Waima'a
Waima'a is an Austronesian language spoken in Timor-Leste. Glottolog rates it shifting.
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Waimoa or Waimaʼa is a language spoken by about 27,000 Waimoa (2015 census) people in northeast East Timor. Waimoa proper is reported to be mutually intelligible with neighboring Kairui and Midiki, which together have about 5,000 speakers.
The classification of Waimoa is unclear. Structurally, it is Malayo-Polynesian. However, its vocabulary is largely Papuan, similar to that of Makasae. Although generally classified as Austronesian languages or dialects that have been largely relexified under the influence of a language related to Makasae, it is possible that Waimoa, Kairui, and Midiki are instead Papuan languages related to Makasae which have been influenced by Austronesian.
From Wikipedia · Waimoa language · CC BY-SA 4.0
Words in Waima'a
| Meaning | Word | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| eye | matan* | |
| nose | turkai* | |
| tooth | nihan* | |
| tongue | ma* | |
| hand | liman* | |
| knee | tuhEni* | |
| breast | arE* | |
| liver | atEn* | |
| water | wai | |
| fire | daha* | |
| sun | lara* | |
| star | tala* | |
| stone | watu* | |
| mountain | wuku* | |
| tree | kai* | |
| leaf | kairai* | |
| night | dEgu* | |
| dog | as* | |
| fish | ika* | |
| one | sE* | |
| two | rua* | |
| drink | nu* | |
| see | yitu* | |
| hear | dEni* | |
| die | mata* | |
| path | dala* |
* in the simplified ASJP transcription
Most similar languages
Grammar
- Tetun DiliAustronesian93% alike
- JehAustroasiatic92% alike
- HalangAustroasiatic91% alike
- HaroiAustronesian90% alike
- Northern RoglaiAustronesian90% alike
- Western BruAustroasiatic89% alike
Vocabulary compares 40 basic words (ASJP); grammar compares 195 features (Grambank). Similar is not always related.
Nearby languages
Elsewhere
Glottolog · waim1252 · Wikipedia (English) · Ethnologue · wmh