Somba-Siawari

BMU

educational

Alternate Names: Bulum, Burum, Burum-Mindik, Mindik

Dialects: Siawari, Somba. Lexical similarity: 92% with dialects.

Genealogy:

Trans-New Guinea
Finisterre-Huon
Huon
Western

Demographics: 9,000 (2000 census). 1,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 11,000.

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Kâte [kmg], Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 80%–90%. 7,000 can read it, 6,000 can write it. 7 community schools. Taught in secondary schools. Dictionary. NT: 1996.

Typology: SOV; postpositions.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea

Other Comments: ‘Bulum’ is the Kâte , name for the Burum area. Christian, traditional religion.