Asmat, Central

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
cns
Alternate Names
Jas, Manowee, Yas
Population

7,000 (Roesler 1972). Most are monolingual.

Location

Papua Province. Casuarina coast areas. Asmat Regency; Sawa-Erma, Agats, Atsy, and Pantai Kasuari subdistricts. South coast from Owap river northwest to Farec river southwest, inland. Also, Mappi regency, Nambai and Edera subdistricts. Digul river delta area.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Asmat-Kamoro, Asmat
Dialects

Ajam (Ayam), Misman, Simai (Simay). Related to Sempan [xse] north of the rivers. Similar to Kamoro [kgq] and Citak [txt].

Language Use

Many becoming bilingual in Indonesian [ind].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Less than 5% in Indonesian [ind]. NT: 1985.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Asmat, Central
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.