Kanum, Ngkâlmpw

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
kcd
Alternate Names
Enkelembu, Kenume, Knwne
Population

150 (1996 M. Donohue).

Location

Papua Province, Yanggandur, Tomer, and Onggaya villages. Southernmost point of province, east of Merauke city; along Papua New Guinea border.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
South-Central Papuan, Morehead-Upper Maro, Tonda
Dialects

Kanum varieties are separate languages, with difficult mutual intelligibility. Similar to Yei [jei]. Also classified as Australian, Pama-Nyungan.

Language Use

Home, hunting camps. All ages. Also use Morori [mok] or Indonesian [ind] as trade languages, Indonesian for official purposes.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 5%.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kanum, Ngkâlmpw
Other Comments

One ethnic group with Kanum varieties. Clan marriages common, and much ritual exchange. Christian.