Manambu

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
mle
User Population

3,000 (Aikhenvald 2018). No monolinguals (Aikhenvald 2018).

Location

East Sepik province: Ambunti subprovince, Sepik river area. 5 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Sepik, Ndu
Dialects

There are at least 3 varieties: 1 spoken in Avatip and Yawabak villages, 1 spoken in Malu and Apan villages, and 1 spoken in Yuanab village. There are differences among these three varieties, but all of them are mutually intelligible with one another. However, migration is leading to a mixing and levelling of dialect differences (Aikhenvald 2008).

Language Use

Mixed use: Home, community, church. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. All also use Tok Pisin [tpi] (Aikhenvald 2008). Some also use English [eng] (Aikhenvald 2008). Used as L2 by Yalaku [ylg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–15%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Grammar. NT: 1979.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Manambu
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.