Page Type: languageAmbai | Ethnologue

AMK ISO 639-3

Ambai

A language of Indonesia

ISO 639
amk
Alternate Names
Ambai-Menawi
Population
10,100 (2000).
Location:
Papua province: Yapen Waropen regency, Yapen Selatan and Yapen Timur sub-districts, 10 villages on Ambai island, Cenderawasih bay, and Yapen island south coast.
Language Status
6b* (Threatened).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, South Halmahera-West New Guinea, West New Guinea, Cenderawasih Bay, Yapen, Central-Western
Dialects
Randawaya, Ambai (Wadapi-Laut), Manawi. Lexical similarity: 77% with Serui-Laut [seu], 71% with Wandamen [wad].
Typology
Serial verbs; complex directional demonstrative system.
Language Use
Also use Indonesian [ind], especially children.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 25%–50%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Grammar. NT: 2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ambai
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Papua province: Yapen Waropen regency, Yapen Selatan and Yapen Timur sub-districts, 10 villages on Ambai island, Cenderawasih bay, and Yapen island south coast.