A Grammar of Aro, a Torricelli Language of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

This dissertation is a grammar of Aro, an endangered language of the Kombioic subgroup of the Torricelli family that is spoken by around 300-500 speakers across nine villages (Selep, Brau, Mup, Fatundu, Kolembi, King, Wisamol, Afua, and Riworip) in Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea. This grammar is based on the author’s fieldwork, which comprised four trips to the Aro speaking area made in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022, with a total of approximately 7.5 months spent in the field. Since little data on the Aro language had previously been collected, this research resulted in the first major documentation and description of the Aro language.