Kisar
PrintA language of Indonesia
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Meher, Yotowawa
Population
20,000 (1995 SIL).
Location
Southern Maluku Province, over 20 villages total. Kisar island, northeast of Timor island, 19 villages; nearby Roma and Wetar islands, Hila, Likagraha, Amau, Naumatan, and Hi’ai villages. Some in Ambon, Dili, and Kupang cities.
Language Maps
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Dialects
Not related to Oirata [oia], which has sometimes been called a dialect.
Language Use
Used as L2 by a few Oirata on Kisar Island.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. NT: 2008.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script.
Called Yotowawa or Meher locally. Christian.