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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Pacific > Papua New Guinea > Bamu

Bamu

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3bcf

Population  6,310 (2000 census). 964 Gama.
Region  Western Province, Bamu River mouth and upriver.
Language map  Papua New Guinea, Map 14, reference number 669
Alternate names   Bamu Kiwai
Dialects  Gama, Lower Bamu, Sisiame, Upper Bamu (Middle Bamu), Nuhiro. Gama dialect may be a separate language. Closely related to Kiwai; less closely to Waboda [kmx]. Lexical similarity: below 80% between Gama and Lower Bamu, the most similar other Bamu dialect.
Classification  Trans-New Guinea, Kiwaian
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Bible portions: 1952–2001.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Hunter-gatherers.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Anonymous. 2011. Bamu Organised Phonology Data.  Available online

CARR, Chris; CARR, Phil, compilers. 2012. Bamu Dictionary.  Available online

CARR, Patricia Chris; CARR, Philip, authors. 1993. "Bamu language speakers produce books."

MEYER, Jens, author. 2005. "Practical teacher training: a short skills course with the Bamu people of Western Province."  Available online

Vernacular Publications

Dokou kosioidiro. 2005.

Kuria sauri. 2005.

Mamu mere. 2005.

Ota bida sosoro gotobowa. 2005.