Sam
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A language of Papua New Guinea
Alternate Names
Songum
Autonym
Sam, Songumsam
User Population
700 (Rueck and Jore 2003).
Location
Madang province: Rai coast, near the head of Astrolabe Bay along the Kabenau River, Songum, Buan, and Wongbe villages.
Language Maps
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Language Use
Vigorous. Home, community. Mixed use: church and school, where Sam is mixed with Tok Pisin [tpi]. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Some also use Bongu [bpu] (Rueck and Jore 2003). Some also use Dubuporo [ynl] (Rueck and Jore 2003). Some also use Soq [mdc] (Rueck and Jore 2003).
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 45%. Literacy rate in L2: 35%–65% in Tok Pisin [tpi]. Literature. Bible portions: 2005.
Songum is a village name, ‘Sam’ is the language name. Christian.