Bamu

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
bcf
Alternate Names
Bamu Kiwai
Population

6,310 (2000 census). 960 Gama.

Location

Western Province, Bamu river mouth and upriver.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Kiwaian
Dialects

Gama, Lower Bamu, Nuhiro, Sisiame, Upper Bamu (Middle Bamu). Gama dialect may be a separate language. Closely related to Kiwai; less closely to Waboda [kmx]. Lexical similarity: less than 80% with Gama and Lower Bamu, the most similar other Bamu dialect.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Foia Foia [ffi], Hoyahoya [hhy], Mubami [tsx], Tabo [knv].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1952–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bamu
Writing

Latin script [Latn].