Alternate Names: Kai, Saumlaki, Veveu Evav
Dialects: Kei Besar, Kei Kecil, Ta’am, Tanimbar Kei (Atnebar), Tayando. Kei Kecil is the prestigious urban dialect. Kei Besar speakers usually also know Kei Kecil, but not vice versa. Kei Besar is reportedly more similar to Fordata , than other Kei dialects. Tanimbar Kei is spoken in only one village. Lexical similarity: 60% with Fordata ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 85,000 (2000 E. Travis). 4,500 monolinguals. L2 users: Also used by outsiders such as ethnic Chinese and Butonese who live in Kei.
Language Use: Fairly vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Banda [bnd], Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Banda [bnd], Kur [kuv].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 100 can read, 10 can write. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. 100 can read, 10 can write. Used informally in school for explanations. Dictionary. Grammar.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Indonesia
Other Comments: Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.