Sanio, or more precisely Saniyo-Hiyewe, is a Sepik language of Tunap/Hunstein Rural LLG in East Sepik Province, northern Papua New Guinea. It is also spoken in Telefomin Rural LLG, Sandaun Province.
Dialects Dialects are: Hiyowe dialect, spoken in Maposi village () of Tunap-Hunstein Rural LLG Saniyo dialect, spoken in Hanasi (), Malapute’e (), Pukapuki, Salunapi (), and Sio () villages of Tunap-Hunstein Rural LLG
Phonology +ConsonantsLewis, Ron (2002). Saniyo Hiyewe Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottalPlosive Fricative NasalApproximant /r/ has the allophone [l] word-initially, which is written with the separate character . /ʔ/ only appears intervocalically. +VowelsFrontCentralBackHighMid-high Mid-low Low /ɛ/ is pronounced [ei] before /j/. In this case it is written as .
Additionally, the following diphthongs can be found: /ai/, /au/, /ou/.
References