Ambai

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
amk
Alternate Names
Ambai-Menawi
User Population

10,100 (2000).

Location

Papua province: Yapen Waropen regency, Yapen Selatan and Yapen Timur sub-districts, 10 villages on Ambai island, Cenderawasih bay, and Yapen island south coast.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, South Halmahera-West New Guinea, West New Guinea, Cenderawasih Bay, Yapen, Central-Western
Dialects

Randawaya, Ambai (Wadapi-Laut), Manawi. Lexical similarity: 77% with Serui-Laut [seu], 71% with Wandamen [wad].

Typology

Serial verbs; complex directional demonstrative system.

Language Use

Also use Indonesian [ind], especially children.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 25%–50%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Grammar. NT: 2010.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ambai
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.