Sam | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: snx
Alternate Names: Songum
Autonym: Sam, Songumsam
Population: 700 (Rueck and Jore 2003).
Location:: Madang province: Rai coast, near the head of Astrolabe Bay along the Kabenau River, Songum, Buan, and Wongbe villages.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Trans-New Guinea, Madang, Rai Coast, Mindjim
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, community. Mixed use: church and school, where Sam is mixed with Tok Pisin [tpi]. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Some also use Bongu [bpu] (Rueck and Jore 2003). Some also use Dubuporo [ynl] (Rueck and Jore 2003). Some also use Soq [mdc] (Rueck and Jore 2003).
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 35%–65% in Tok Pisin [tpi]. Literature. Bible portions: 2005.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Sam
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Songum is a village name, ‘Sam’ is the language name. Christian.

Location: Madang province: Rai coast, near the head of Astrolabe Bay along the Kabenau River, Songum, Buan, and Wongbe villages.