Ambel language

The name Ambel is probably derived from the Biak word amber, meaning "foreigner" or "stranger". It was adapted into the language itself, where the designation is galí Ambél. The alternative name Waigeo is named after the island. Speakers of Ambel consider themselves to be part of the Ma'ya tribe, hence the alternative designation galí Mayá, despite Ambel only being remotely related to Ma'ya via descent from Proto-Raja Ampat–South Halmahera. ==Dialects==

Ambel is spoken by approximately 1,600 people on Waigeo, an island in the Raja Ampat archipelago near the northwestern tip of West Papua, Indonesia. There are two dialects of Ambel: • Metsam Ambel, spoken in the two villages of Warsamdin and Kalitoko on Waigeo Island • Metnyo Ambel, spoken in the nine villages of Warimak, Waifoi, Kabilo, Go, Kapadiri, Kabare, Bonsayor, Darumbab, and Andey on Waigeo Island Ambel speakers live alongside Biak speakers in the three villages of Warsamdin, Kabare, and Andey. ==Distribution==

Ambel is spoken in the following locations within Raja Ampat Regency: • Waigeo Utara District: Kabare and Kapadiri villages. • Teluk Manyalibit District: Kabilol, Go, Waifoy, Warimak, Kalitoko and Warsamdin villages. == Phonology ==

The sounds of the Ambel language are as follows: // can be heard as [] or [] in free variation. ==Proto-language==

Arnold (2018) reconstructs two tonemes for proto-Ambel, high /3/ and rising /12/, which is similar to the tonal system of Ma'ya. : == Further reading ==