Semai language
Austroasiatic language spoken in Malaysia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Semai (engrok Semai) is a Austroasiatic language of western Malaysia spoken by about 60,438 Semai people. It is one of the few Aslian languages which are not endangered, and even has 2,000 monolingual speakers. It is currently spoken by 3 main groups; the Northern Semai, Central Semai and the Southern Semai.
Phonology
One notable aspect of Semai phonology is its highly irregular pattern of expressive reduplication, showing discontiguous copying from just the edges of the reduplicant's base, thus forming a minor syllable.
Vowels
Consonants
Examples
Examples of words in Semai include the following:
| English | Semai | Malay |
|---|---|---|
| I | Eng | Saya |
| Eat | Cak | Makan |
| Drink | Ngaut | Minum |
| Bathe | Mehmu | Mandi |
| Clean | Parlain | Bersih |
| Good | Bor | Bagus |
| Chicken | Bafung/Fung | Ayam |
| Rice | Cengroy | Beras |
| Mushroom | Cenai | Cendawan |
| Why | Jalek | Kenapa |
| How | Rahalook | Bagaimana |
In popular culture
References
Further reading
External links
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