Kei

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
kei
Alternate Names
Kai, Keiese, Saumlaki, Veveu Evav
User Population

85,000 (2000 E. Travis). 4,500 monolinguals.

Location

Maluku province: about 207 villages on 10 islands southeast; Besar, Kecil, and surrounding islands, Kei island group, and Kur islands northwest of Kei group.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Southeast Maluku, Kei-Tanimbar, Kei-Fordata
Dialects

Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tayando, Tanimbar Kei (Atnebar), Ta’am. Kei Kecil is the prestigious urban dialect. Kei Besar speakers usually also know Kei Kecil, but not vice versa. Kei Besar is reportedly more similar to Fordata [frd] than other Kei dialects. Tanimbar Kei is spoken in only one village. Lexical similarity: 60% with Fordata [frd].

Language Use

Fairly vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Banda [bnd]. Also use Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Banda [bnd], Kur [kuv].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 100 can read, 10 can write. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. 100 can read, 10 can write. Dictionary.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kei
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.