Wakasihu language

Wakasihu, or Larike-Wakasihu after the two still-vigorous dialects, is an Austronesian language of Ambon Island in the Maluku Islands.

Wakasihu
Larike-Wakasihu
Native to	Indonesia
Region	Ambon Island, Maluku
Native speakers	(13,000 cited 1987)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian (MP) Central–Eastern MP Central Maluku ? East Central Maluku Seram ? Nunusaku Piru Bay West Hoamoal Wakasihu
Dialects	Allang Wakasihu Larike
Language codes
ISO 639-3	alo
Glottolog	lari1255

Phonology

Wakasihu consonants

		Labial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Plosive	voiceless	p	t	(tʃ)	k	ʔ
	voiced	(b)	d	(dʒ)	(ɡ)
Nasal		m	n		(ŋ)
Fricative			s			h
Tap			ɾ
Lateral			l
Approximant		w		j

Phonemes in parentheses are borrowed from other languages.

Wakasihu vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		u
Mid	e		o
Open		a

/i e a/ are heard as [ɪ ɛ ə] when in closed or stressed syllable position.

Further reading

• Laidig, Carol J.; Laidig, Wyn D. (1991). Kamus Sou Rikedu/Kamus Bahasa Larike/Larike Dictionary (in Indonesian and English). Ambon: Universitas Pattimura and Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 979-8132-24-6.
• Laidig, Carol J.; Laidig, Wyn D. (1991). Tarus Sou Rikedu/Tata Bahasa Larike/Larike Grammar (in Indonesian and English). Ambon: Universitas Pattimura and Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 979-8132-25-4.
• Laidig, Wyn D.; Laidig, Carol J. (1995). "A Synopsis of Larike Phonology and Syntax" (PDF). In Laidig, Wyn D. (ed.). Descriptive Studies in Languages of Maluku, Part II. NUSA 38. Jakarta: Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya. pp. 19–42.