Bariai

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
bch
Alternate Names
“Kabana” (pej.)
Population

1,380 (1998 SIL).

Location

West New Britain Province, east of Cape Gloucester, northwest coast.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Ngero-Vitiaz, Ngero, Bariai
Dialects

None known. Lexical similarity: 72% with Kove [kvc], 76% with Lusi [khl].

Typology

SVO; prepositions, 14% of syllables are closed; morphologically less complex than most Austronesian languages.

Language Use

All ages. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Used as L2 by Amara [aie], Anem [anz].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 41% (adults). Literacy rate in L2: 83% (adults). Dictionary. NT: 2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bariai
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

‘Kabana’ is acceptable to the 3 eastern villages but offensive to most of the population.