Marind

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
mrz
Alternate Names
Gawir, Holifoersch, Southeast Marind, Tugeri
User Population

7,000 (1987 SIL).

Location

Papua province: Merauke regency south coast area; also, enclave in extreme south Papua.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Marind, Nuclear Marind
Dialects

Gawir, Southeast Marind, Tugeri, Halifoersch. Significant differences between inland and coastal dialects, but speakers report intelligibility.

Typology

SOV; 4 genders (male human, female human, 2 neuters (inanimate)); 18 prefixal and 2 suffixal positions on the verb stem; aspect; 19 consonants and 5 vowels.

Language Use

Home, market. Some young people, all adults. Children in towns have passive ability. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Morori [mok], Yei [jei].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Marind
Writing

Latin script [Latn], in development.

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.