Saweru language

Last updated
Saweru
Sarwar Use
Native to Indonesia
Region Cenderawasih Bay
Native speakers
(300 cited 1991) [1]
West Papuan  ?
Language codes
ISO 639-3 swr
Glottolog sawe1240

Saweru is a Papuan language closely related to Yawa of central Yapen Island in Geelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Indonesia, of which it is sometimes considered a dialect. It is spoken on Serui Island just offshore.

Unlike Yawa, Saweru lacks an inclusive-exclusive distinction for the first person plural pronoun. Saweru has amai 'we', while Yawa has ream 'we (exclusive)' and wam 'we (inclusive)'. [2] :553

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References

  1. Saweru at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Foley, William A. (2018). "The languages of Northwest New Guinea". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 433–568. ISBN   978-3-11-028642-7.

Further reading