Also Known As:
Axamb, Akhamb, Akamb, naujin sdrato [nauˈtʃin sndraˈto] ‘our language’
Dialects & Varieties
Documenting Ahamb, a Small Island Language of Vanuatu
Documenting Ahamb, a Small Island Language of Vanuatu
Vulnerable
60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~800
Native Speakers Worldwide
Transmission
Transmission -1
All members of the community, including children, speak the language.
-1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"Virtually all speakers of Ahamb are bilingual in Ahamb and Bislama (a dialect of Melanesian Creole), the national language of Vanuatu. Some Ahamb speakers also speak English. French is not commonly spoken. Bislama is the more prestigious language and the language of choice for trade and communication with the authorities and people from other language areas. It is also the more common language for church services. Bislama and English are used in teaching at the local primary and secondary schools. Ahamb is mostly used at home and for everyday purposes and sometimes for custom ceremonies. Ahamb borrows heavily from Bislama and code switching is common."
Location and Context
Countries
Vanuatu;
Location Description
Spoken "primarily on the small low-lying Ahamb island (covering only 0.3 sq km) off the south coast of Malekula."
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Bislama, English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
All
Domains of Other Languages:
Trade, government, education, religion
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
"Ahamb is a predominantly spoken language with very few written sources, including a handful of songs and a short Bible comic story published recently. There is no established standardised orthography for Ahamb yet."
Recent Resources
Audio-video recordings of stories, cultural traditions, tasks, religious passages and songs, etc.
Summary of the deposit
Ahamb is one of over 120 vernacular languages spoken in the Republic of Vanu
Men demonstrate how to dive for fish with spears. Axamb Island, Malakula, Vanuatu.