Mah Meri | |
---|---|
Besisi, Betise’ | |
Native to | Malaysia |
Region | Malay Peninsula |
Ethnicity | Mah Meri |
Native speakers | 3,700 (2008)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | mhe |
Glottolog | besi1244 |
ELP | Mah Meri |
Mah Meri, also known as Besisi, Cellate, Hma’ Btsisi’, Ma’ Betisek, and “Orang Sabat” (pejorative term),[2] is an Austroasiatic language spoken in the Malay Peninsula. Along with Semaq Beri, Semelai and Temoq, Mah Meri belongs to the Southern Aslian branch of the Aslian languages.[1] Mah Meri is the only remaining Aslian language spoken in a coastal area (on the coasts of Negeri Sembilan and Selangor) and its speaker population is 3,675 as recorded at the Orang Asli Museum in Gombak.[1] A dictionary of the Mah Meri language has been compiled by Nicole Kruspe.[3][4]