Page Type: languageBamu | Ethnologue

BCF ISO 639-3

Bamu

Bamu Owera Autonym

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639
bcf
Alternate Names
Bamu Kiwai, Kiwai
Autonym
Bamu Owera
Population
6,310 (2000 census). 960 Gama.
Location:
Gulf province: Turama river mouth south bank; Western province: Bamu river from mouth to confluence of Wawoi and Guavi rivers, lower Wawoi, Guavi and Gama rivers, Sagero creek to its mouth at Fly river.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Kiwaian
Dialects
Gama, Lower Bamu, Sisiame, Upper Bamu (Middle Bamu), Nuhiro. Gama dialect may be a separate language. Closely related to Kiwai; less closely to Waboda [kmx]. Lexical similarity: less than 80% with Gama and Lower Bamu, the most similar other Bamu dialect.
Language Use
Used by all. Some also use Hiri Motu [hmo], only males over 60 and some young men. A few also use English [eng], but it is very basic, used for communication with outsiders. A few also use Tok Pisin [tpi], but only those who have worked at logging camps far outside the language area. Used as L2 by Foia Foia [ffi], Hoyahoya [hhy], Mubami [tsx], Tabo [knv].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Texts. Bible portions: 1952–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bamu
Writing
Latin script [Latn].

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Gulf province: Turama river mouth south bank; Western province: Bamu river from mouth to confluence of Wawoi and Guavi rivers, lower Wawoi, Guavi and Gama rivers, Sagero creek to its mouth at Fly river.