Bayono

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
byl
Alternate Names
Benanu, Bese, Kofoyap
User Population

300 (2020 M. Edelen).

Location

Papua province: Asmat regency, Eilanden-Steenboom river area.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Bayono-Awbono
Dialects

None known. Not related to language families like Ok, Asmat, Awyu-Dumut, Momuna, or highlands language families like Dani or Mek. Lexical similarity: 55% with Awbono [awh].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; non-tonal; vowel nasalization phonemically contrastive.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Some also use Indonesian [ind], especially young adults and children who use it for basic communication with neighboring groups.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 5%–10% in Indonesian [ind], semiliterate.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bayono
Writing

Latin script [Latn], in development.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.