Helong
A language of Indonesia (Nusa Tenggara)
| Population | 14,000 (Grimes, Therik, Grimes, Jacob 1997). Ethnic population: 15,000 to 20,000. |
| Region | West tip of Timor Island near port of Tenau. 4 villages. Kupang area, extending across the island to Amarasi region; most villages on Semau Island. |
| Language map |
Indonesia, Nusa Tenggara and Southwestern Maluku |
| Alternate names | Helon, Kupang, Semau |
| Dialects | Helong Pulau (Semau, Island Helong), Helong Darat (Bolok), Funai (Land Helong). 2 groups which have minor dialect differences: Helong Darat on Timor mainland and Helong Pulau on Semau Island. |
| Classification | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Central Malayo-Polynesian, Timor, Extra-Ramelaic, West |
| Language use | Helong Darat shifting to Kupang Malay [mkn] due to influence of people from Rote and Savu [hvn]. Funai dialect is endangered; many married spouses from other ethnic groups and youth shifted to Kupang Malay. Home, community, traditional ceremonies. Also use Rote varieties, Sabu, Dhao [nfa], Uab Meto [aoz], Kupang Malay, or Standard Indonesian [ind]. |
| Language development | Dictionary. Bible portions: 2002–2004. |
| Comments | Unlike many surrounding languages, does not inflect V-initial verb roots for person or number; has long and short vowels; glottal stop, metathesis. Christian, traditional religion. |
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