Yelmek language

Not to be confused with Yalimek language, part of Mek languages spoken by Yali people.

Yelmek
Jab, Yabega
Native toIndonesia
RegionMerauke Regency, South Papua
Native speakers
(400 cited 1978)[1]
Dialects
  • Yelmek proper
  • Yab (Jab)
  • Nggarum (Galum)
  • Dib (Dibga)
Language codes
ISO 639-3jel
Glottologjelm1234

Yelmek, also rendered Jelmek or Jelmik,[2] is a language of the proposed Trans-Fly – Bulaka River family in West Papua.

Yelmek is spoken west of Merauke Regency, between the Digul River and Mbian River. Notable villages are (from north to south) Wanam Village on the Wanam River and Bibikem in Ilwayab District; Woboyo and Dodalim (Dudaling) Village in Tubang District. In the same district, related Maklew is spoken in Welbuti Village.[3]

The Wanam variety might be a distinct language.[4]

Petabahasa by Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology used the name Yelmek for the variety of Mek languages used by the Yalimek people in Wanam Village in Abenaho District, Yalimo Regency,[5][6] while this language is called Yabega.[7]

  1. ^ Yelmek at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Yelmek language". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  3. ^ Evans, Nicholas (2018). "The languages of Southern 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. 641–774. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
  4. ^ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Wanam Yelmek". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  5. ^ "Yelmek". Peta Bahasa (in Malay). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Yelmek". Master Data Bahasa. BI000541. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Yabega". Master Data Bahasa. BI000530. Retrieved 25 May 2024.