New SIL PNG publication: Mato grammar by Scot Stober

[René van den Berg]

SIL Papua New Guinea is happy to announce the publication of the Mato
Grammar Sketch by Scot F. Stober as volume 59 of the series Data Papers on
Papua New Guinea Languages.

 

Mato is a small Western Oceanic language spoken by around 700 people on the
north coast of PNG, at the extreme western end of the Morobe province.
Together with better-known languages such as Gedaged, Takia and
Mangap-Mbula, Mato belongs to the Vitiaz linkage within the North-New Guinea
cluster. Neighbouring Papuan languages are Yau, Yopno and Nukna. 

 

Mato shows many typical Oceanic features, such as a relatively simple
phonology (though with some unusual morphophonemics), dual and trial free
pronouns, limited derivational morphology, a complex adjectival category,
SVO constituent order and extensive verb serialisation. Less common in
Oceanic are the absence of a contrast between direct and indirect
possession, the lack of prenominal articles (though there is an article-like
enclitic), clause-final negation and the presence of an existential verb
which is also found in copular clauses.

 

Stober's work is the first description of this unknown language. The sketch
outlines the major structural features of the language, with an additional
chapter on idioms, including 'his mind is long = he is wise/knowledgable',
'his face is large = he is famous', and 'their livers have coldness = they
are reconciled'. An appendix with two interlinearised texts completes the
187-page (A5) description.

 

The book can be downloaded for free at:

http://www-01.sil.org/pacific/png/show_work.asp?id=928474555727

 

Printed copies are available for sale from Miss Rudy Yawiro at
lr-webpub at sil.org.pg.

 

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