Saweru is a Papuan language closely related to Yawa of central Yapen Island in Geelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Indonesia, of which it is sometimes considered a dialect. It is spoken on Serui Island just offshore.

Saweru
Sarwar Use
Native toIndonesia
RegionCenderawasih Bay
Native speakers
(300 cited 1991)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3swr
Glottologsawe1240

Unlike Yawa, Saweru lacks an inclusive-exclusive distinction for the first person plural pronoun. Saweru has amai 'we', while Yawa has ream 'we (exclusive)' and wam 'we (inclusive)'.[2]: 553 

References

edit
  1. ^ Saweru at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Foley, William A. (2018). "The languages of Northwest New Guinea". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 433–568. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.

Further reading

edit
  • Donohue, Mark n.d. Saweru phonology and orthographic guide. Unpublished ms, Department of Linguistics, The University of Sydney.
  • Donohue, Mark n.d. The variable foot in Saweru. Unpublished ms, Department of Linguistics, The National University of Singapore.
  • Ayeri, Alfons and Mark Donohue. n.d. Yafan (Saweru) Word List. Unpublished ms, University of Sydney.