Page Type: languageKei | Ethnologue

KEI ISO 639-3

Kei

A language of Indonesia

ISO 639
kei
Alternate Names
Kai, Keiese, Saumlaki, Veveu Evav
Population
85,000 (2000 E. Travis). 4,500 monolinguals.
Location:
Maluku province: about 207 villages on 10 islands southeast; Besar, Kecil, and surrounding islands, Kei island group, and Kur islands northwest of Kei group.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Southeast Maluku, Kei-Tanimbar, Kei-Fordata
Dialects
Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tayando, Tanimbar Kei (Atnebar), Ta’am. Kei Kecil is the prestigious urban dialect. Kei Besar speakers usually also know Kei Kecil, but not vice versa. Kei Besar is reportedly more similar to Fordata [frd] than other Kei dialects. Tanimbar Kei is spoken in only one village. Lexical similarity: 60% with Fordata [frd].
Language Use
Fairly vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Banda [bnd]. Also use Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Banda [bnd], Kur [kuv].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 100 can read, 10 can write. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. 100 can read, 10 can write. Used informally in school for explanations. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kei
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Maluku province: about 207 villages on 10 islands southeast; Besar, Kecil, and surrounding islands, Kei island group, and Kur islands northwest of Kei group.