Kombio

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
xbi
Alternate Names
Endangen, Indiang
Autonym
Akwun
User Population

2,970 (2003 SIL), decreasing. Small groups in West New Britain, Vanimo and Lae areas; a few elsewhere. About 2,400 live in Kombio area. Very few monolinguals.

Location

East Sepik province: Dreikikir district, Torricelli mountains. 31 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Torricelli, Kombio-Arapesh, Kombio
Dialects

North Kombio (Mwi), West-Central Kombio (Wampukuamp), South Kombio (Yanimoi), East Kombio (Wampurun). Mwi dialect is more distinct from the others and users have some difficulty in comprehension between dialects. 7–8 central villages each have unique idiolect versions.

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Much mixing with L1. Kombio used by adults, but only used occasionally by those under 18. Adults only. All shifting to Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 25%–35%. Literature. Bible portions: 1999–2001.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kombio
Writing

Latin script [Latn].