Sobei

A language of Indonesia

ISO 639: sob
Alternate Names: Biga, Imasi, Liki
Population: 1,000 (Wurm 2000). Ethnic population: 1,850 (2000 D. Tryon).
Location:: Papua province: Sarmi regency, Sarmi sub-district, north coast area, Bagaiserwar, Sarmi, and Sawar villages.
Language Status: 7 (Shifting).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Sarmi-Jayapura Bay, Sarmi
Dialects: None known. Reported comprehension of Liki [lio].
Typology: SVO; noun head initial; dual number; 15 consonants and 5 vowels; stress on final syllable of root; alienable/inalienable possession; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.
Language Use: Some shifting to Indonesian [ind], especially by children, who are bilingual and tend to prefer it. Some shifting to Papuan Malay [pmy].
Language Development: Dictionary.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Sobei
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Government schools through entire area. Increasing intermarriage with other groups. Christian.

Location: Papua province: Sarmi regency, Sarmi sub-district, north coast area, Bagaiserwar, Sarmi, and Sawar villages.