Nggem language

Nggem is a Baliem Valley language spoken in the Indonesian province of Highland Papua by the Nggem people of Central Mamberamo.

Name

Nggem refers both to the language as well as the people, used as both an endonym by the people themselves and as an exonym by neighbouring tribes. 

The language's name comes from the noun , 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, "string skirt" refers to the Dani people. 

In the neighbouring Western Dani language, is a derogatory term meaning "thief". 

Phonology

Consonants

The following table shows Nggem's consonantal phonemes: 

Vowels

The following table shows Nggem's vowel phonemes: 

References