Morori

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
mok
Alternate Names
Marori, Moaraeri, Moraori, Morari
User Population

50 (1998 M. Donohue). Only a handful of Marori speakers left in 2012 (Evans et al 2018). Ethnic population: 250 (1998 M. Donohue).

Location

Papua province: south coast border area.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Moraori
Dialects

Menge dialect remembered as the language of ceremony, though the last Menge speaker died in 1997.

Language Use

Endangered (2000 S. Wurm). Under pressure from Marind [mrz], a language group which surrounds the Morori, and from Indonesian [ind] (Wurm 2007). Elderly only. Most shifted to Indonesian [ind]. Most shifted to Papuan Malay [pmy]. Also use Marind [mrz] (Evans et al 2018). Used as L2 by Bädi Kanum [khd], Ngkâlmpw Kanum [kcd], Smärky Kanum [kxq], Sota Kanum [krz].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Morori
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.