Yambes

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
ymb
Population

1,080 (2003 SIL), decreasing. No monolinguals.

Location

East Sepik Province, Dreikikkir district, northwest of Wom, east and southeast of Kombio. 4 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Torricelli, Kombio-Arapesh, Kombio
Dialects

East Yambes, West Yambes. Language combines features and vocabulary of Kombio [xbi], Urat [urt], and Wom [wmo]; some understanding of all 3.

Language Use

Language loss concerns adults. Mainly older adults. Nearly all also use Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%.
Other Comments

Ethnic autonym: last Kombio.