Ambai

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
amk
Alternate Names
Ambai-Menawi
Population

10,100 (2000).

Location

Papua Province, Yapen Waropen regency, Yapen Selatan and Yapen Timur subdistricts, 10 villages. On Ambai island in Cenderawasih bay, south of Serui town, along south coast of Serui island.

Language Maps
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

Ambai (Wadapi-Laut), Manawi, Randawaya. Closely related to Ansus [and], Woi [wbw], Pom [pmo], Wabo [wbb], Marau [mvr], Papuma [ppm], Munggui [mth], and Kurudu [kjr]. Lexical similarity: 77% with Serui-Laut [seu], 71% with Wandamen [wad].

Typology

Serial verbs; complex directional demonstrative system

Language Use

Children use Indonesian [ind].

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.
Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.