OUTOFPAPUA database: Lexicons of the West Papuan language area

•  streambed.

Note: The term laa, either singularly or in combination with another morpheme, is used to mean ‘river’, as in all the following wordlist responses: 1) without modification: MRN (one wordlist), TAL, KUL, KOR, MEN, WAI, TUL, MRB (two wordlists): laa. 2) modified by a word which means ‘water’: MRN, TOK: la'e'e; KOR: e'e laa; BNG, ROU: baho laa; MEK: iwoi laa. 3) modified by a word which means ‘inside’: WAW, TOR: larolaa; LAN, TUL, WAR, LAL, WIW, ASE, TOL, MEK: alaa. Doubtless alaa comes from aa ‘inside’ + laa ‘streambed’; compare Muthalib, Alimuddin, Chalik, et al. (1985:1) who give Tolaki aalaa ‘river’. [PWMP *laqaD ‘dry stream bed’ (Blust 1980 260)]