| 释义 |
Motu, n. and a.|ˈməʊtuː|
[Native word.]
A. n. A Melanesian people of New Guinea inhabiting the area of Port Moresby. Also, their language.
B. adj. Of or pertaining to this people. Also, Motuan.
1880O. C. Stone Few Months New Guinea iv. 46 The inhabitants of Anuapata and the neighbourhood consist principally of the Motu tribe. 1885W. B. Lawes Motu Gram. & Vocab. p. v, In the grammar of the Motu dialect of New Guinea one peculiarity is in the use of letters so much alike as to be scarcely distinguishable..b and p,..d and t [etc.]... The Motuan language seems to be a strange mixture of Papuan and Eastern Polynesian. 1894A. C. Haddon Decorative Art Brit. New Guinea 236 Port Moresby..is the centre of the Motu tribe... The Motu make great trading voyages to the Gulf of Papua. 1910C. G. Seligmann Melanesians Brit. New Guinea 16 The Koita..have for generations intermarried with the Motu... Although the Koita still speak a Papuan language the majority of the males speak Motu, a Melanesian language, and have adopted..certain Motu customs. 1965Language XLI. 169 Motu{ddd}is spoken fluently..by a few thousand Koitabuans intermingled among the Motuans themselves. 1967‘E. Lindall’ Time Too Soon xviii. 197 He spoke in Motuan for the valley folk..and then in English for the white man. 1971Guardian 4 Aug. 5/4 Motu, the language of the Port Moresby district. |