Salawati is an Austronesian language spoken on Salawati Island, in the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesian New Guinea. There is some uncertainty as to whether the dialects comprise a single language or two separate ones (divided geographically between the west and east sides of the island).
Salawati is a vulnerable-to-endangered language (6b-7 on the EGIDS scale), with younger community members having only a passive command of the language. Anecdotal reports suggest that younger speakers may be learning the language in some Tepin-dialect villages, but these reports are unconfirmed.
Like its related languages of the Raja Ampat Islands, Salawati has approximately 15 consonants and 5-6 vowels and lexical tone. It is mainly head-initial in noun phrases, and primarily uses prepositions over postpositions.
Dialects The dialects of Salawati are as follows:Kamholz, David (2014). Austronesians in Papua: Diversification and change in South Halmahera–West New Guinea . Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zg8b1vd
Butlih (Butleh, Butlis, Banlol) used in Salawati Tengah District (Raja Ampat): Kampung Wailen, Kampung Sakabu, Kampung Kalobo
Kawit (Esaro, Saorof), used in Salawati Tengah District (Sorong): Kampung Duriankari, Kampung Maralol Salawati Tengah (Raja Ampat): Kampung Kalobo
Tepin (Tipin, Metli), used in Salawati Barat District: Kampung Solol, Kampung Kaliam, Salawati Utara District: Kampung Kapatlap Salawati Tengah District (Raja Ampat): Kampung Kalobo, Kampung Waijan
Rajau (Rajao), used in Salawati Utara District: Kampung Mucu (included in Samate)
Fiawat (Fiat, Fyawat) used to be a village name now used in Salawati Utara District: Kampung Mucu (included in Samate)
Waili (Wailil, Wail, Waliam) used in Salawati Tengah District (Sorong): Kampung Waliam, Kampung Sakapul
References