Mambae

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A language of East Timor

ISO 639-3
mgm
Alternate Names
Mambai, Manbae
User Population

230,000 (2020 World Factbook).

Location

Aileu, Ainaro, and Ermera districts: central Timor mountains; Bobonaro, Dili, and Liquiçá districts: north coast; Cova Lima district: south coast; Manufahi district: Same subdistrict.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor
Dialects

Damata, Lolei, Manua, Mambae. North Mambae and South Mambae show significant differences.

Language Use

Second most widely spoken language of East Timor. Most also use Tetun Dili [tdt] (Williams-van Klinken et al 2002).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mambae
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Very little productive morphology compared to Tetun [tet], Uab Meto [aoz], or Galolen [gal]. Traditional religion, Christian.