Temiar language


Temiar is a Central Aslian language spoken in Western Malaysia by the Temiar people. The Temiar are one of the most numerous Aslian-speaking peoples, numbering around 30,000 in 2017.

Name

Etymologically, the word "Temiar" means "edge" or "side". This meaning reflects the way in which Temiars describe themselves as "people of the edge, outside, ."

Phonology

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Close
Mid
Open

Morphosyntax

Noun Phrase

The noun phrase is noun initial followed by modifiers and demonstratives or possessor pronouns. Pronouns may not be modified by another pronoun. There are three allomorphic classes of pronouns. Stressed third person pronouns must occur with a demonstrative (and hence only occur as unstressed or as bound morphemes on the demonstrative (e.g. na-doh 'he-here' or ʔun-tu:y 'they-elsewhere.'

Verb Phrase

The verb phrase is ordered as sentential negation, auxiliary verb and main verb. The verb phrase precedes the subject.