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Extinct Austronesian language of East Timor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Makuva, also known as Makuʼa or Lóvaia,[3] is an apparently extinct Austronesian language spoken at the northeast tip of East Timor near the town of Tutuala.
Makuva | |
---|---|
Makuʼa, Lóvaia | |
Native to | East Timor |
Native speakers | extinct since 1950s[1] to 56 (2010 census)[2] |
Austronesian
| |
Official status | |
Recognised minority language in | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | lva |
Glottolog | maku1277 |
ELP | Maku'a |
![]() Distribution of ethnic Makuva in East Timor |
Makuva has been heavily influenced by neighboring East Timorese Papuan languages, to the extent that it was long thought to be a Papuan language. The ethnic population was 50 in 1981, but the younger generation uses Fataluku as their first or second language. A 2003 report estimated that there were only five fluent speakers of the language.[4]
Numbers in Makuva | |||
Number | Makuva | ||
1 | itetlá | ||
2 | urua | ||
3 | okelo | ||
4 | oʼaka | ||
5 | olima | ||
6 | oneme | ||
7 | oíko | ||
8 | oava | ||
9 | osia | ||
10 | ideli | ||