Sobei

SOB

shifting

Alternate Names: Biga, Imasi, Liki

Dialects: None known. Reportedly comprehension of Liki ,.

Genealogy:

Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Oceanic
Western Oceanic
North New Guinea
Sarmi-Jayapura Bay
Sarmi

Demographics: 1,000 (Wurm 2000). Ethnic population: 1,850 (2000 D. Tryon).

Language Use: Endangered (2000 D. Tryon; 2000 S. Wurm). Sobei speakers are beginning to shift to Papuan Malay [pmy]. Children are bilingual in Indonesian [ind] and tend to prefer it. Also use Papuan Malay [pmy] with people of other language areas.

Language Development: Dictionary. Grammar.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Indonesia

Other Comments: Government schools through entire area. Increasing intermarriage with other groups. Christian.