Meriam language (original) (raw)

Meriam (Meriam Mir: Meriam Mìr; also Miriam, Meryam, Mer, Mir, Miriam-Mir, etc. and Eastern, Isten, Esten and Able Able) or the Eastern Torres Strait language is the language of the people of the small islands of Mer (Murray Island), Waier and Dauar, Erub (Darnley Island), and Ugar (Stephens Island) in the eastern Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. In the Western Torres Strait language, Kalaw Lagaw Ya, it is called Mœyam or Mœyamau Ya. It is the only Papuan language in Australian territory.

Meriam was classified in the Eastern Trans-Fly family of the Trans–New Guinea Phylum by Stephen Wurm, who however felt that these have retained remnants of pre-Trans–New Guinea languages; this is followed by Ethnologue (2005). In 2005 Malcolm Ross concluded that the Eastern Trans-Fly languages were not part of the Trans–New Guinea phylum. R. M. W. Dixon (2002) regards claims of a relationship between the Fly River languages and Meriam as unproven, though what he bases his claim on is not clear, as Meriam Mir has a high cognacy rate with its sister languages, and a certain amount of mutual intelligibility is claimed by Meriam speakers. Mitchell finds that Meriam Mìr has 78% cognates with its sister Trans-Fly Papuan languages, the remaining vocabulary being mainly of Australian origin.[4] Such Trans-Fly cognates include personal pronouns, and verbal and nominal morphology.

Percentages of Australian, Papuan and Austronesian content
(2) = number of items; Mitchell, Holman et al. 40-word list

Source

WCL

Australian

22.5% (9)

5% (2)

Papuan

22.5% (9)

62.5% (25)

Derivations/Compounds

20% (8)

17.5% (7)
[common to Eastern Trans-Fly 15% (6)]

Austronesian

12.5% (5)

2.5% (1)

More than one possible origin

15% (6)

17.5% (7)

Unclassifiable

32.5% (13)

20% (8)

There is a push to preserve the language in North Queensland. A group of Torres Strait Islander people in Mackay region, where there are only four fluent speakers left, are practising and teaching traditional hymns sung in Meriam Mir in an effort to help more people to learn the language and pass it down. It is hoped that a program to teach the hymns will be introduced into schools.[5]

Meriam has around 40 percent of its vocabulary in common with its unrelated Western Torres Strait neighbour Kala Lagaw Ya, which is an Australian language.[4] The shared words cover a wide range of semantic domains (body parts, kin, human classification, language, mythology, ceremony, artefacts, topography, natural elements, marine life, qualities, locations, directions and time), though not verbs. This latter strengthens arguments about genetic diversity, however there is still much to suggest mutual influence. The common vocabulary range from "exact cognates" to words that appear related, but have undergone semantic changes, as in the following selected from a list of 250 items (Mitchell 1995) (where exact "cognates" number 62 (24.8%), partial "cognates" 26 (10%) and "cognates" with semantic differentiation number 34 (13.7%), [122 "cognates" in total, 48.8%]):

partial "cognates"

WCL

meaning

dhang(a)
KLY dhaanga

"edge, tooth"

deg

"edge, side"

wati

"bad, evil"

wìt

"wrong doing"

mùdh(a)
KLY mùùdha

"shelter, backyard, shaded place, haven"

mùd

"shade"

gœiga
stem gœigœyi-

"sun, day"

gerger

"day"

wœibadh(a)

"roe"
(badh(a) "food bed")

wer

"egg"

Baba, Baab(a)

"Dad, Daddy"

bab

"father"

[wœra]kapu

"one (only)"
(wara "one of a group, other")

kepkep

"few"

karùm(a)

"goanna; clumsiness, mistake"

karom

"black skink; clumsiness, mistake"

ngœna

"breath, intellect, memory"

ner

"breath"

kaimi;
kaimel, KKY kalmel

"companionship, companion, co-";
"together, along with"

kem

"company; associative (case)"

semantic differentiation

WCL

meaning

thapi

"thin piece of bark or wood, page"

tep

"fruit skin"

kapu

"prong"

kep

"arrow"

maitha

"belly"

mait

"chest"

susu

"white sap"

susu
sus

"spray, foam"
"white sap"

uum(a)
awum(a)

"death"
"mourning"

eumi (singular)
baum (plural)
(stem -um)

"die"

buudh(a)

"white paint"
(for mourning)

bud

"mourning"

aap(a)
apa-

"garden bed"

"down, below, under"

sep

"earth, ground;
down, below, under"

KKY, KulY kom(a)
KKY, KulY kœman(a)
KLY, MY-KY kœman(a)

"heat, burn"
"steam"
"heat, burn, steam"

kemur

"smoke"
(ur "fire")

bibir(i)
KLY biber(e)

"strength, power"

beber
beberbeber

"weight"
"heavy, weighty"

There are also various items of semantic relationship, but not formal relationship, such as WCL puuy(i), MM lu "plant, tree; magic".

Mitchell and Piper (unpublished research notes) used the Holman et al. 40-word list below, which shows 9 (22.5%) exact items, 5 (12.5%) partial, and 3 (7.5%) semantically related words. However, this list was designed for use with Euro-Asian languages, and is perhaps somewhat inappropriate; for example, no horned animals exist, neither language has a verb ‘come’, and Holman et al. assume one form for 'we'; WCL has 4, and MM has 2.

PCD Proto Central-District Papuan Austronesian, PETrf Proto East Trans Fly; POC Proto Oceanic Austronesian; PP Proto Paman; PSEPap Proto South-East Papuan Austronesian [neighbouring languages noted : Papuan : Gizrra, Bine/Kunini, Wipi (Eastern Trans Fly Family), Kiwai (Trans-New Guinea Phylum), Idi, Agöb (Pahoturi family); Australian : Gudang, and the Northern Cape York Language, dialects : Wudhadhi, Atampaya, Angkamuthi, Yadhaykenu]

word

Gizrra

Bine

Wipi

PETrF

Kiwai

Idi/Agöb

WCL

Gudang

Urradhi

PSEPap

louse

nem

ngüóm, ngóm

ngaamo, ngame, ngamwe

ngüɨm

*ŋamͻ

nimo

A. kabana

aari
(unknown origin)

aaku tick, louse

aku tick, louse

two

neis

nis

neneni

nœmog
cf. MM mog "piece"

*ni-[isV]

netewa,
Bamu teibo

komblebe

ùka- "two"
ùkasar(a) "two (only)"
(-sar(a) "small number")

ilaabayu (cf. Y inychantu, At/A ilvan many)

Y/A udhima, At udhyama/makyaana,
W aroma/adhoma

*gujarra

*drua

water (1)

gur "salt water"

-gul- "wash"
bapür- PlOb, apür VN

atnana wash VN

gony "washing"
imangena "swimming"

*gulV "water, swim, wash"

obo,
Kope oru'o wash self VN

I. tetu "wash", A. bemine "sea water"

wœr~wur~uur~wœir "water"

G ungunya salt water

*wair "water"

water (2)
(fresh; drink, juice)

naiy, nai, nae

niye, niiye

ni, niya, nyɨ, ngi

*niya/*nayi

obo

ngùki

*ŋugu/*ŋugi

ear
cf. hear

laip, girip

gublang, gublam

tablamo

yɨpiya, yɨpyar, yɨkɨpya, yɨrpya, irkɨpia ear;
yɨpiarom, yakrom outer early

*?(+*raamo leaf)

gare ear, sepate lobe, external ear

ran ear, ika external ear, A. laandra

kaura
kurusai- (in compounds)

iwunya

Y iwuny
At ikuchi
W iwui

*gaalu

death

eud death;
eumi Sg, baum PL "die";
bud "mourning"

büdül "dead",
budül- "die"

budre death; (w)uje die

budɨ "death";
(w)uj(e) "dead, death"

*wudi "die"

odio, P para, M uparu "dead";
orisiai, M/Kerewo oihiai "die"

kududar "die"

uum(a) "death, unconsciousness"
awum(a) "mourning, wailing" (for a death)
buudh(a) "white paint" (traditionally used for mourning)

ithuurra/ithuulma "dead"

Y/A yuthu, At ruthu,
W alghan "dead", W unga "mourn", U alga "death"

kó

cane, kane

kon

*ka(nV)

mai

ngén, A. ngana

ngayi

G []yuba, aipaana

Y/A/At ayu(va)

*ŋayi

liver

konkon (puringai)

owolaamo,
uweraame

wurom, vurom,
sukəp, tsɨkɨp

*ͻwͻ
+*raamͻ "leaf"
*siba+kapu

K/Kerewo beu, M beo
M siba "heart", D sibo "heart")

A. yoa/siba/zebe

siib(a) liver; centre

iipa "heart"

Y/A yipa, At lipa, W tepa, tipa

*jiba

eye

ponì (unknown origin)
erkep

ilküp, ilkóküp

irecu

yɨr, yer "eye", yɨrkɨp, ilkɨp, yɨrtyen, yɨttwin "eyeball"

*iri "see", *kapu "seed, body part, fruit, etc."

damari, Kerewo idomai

kalye, A. yende "eye ",
ikép/ikapa "eye-ball" (kép "egg")

pùrka (unknown origin)
daan(a) (also "pool", "life",
"kernel", "shell-food")
cf. -kap(u) "body part"

daanha, rathair

Y anngal, At ipanh, A angwaa, W yeithi/yithi

*dano "lake, pool"

hand

tag

tang, tan arm, hand

imo "hand, arm"

yɨm

*taaŋV, *iimo "hand, arm"

K tu, Bamu tuu hand, arm

tang, A. tranga

geth(a)
(unknown origin)

arta

Y/At/A mata, W ara

*mara

*taŋa

hear

asor-

-rrkrru-, -rrkurru-

-tecij- (-tecind-~cind-) hear,
ätecija VN hear/listen

utkunj~utkund-

*Vrkundi

irovidiro, Mawata erebidiro, Kope orovidio VN

A. dandarla

karnge[mi]-, kœrngai VN;
kùrùsai- ear

Y/A/At ami-

*roŋor

tree
(also "plant", "wood", "magic")

lu(g) "tree, plant, magic"

nugup "tree"

uli, uri "tree, plant"

wul(a), ul "tree"

*wuli, *[ln]ugu[p] "tree"

ota "tree, plant", Kope nu'a "tree"

lu, A. ra/rati-ra/ro

puuy(i), OKY puuRi;
yuu "spit, skewer"

puri "tree", yuuku "wood",
upiirri "medicine"

Y/At/A yuku "wood, tree, stick, log",
Y/At/A upirri "sore, painful, witchcraft"

*lugu "tree, wood"

*pu[l]i magic

fish

lar
(unknown origin)

wapi, wapui

kibu, cupya,
kopae, kopäi

kabum;
waji

arimina/irisina food, fish;
Kerewo na, Kope nai fish

kwalba

waapi
(unknown origin)

waapi

Y yatpan/yadpa,
A inhanyii, W nheya

name

nei

ngi, ngui

ngi

ni, niœ, nyœ

*nyilya

paina, Kerewo paena

ben, A. bena

nel
Saibai variant nei

yini

At angyal, A anyii, W anyel

stone

bakìr
(unknown origin)

inglkup, inglkurp

kula, kura

gli(muz), gɨmo, gɨmokɨp, kula, guma, nadi, motɨr

*kula

kura, M nora

dadar, A. dader

kùla

uulpa

Y/A aypany, At aypanh

*gul(g)an

tooth

tìrìg
cf. ereg "eat"
deg "edge, side"

zirgup (gup body part, fruit, etc.

giricu;
cidi "edge"

orkak
or- "eat", kak "bone"
dɨng "thorn"

*daŋa "tooth, edge, etc."

ibuanara, Parama iawa; K iawa "incisor"

dhéndhég "bite INF"; A. ngui, nggoia, uguwoi "tooth"; A lenge, lenga "tooth"

dhang(a)
(also "edge")

ampu

Y/A ampu, At ngampu

*jaaŋa "tooth, edge, etc."

breast
(cf. mother, milk)

nano
ama, apu "mum, mother, aunty"
nanosus "milk" (sus "white sap", "foam")

ngum, ngiam, ngüam;
aip mother

ngaamo, nono;
mago "mother", yääye "Mum"

ngom, ngum, ngiam, ngɨmb, ngɨmdor;
mog, ag "mother"

*ŋaamͻ "breast, mother"
*maago mother
*susu "breast, milk"

bodoro;
aida, M maramu, Bamu onoo, Kerewo mamo mother

ngém/nono "breast";
nene "mother"

ama "mum, mother, aunty"
aapu(wa) "mother, aunt"
susu (also "white sap"; "loaf"),
susuikai "milk" (ikai "juice, sap")

[]yuungu "breast, milk", athiinya "mother"

Y/At/A ungunyu "mother, breast, milk"
A also awucha, yathu "milk",
W nono "mother, breast"

*ŋam[u/a]ŋ "breast, mother"
*juju "breast, milk"

*susu "breast, milk"

path

gab

kwat, kuat

gaabo, raare

nia, nga, nyau

*gaabͻ

gabo

nyénggo

yabu, KLY yaabu

alka

Y/A ulumu, At ulumu/anyaarra

POC *tyapu

you Sg

maane, maano

man(a)

*ma(nV)

rai

be (S/Du/Pl)

KLY/KulY/KY ni
KKY/OKY ngi

(an)tuuba/tuuba

Y/At antu(va), A antu(ba), W endouva

*ŋin/*nin

*kau

fire

uur

ulikobo, uliobo, urikobe,
ulikobe, olobo, uli,
Kunini muye-uliobo

uur, [wul(a)]para

*uur[], *kͻbͻ, *pVrV "fire", *wuli "tree, wood"

era, Bamu mahi

mui (Boigu,KY also mœi)

uma

Y/At/A uma, W entovo

*tuma

tongue

werut

ulit

wätä, wärtä, warta, wate

welat, we(y)at, vlat, yat

*wilͻtV

watotorope, Kerewo mototobe

A. dogmar, dangamai

nœi
(unknown origin)

unt[h]aar[r]a

Y yalan, punhu, At lalan, A yalan

skin

gegur;
tep skin of fruit

sopai, sopae;
kwan, kuan bark

tääpo, tääpe, taape, tääpwo;
uli tääpo (etc.) bark

gɨm (one dialect gunja);
wul gɨm, gɨm, yug bark

*taapi

tama

thoe

gœngáw(u),
KLY gœngaawu,
KulY gœngáy(u)

ikwurra skin
ranga bark

Y/At/A akuny skin, bark

*Cagurr

night

irrüb, irrub, irrib

kiye, ciye

sɨwɨny, sɨwɨn, sowɨny,
sɨrɨn, sowi, tsowony, sɨwɨng, sɨrɨng, sɨrɨm

*kiya

duo, Bamu duwo

A. kuteine, kwete

kubil
(derived, kùbi "charcoal")

G yulpalga night, darkness

Y yupul,
Y manara, At manma night, darkness,
W jagula

leaf

(lu)lam
(lu "plant")

lam, lang (mainly compounds),
pórgae~prangai, prórngae, pórngae

laamo, racme, raame

(wulœ)rom
(wulœ "tree")

*laamͻ "leaf"

ota-pasa, M ota-pea
(ota tree)

oro-popo/ru-pi/ro-rual
(oro/ru/ro tree, plant);
(lu)pi
(lu tree, plant)

niis(a)

itrara "leaf"

Y/At/A yukum yampa (yuku "tree, wood"), A ithagha, W alway;
Y/At/A yampa "leaf, flower, lung";
AT yamparra, A inparra "lung"

blood

mam
(unknown origin)

ói, óe

uudi

woi, woj, kus, ku

*wodi

arima,
Kope ora

A. mem, mam, teia

kùlka
(unknown origin)

ichunya

Y/A lukuny, At uchuny

horn

person

-am/-iam;
le

-pam;
pam, pama

-yame/-yamo;
binamo, biname, binam;
imä, im male,
rooriye, loori "man"

-am, -iam;
rɨga "man, male"
leo "husband"

*pyama;
*[rl]i[g]ͻ

dubu, Kerewo meréha;
arubi,-rubi people, Kerewo oubi;
Kope dubuiro person, man;
M auana man, didiri men, mere male

la "man"

-ig(a) personal nominaliser)
mabaig(a) (derived, lit. "walker", maab(a) "walk"

ama

Y/At/A ama

*bama

knee (1)

kolo

(ngawengawe elbow)

kumkak, yɨmkak elbow
(kak bone)

*kͻlͻ "knee, elbow, corner"

kulu
cf. kudu "elbow",
kœru "corner"

yurtu elbow

Y/At yutu, A yurtu elbow

*yurru "elbow"

*turu "knee, elbow"

knee (2)

kokni
kok "leg joint+?"
wageb "kneecap"

wagusingül, wagósingül, wagasingól

koko/coco(rar/kaako)
(rare, kaako, kak, ror "bone")

kɨ, kɨror, kum;
kumop knee ball,
(mop "end, head")

*kͻkͻ "leg joint"

popu knee, elbow

D tubu, tang-kum;
putukupi kneecap;
A tran-kwimbe elbow

kokan(i) "kneecap";
kuku inside part of knee, knee joint

iingku knee

Y/A/At wungku, W owen

PP *wuŋgu[ ] "knee"

one/other

nerut "another"
wader "some, others" (unknown origin)
netat one

darrpan, dórpan "one, one of group"
darrü "other" (+ -pan)

yepä, neetera one;
nuuja other, another

yepa one;
nɨnda other, others, some;
b’enga other, another (different)

*ni+[rl]ͻtV other
*[yi/dVr]pͻnV, *ni+ta[tr]V "one"

ata, Bamu kaiibi one, other, nau one

A. tupulibi

wara, war "one of group, other" (unknown origin)
dhurai "some, others"
wœrapùn, ùrapùn, ùrpùn
(older waraponi) "one only"
wara "one of group, other" + -pùn[i]

ipiyamanha
inyaanha another

Y/A ipima, Y also ipinyama, At nhipima;
W wema one, alone
Y unya, At unyinha, wanhu, A unyinha other, different
W emo other

*nyupun, *NipiyamaNa

nose

pit "nose, beak,
point (of land)"

syók

keke, cece

so, sok, sokak
(kak bone)

wodi, Kope modi (cf. Bamu pito hole)

A. murung, wede

piti "nose"
(unknown origin; buna beak; nguur point)

iyi nose, beak

Y/A iyi, W enmoi, nundagel;
At umughanhu

full

(e)osmer (lit. "protrude, show self":
unknown origin)

buku, iib

puuwe

ngor full(ness)

Kerewo arara'ohuai

gùdapœlam(a)
(derived : "opening-SpecLOC+cause-VerbForm)
(2) KLY/KulY/MY-KY pùsakar(a),
cf. sakar "space"

mur[r]ku gorged

Y/At/A wampan full/swollen, W weithinyo full

come (1)

ta-, te-, ti-, t-

to'-, tü-

t- (s- allophone)

t- irrealis;
ik-, -itk-, -etk- come, tu[i]- Pl, menamena, menon go, come VN

*ta "come, approach"

-ogu-, Kerewo -oho-, Kope -o'u- go, come

-be-

ngapa TR/INTR adverb,
cf. nga- 1st person, pa- telic, -pa dative
bœi INTR adverb,
cf. pœipai, KKY bœi "nearside"

impiibinhu come, approach (-nhu DAT), ainpirra go

Y/A/W ana, At ana/anma go, come

come (2)
(imperative)

taba
(ta-ba "come-INTR"),
maiem (?+ALL)

tädi M, tocli F

ayo

abe Sg, yebe PL;
A yau

aye, KKY aya imperative adverb
(Malay or similar loan : ayo, ayu)

*mai "come"

star

wer

wimurr

wale, walo, gugie, griga
(see sun, day)

ikui, ɨki, ɨkwi, guje (one dialect bedam)

*wa[rl]i

gugi, M zogubo, Kope oroi'io

A. piro, kwatai

Wœœy(i), OKY WœœRi "Venus"
thithúy(i), KLY thithuuyi, OKY thithúRi;
zugub(a) constellation, significant star

uunpi

Y/At/A unpi, At wintamwintama (avoidance)

*waRi sun
PSEPap*pituqon,
PCD *pitui, *pitiu, *pitiriu "star"

hill

paser

podo hill, dorro high ground

podo, doro hill, doro mainland, shore

podo, dor hill

*pͻntͻ[r], *doro

podo, Mawata also damera;
idodoro cliff

I. duidui, A. pad

paad(a)
(also "top, height, crest, peak ");
baudhar(a) mountain, peak

pada

Y yantal, At rantal, A yantaa;
W mara mountain

*baanda "top"

*pantar "hill, mountain"

bone, leaf rib

lid

kus

kaako, kaake, caace bone;
raare bone, rare shell, spoon

kak, kaak, kagɨ kak, kaga bone, stick, (hard) piece, stalk;
ror bone (in compounds)

*riida/*raadi "bone, leaf rib"

soro, M kako

A. kwetr/kut

riidh(a)

athirra

Y/At/A apudha, A avoidance ikyalitha, W watha/ua

we inclusive

mi, mer- inclusive

mine

men, mɨn

*mi(ni)

nimo, Kerewo imo [exc and inc.]

ybi

ngœba dual inclusive
ngalpa plural inclusive

Y/At/A ali(va) DU, ana(va) PL

*ŋali inclusive; *ŋana(pula) (dual) exclusive

*kita

we exclusive

ki, ker- exclusive

kine, cine

sɨn

*ki(ni)

nimo, Kerewo imo [exc and inc.]

bi, A. ba

ngalbai, KKY ngalbe, archaic KulY ngœibai, dual exclusive
ngœi, ngœlmù-, KKY/MY-KY ngœimù-, OKY ngœRi(mù-) plural exclusive

aaku

Y/A/At ampu(la)

*ŋali inclusive; *ŋana(pula) (dual) exclusive

*kami

drink (verb)

iri

-(a)nan-

ene-

-ona-~-ena- Sg, anain- NSg

*ini/ani/ina

Kope idio drink, odio he is drinking

A. ine/ngi -ni-/-na- drink water
(-ni/na- eat)

wani-
(unknown origin; derived?
< wanai- "put" active stem)

ungkenka drink

Y/At ungye, A ungya drink, eat;
W ical drink

see, find

dasmer, erdar
(stem er-)

-sen- see

-pän, pan- see, find,
ire see VN

yɨr -ong- (ong bite),
yɨr -a- see, look,
yeri-, yiry-, oraka VN find, search,
ɨdar Sg, adar NSg find

*ira see

eáuri see VN

-ndee- see

iima-

angkanya find

W iangin find

*kiima "see"

new

kerkar

küsil, küsül, kósil new;
kari, karian little, small

kirece, mamye, cireni, mamie~karte new;
matimati, matikäli, matikolä, matikola, matikari, geglo little, small

sisel, sisɨl

*kari[kari]/*kira[kira]

oliómoto

kayin(a)

dog

omai

umai, umae, ume

drenggo, drego, drengo

yongg, yongk, yongga, yangg, yoorɨnk

*omái

Kerewo kaukau, Kope umu

dréngg

ùmai

ingkud[h]iinya

Y/At/A utagha

*gudaga

sun, day

gerger "day, daylight"
lìm "sun"

abüs, óbüs

bimu, abeji, abweji, abuji;
gugie, griga "star"

bibɨr day, lom, lomkongga, lemkogal, ganggal sun
(konga, kogal "woman")

*limͻ/*lͻmi

M iwio, Parama ivio, Kerewo hewio, Kope hivio sun;
sai day

yébodh sun

gœiga, gœygœyi-, gœigi-,
OKY gœRigaR(i)

inga

Y/At/A wunga, W unga, W mungbatho day

*gari, *wuŋa

The main source of loan words to the language since the mid 1800s has been Yumplatòk (Torres Strait Creole) and English. There are also some minor loans from Lifu/Drehu, Polynesian (in particular Samoan and to a lesser extent Rotuman), Indonesian, Philippine, Japanese, and European origin. Many such outsiders were recruited – or in some rare cases black-birded – in the 19th century for pearl diving and other marine work, while others (from Lifu and Samoa) were missionaries with the British and Foreign Bible Society.[_citation needed_]

The language is currently dialectless. However, there was once a separate dialect spoken on Erub and Ugar islands, characterised in part by the retention of phonemic distinctions between 'ng', 'g', 'n' and 'r' where these have fallen together in two ways in Meriam Mir. The sound 'ng' in Modern Meriam has become 'n' at the beginning of words and 'g' within words; 'n' in many cases has become 'r' within words. Examples are remembered in one important Erub folktale (Lawrie 1970:283–284):

Erub : Mena inggandane/ingandane! Keniba uzen unken a keniba imut unken.

Mer : Mena igardare! Keriba uzer urker a keriba imut urker.

Keep carrying it! Our paddles and our poling poles are still strong.

The earliest records (early 19th century) of Meriam Mìr included the phrase debelang good taste/nice, in present-day Meriam Mìr debe lag. This shows that the 'ng' > 'n'/'g' change is of fairly recent date; lang, now lag, is identical to the Gizrra lang of the same meaning.

The sounds represented by [a] and [ʌ] are allophonic. [ʌ] appears mainly in syllables before the stress accent and optionally in open unstressed syllables otherwise. [a] appears in stressed syllables and in unstressed closed syllables.

For some speakers the following pairs exhibit variation, and perhaps have unidentified allophonic variation: [e], [ɛ] and [ɪ] (mainly Erub/Ulag), [ɪ] and [i] (mainly Mer), [u] and [ʊ], [ʊ] and [o], and [o] and [ɔ]. Older speakers appear to keep the vowels more distinct.

/ɾ/ is heard as [ɹ] when occurring before or after consonants.

Stress is contrastive in Meriam and can occur on the first or second syllable. Examples include tábo 'snake', tabó 'neck'.

The Torres Strait Islanders have signed forms of their languages,[6] though it is not clear from records that they are particularly well-developed compared to other Australian Aboriginal sign languages.[7]