Page Type: languageMambae | Ethnologue

MGM ISO 639-3

Mambae

A language of East Timor

ISO 639
mgm
Alternate Names
Mambai, Manbae
Population
230,000 (2020 World Factbook).
Location:
Aileu, Ainaro, and Ermera districts: central Timor mountains; Bobonaro, Dili, and Liquiçá districts: north coast; Cova Lima district: south coast; Manufahi district: Same subdistrict.
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor
Dialects
Damata, Lolei, Manua, Mambae. North Mambae and South Mambae show significant differences.
Language Use
Second most widely spoken language of East Timor. Most also use Tetun Dili [tdt] (Williams-van Klinken et al 2002).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mambae
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Very little productive morphology compared to Tetun [tet], Uab Meto [aoz], or Galolen [gal]. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Aileu, Ainaro, and Ermera districts: central Timor mountains; Bobonaro, Dili, and Liquiçá districts: north coast; Cova Lima district: south coast; Manufahi district: Same subdistrict.