ∼ e/# -; c ∼ s/- #V; r ∼ d/# -; ŋg ∼ k/#; ŋg ∼ k/# -; ŋ ∼ Ø/# -; and ɓ ∼ Ø/# -. These findings contribute to the development of comparative historical linguistics in general.

Keywords

• Cognate
• evidence
• historical linguistics
• linguistic identity
• protolanguage
• Culture