Amis language

Amis is the language of the Amis or , a tribe of indigenous people on Taiwan . It is a Formosan language of the family.

The public spaces of the counties where many Amis people live in Taiwan, like Hualien Train Station, Taitung Train Station, and Jhihben Train Station, broadcast in Amis Language also.

Dialects

There are some dialects of Amis language: , Northern Amis dialect, Middle Amis dialect, Seashore Amis dialect, Malan Amis dialect and Hengchun Amis dialect.

Phonology

*"z" is only occurred in Sakizaya language. except the /s/ and /z/ in Sakizaya language, every dialect of Amis language doesn't distinguish the voiceless consonants and voiced consonants.
*"f" and "d" have allophones: "f" can be pronounced as /b/, /f/ or /v/, and "d" can be pronounced as /d/, /?/ or /?/.

Examples of words

* Compare with Tagalog baboy , tatlo , apat, lima, anim, pito, walo
* Compare with Kapampangan asu, pusa, atlo, apat, lima, anam, pitu/pito, walu/walo, siyam, apulu/apulo and ama and ima

*ma olah kako mimali = I like to play sports.
*takaraw ko pi ta’kod = I jump very high.
*kalamkam ko kacomikay = I run very fast.
*Ira ko tata’angay a mata a ko = I have big eyes
*mamangay a ngapa ’= A small mouth
*takaya’ay a fokes = long hair
*sowalsan ko kahaccay a tamdaw makapahay kako = Everyone tells me that I am beautiful.
*ma fana’ay mi asik，misawsaw to kaysing，milidong to fodoy = I can sweep the floor, wash dishes and clothing.
*ma olah midmak kako to tayal no loma’ = I love to do household chores.
*nawhani ma olah kako to loma’no mako = Because I love my home.

Grammar

There are some inflections of verbs exist in Amis language, like Existential clause, Active voice, Passive voice, disposal sentence, Imperative mood, Optative mood, Prohibitive mood, and etc.

There are two Word Orders in Amis language, called "General" Word Order and "Special" Word Order.

Below are some examples of Amis sentence:

"General" Word Order Sentence I : Verb-Subject

Example

*Maomahay ko wama.
**mimaomahay: Working
**wama: Father

*Misaholoay ko wina.
**misaholoay: Cooking
**ina/wina: Mother

"General" Word Order Sentence II : Verb Subject Object

Example

*Mifaca' ko kaying to riko'.
*Mifaca' koya kaying to riko'.
**mifaca': wash
**kaying: young woman
**riko'/fudoy: cloth