Abadi

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
kbt
Alternate Names
Gabadi, Kabadi
Autonym
Abadi
User Population

2,900 (Kassell and Potter 2011), increasing.

Location

Central province: Kairuku district, 5 main villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Peripheral, Central Papuan, West Central Papuan, Gabadi
Dialects

None known. Lexical similarity: 53% with Toura [don], 47% with Lala [nrz] (Kassell and Potter 2011).

Typology

SOV; 16 consonants and 7 vowels.

Language Use

Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Tok Pisin [tpi], especially youth. Some also use Hiri Motu [hmo], especially those over 50. Used as L2 by Toura [don].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 75%. Literacy rate in L2: 40%. Taught in primary schools in early grades only in more than 20 vernacular elementary schools (2021 SIL). Literature. Videos. Bible portions: 2016.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Abadi
Writing

Latin script [Latn].