Biak (Bahasa Biak in Indonesian) is spoken in Biak and Numfor and numerous small islands in this archipelago in the province of Papua, Indonesia. Alternative names are Biak-Numfor, Noefoor, Mafoor, Mefoor, Nufoor, Mafoorsch, Myfoorsch and Noefoorsch. It is spoken by about 30.000 people.
Dialects: Ariom, Bo'o, Dwar, Fairi, Jenures, Korim, Mandusir, Mofu, Opif, Padoa, Penasifu, Samberi, Sampori (Mokmer), Sor, Sorendidori, Sundei, Wari, Wadibu, Sori...
more
Biak (Bahasa Biak in Indonesian) is spoken in Biak and Numfor and numerous small islands in this archipelago in the province of Papua, Indonesia. Alternative names are Biak-Numfor, Noefoor, Mafoor, Mefoor, Nufoor, Mafoorsch, Myfoorsch and Noefoorsch. It is spoken by about 30.000 people.
Dialects: Ariom, Bo'o, Dwar, Fairi, Jenures, Korim, Mandusir, Mofu, Opif, Padoa, Penasifu, Samberi, Sampori (Mokmer), Sor, Sorendidori, Sundei, Wari, Wadibu, Sorido, Bosnik, Korido, Warsa, Wardo, Kamer, Mapia, Mios Num, Rumberpon, Monoarfu, Vogelkop.
In his dissertation, van den Heuvel reports that the number of speakers of the language is shrinking: "Although the number of Biak speakers is relatively high compared to other languages in the area, the language is in serious danger of disappearing. In Biak town, the language is actively used by the generation of approximately 50 years old and older, and even this generation frequently code-switches to local Malay. The generation of approximately twenty...
less
