Also Known As:
Longa, Bibling
Dialects & Varieties
A Sociolinguistic Survey of Amara
John Carter, Katie Carter, Bonnie MacKenzie, Hannah Paris and Brian Paris. 2012. "A Sociolinguistic Survey of Amara." SIL International. Online: http://silorg.devcloud.acquia-sites.com/resources/publications/entry/48….
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
<231
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 2
Used in some non-official domains along with other languages, and remains the primary language used in the home for many community members.
2
Transmission
Transmission 2
Most adults in the community are speakers, but children generally are not.
2
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
231
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Location and Context
Countries
Papua New Guinea
Location Description
West New Britain: villages of Siamatai, Niuniuiai, and Natamou.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
Amara-language Siamatai elementary school
Speakers' Attitude
Mixed/positive
Other Languages Used By The Community
Tok Pisin, Bariai, Maleu-Kilenge, Lusi, Kove, Mouk, Aria, Anem, English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
Church (Tok Pisin), education, trade, economy, outsiders, singsings/kastam
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No writing system is specifically mentioned, but one can infer its existence by the fact that there are school books in the language and community members have apparently asked SIL for more Amara books; e.g., "There are teacher’s guides available to the staff that were originally provided in English and then translated to Bariai. However, the teachers of Siamatai translated them into Amara for use in Siamatai."
Recent Resources
Informative message
No results found.
"High internal prestige is found in Siamatai where the language is still vital. Low internal prestige and faint sentimental attachments to the language are resulting in ongoing language shift in Niuniuiai and completed language shift in Natamou."
"...[M]ales and females of each age group are actively bilingual in Bariai, Maleu-Kilenge, and Tok Pisin."