Alternate Names: Harway, Taman, Waibuk, Wiyau, Wiyaw, Wovan
Dialects: Central Waibuk (Mambar), North Waibuk (Hamil), South Waibuk (Arama). Word taboo practiced, but does not seem to impede intelligibility among related language varieties. Lexical similarity: 37% with Pinai-Hagahai ,, 35% with Kobon ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 2,000 (2000 SIL). Many monolinguals.
Language Use: Speeches and sermons by outsiders always translated into Haruai. All ages. Also use Kobon [kpw], Tok Pisin [tpi]. Used as L2 by Pinai-Hagahai [pnn].
Language Development: NT: 2010.
Typology: SOV; postpositions (few); genitives precede noun heads; possessives, adjectives, numerals, relative clauses follow noun heads; postclitic demonstratives; suffixes; V, CV, VC, CVC.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea
Other Comments: Some similarities to Kalam languages due to borrowing (Comrie 1988). More loanwords from Kobon used in the northern area.