Salawati language


Salawati is an Austronesian language spoken on Salawati Island, in the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesian New Guinea. There is some uncertainty as to whether the dialects constitute a single language or two separate ones.
Salawati is a vulnerable-to-endangered language, with younger community members having only a passive command of the language. Anecdotal reports suggest that younger speakers may be learning the language in some Tepin-dialect villages, but these reports are unconfirmed.
Like its related languages of the Raja Ampat Islands, Salawati has approximately 15 consonants and 5-6 vowels and lexical tone. It is mainly head-initial in noun phrases, and primarily uses prepositions over postpositions.

Dialects

The dialects of Salawati are as follows:
  • Butlih used in
  • *Salawati Tengah District : Kampung Wailen, Kampung Sakabu, Kampung Kalobo
  • Kawit, used in
  • *Salawati Tengah District : Kampung Duriankari, Kampung Maralol
  • *Salawati Tengah : Kampung Kalobo
  • Tepin, used in
  • *Salawati Barat District: Kampung Solol, Kampung Kaliam,
  • *Salawati Utara District: Kampung Kapatlap
  • *Salawati Tengah District : Kampung Kalobo, Kampung Waijan
  • Rajau, used in
  • *Salawati Utara District: Kampung Mucu
  • Fiawat used to be a village name now used in
  • *Salawati Utara District: Kampung Mucu
  • Waili used in
  • *Salawati Tengah District : Kampung Waliam, Kampung Sakapul