Wersing language explained

Wersing
Nativename:Kolana
States:Indonesia
Region:Alor
Speakers:3,700
Date:2014
Ref:[1]
Familycolor:Papuan
Fam1:Trans–New Guinea ?
Fam2:West Bomberai ?
Fam3:Timor–Alor–Pantar
Fam4:Alor–Pantar
Fam5:Alor
Fam6:East
Iso3:kvw
Glotto:wers1238
Glottorefname:Wersing
Dia1:Kolana
Dia2:Maneta
Dia3:Langkuru (Pureman, Mademang)
Map:Alor-pantar map color.png
Mapcaption:Languages of the Alor Islands. Wersing is shown at four locations around the east coast.

The Wersing language, also known as Kolana after its primary dialect, is spoken in scattered settlements around the coast of Alor in Indonesia. Due to this settlement pattern, Wersing speakers are in contact with Abui and Kamang speakers and often have some competence in these languages.[2] Though not closely related, it has cultural connections with Tukudede on the neighboring island of Timor.[3]

Phonology

! Bilabial! Alveolar! Palatal! Velar
Nasalpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Plosivevoicelesspronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
voicedpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Fricativepronounced as /ink/
Semivowelpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Lateralpronounced as /ink/
Trillpronounced as /ink/
Wersing vowel phonemes!! Front! Central! Back
Closepronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Midpronounced as /ink/ pronounced as /ink/
Openpronounced as /ink/

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Alor-Pantar languages.
  2. Book: Schapper, Antoinette . Hendery, Rachel . Schapper . Antoinette . The Papuan Languages of Timor, Alor and Pantar: Volume 1 . 2014 . Walter de Gruyter . 439–503 . Wersing.
  3. Book: Wellfelt, Emilie . Schapper, Antoinette . Enriching the archival picture: The use of local sources in assessing the nature and impact of historical contact . 2013 . Papers presented as part of the Panel on East Timor, the Portuguese, and the Indonesian Archipelago - Historical Sources and Methodological Reconsiderations at the International Convention of Asia Scholars 8, Macau, 24-27 June..