| Nggem | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Indonesia |
| Region | Highland Papua: Mamberamo Tengah Regency |
Native speakers | 4,400 (2005)[1] |
Trans–New Guinea
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | nbq |
| Glottolog | ngge1241 |
Nggem is aBaliem Valley language spoken in the Indonesian province ofHighland Papua by theNggem people [id] ofCentral Mamberamo.
Nggem refers both to the language as well as the people, used as both anendonym by the people themselves and as anexonym by neighbouring tribes.[2] : 1
The language's name comes from the nounnggem, referring to a grass skirt covering the buttocks and pubic area, the style of dress formerly worn by Nggem women. Nggem people refer to other language groups by the name of the style of women's traditional clothing; for example,yonggal "string skirt" refers to theDani people.[2] : 1
In the neighbouringWestern Dani language,nggem is a derogatory term meaning "thief".[2] : 1
The following table shows Nggem's consonantalphonemes:[2] : 13
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Velar | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | Pre-nasalized | ᵐb | ⁿd | ᵑɡ |
| Voiceless | p | t | k | |
| Implosive | ɓ | ɗ | ||
| Sibilant | s | |||
| Lateral | l | |||
| Nasal | m | n | ||
| Semivowel | w | y | ||
The following table shows Nggem's vowelphonemes:[2] : 13
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | u | |
| Mid | e | o | |
| Low | a |
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