Mai Brat

A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Ajamaru, Atinjo, Ayamaru, Brat, Maibrat, Maite, Majbrat, Maybrat, Mey Brat

Population

20,000 (1987 SIL).

Location

West Papua Province, about 40 villages. Central Bird’s Head, area around Ayamaru lakes.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Dialects

Maimaka, Maisawiet, Maisefa, Maite, Maiyah. Lexical similarity: 10% with Tehit [kps], Mpur [akc], Abun [kgr], and its most similar neighbors.

Typology

SVO; heavy verb serialization

Language Use

Religious services. All ages. High bilingualism among those in cities, highly educated.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 25%–50%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2004–2007.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script.

Other Comments

Ethnic autonym: Ayamaru. Traditional religion, Christian.