Semai | Ethnologue

A language of Malaysia

ISO 639: sea
Alternate Names: Semay, Seng’oi, Sengoi, Senoi, “Central Sakai” (pej.)
Autonym: Semai
Population: 45,000 (2020 G. Benjamin).
Location:: Pahang state: northwest; Perak state: south; Selangor state: north.
Language Status: 3 (Wider communication). The lingua franca of the Malaysian Aslian military armed forces unit (Bradley 2007a).
Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Aslian, Senoic
Dialects: Jelai, Perak I, Perak II, Cameron (Cameron Highlands), Telom, Bidor, Betau, Lipis, Bil, Ulu Kampar (Kampar), Gopeng, Tanjung Malim, Parit, Tapah (Jalan Pahang). Some dialects not mutually intelligible (2006 T. Phillips).
Language Use: Vigorous. Cameron Highlands dialect is used on radio and is a school language (Bradley 2007a). Home, church, village. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Malay [zlm] (Bradley 2007a). Some also use Temiar [tea] (Bradley 2007a).
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Literacy in Semai growing. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1951–2011.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Semai
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: ‘Sakai’, slave. ‘Sengoi’, people, in Semai. West Semai more acculturated to Malay society than east Semai.

Location: Pahang state: northwest; Perak state: south; Selangor state: north.