Woisika language

Woisika, also known as Kamang, is a Papuan language of Alor Island of Indonesia. The three main dialects are Western Kamang, Lowland Kamang, and Upland Kamang. Dialects also include Lembur, Sibo, Kamang, Tiayai, Watang, Kamana-Kamang. They may constitute more than one language. Kamang is an endangered language, since children usually only have passive competence of the language, and instead are shifting to Malay.

Speakers may prefer the term Kamang to refer to the speech community as a whole; Woisika is a village name.

Consonants
/h/ and /ʔ/ are marginal. /r/ is rare in initial and final position. Word-final /s/ is only in loan words.

The consonant /ŋ/ is not found word-initially, and /f/ is not found word-finally.

Serial verb constructions
Kamang has serial verb constructions.

Mooi bong nok kok silang dii

banana tree one fall.down descend lie

'A banana tree came falling down.'

Afunaa yakii me noowaai.

a-funaa ga-kii me noo-waai.

3.PAT-face 3.PAT-turn come 3.AST-face

'Turn and face me.'

Valence
Examples with avalent, monovalent, bivalent, and trivalent verbs are shown below.

Avalent

Itunma

itun-ma

late.afternoon-PFV

'It's late afternoon.'

Monovalent

Markus gamanteima

Markus ga-mantei-ma

Markus 3.PAT-thirst-PFV

'Markus is thirsty already.'

Bivalent

Na Markus gatakma.

na Markus ga-tak-ma

1SG.AGT Markus 3.PAT-see-PFV

'I have seen Markus'

Trivalent

Markus patei me dumma wotulen.

'Markus divides corn amongst the children.'

Riddles
Woisika riddles relate to animals, the human body, human artifacts, natural phenomena, crops and other foods, among others.