Semai
A language of Malaysia (Peninsular)
| Population | 43,900 (2003). 2,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 40,000 (2000). |
| Region | Northwest Pahang and south Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, central mountain area. |
| Language map |
Malaysia - Peninsular, reference number 14 |
| Alternate names | “Central Sakai” , Seng’oi, Sengoi, Senoi |
| Dialects | Jelai, Perak I, Perak II, Cameron, Telom, Bidor, Betau, Lipis, Bil, Ulu Kampar (Kampar), Gopeng, Tanjung Malim, Parit, Tapah (Jalan Pahang). |
| Classification | Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Aslian, Senoic |
| Language use | Home, church, village. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Malay [zlm] or Temiar [tea]. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1951–1962. |
| Writing system | Latin script. |
| Comments | Sakai means slave. Sengoi means people in Semai. West Semai more acculturated to Malay society than east Semai. Some dialects not mutually intelligible (2006 T. Phillips). Agriculturalists: rice, sweet potatoes, bananas, fruit, rubber. |
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Bibliography data last updated: April-2012
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