Woisika language
Language in Indonesia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Woisika, also known as Kamang, is a Papuan language of Alor Island of Indonesia. The three main dialects are Western Kamang, Lowland Kamang, and Upland Kamang. Dialects also include Lembur, Sibo, Kamang, Tiayai, Watang, Kamana-Kamang. They may constitute more than one language. Kamang is an endangered language, since children usually only have passive competence of the language, and instead are shifting to Malay.[2]
Speakers may prefer the term Kamang to refer to the speech community as a whole; Woisika is a village name.[3]
Phonology
Consonants
/h/ and /ʔ/ are marginal. /r/ is rare in initial and final position. Word-final /s/ is only in loan words.
The consonant /ŋ/ is not found word-initially, and /f/ is not found word-finally.[4]
Vowels
Grammar
Serial verb constructions
Kamang has serial verb constructions.
Valence
Examples with avalent, monovalent, bivalent, and trivalent verbs are shown below.[2]
Avalent
Itunma
itun-ma
late.afternoon-PFV
'It's late afternoon.'[2]: 300
Monovalent
Bivalent
Trivalent
Riddles
Woisika riddles relate to animals, the human body, human artifacts, natural phenomena, crops and other foods, among others.[5]