Simbali language

Simbali is a poorly-documented Baining language spoken in the southern Gazelle Peninsula on New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Names

Simbali is alternatively known as Asimbali or Neu-Pommern.

Location

In 2012, the language was described as being strongest in the villages of Alingirka, Avungi (4°45′21″S 151°48′57″E / 4.755811°S 151.815774°E / -4.755811; 151.815774 (Avungi)) and Kavudemki (4°55′43″S 151°57′40″E / 4.928481°S 151.960992°E / -4.928481; 151.960992 (Kavudemki Village)).

Status

A 2012 SIL report described the language as vigorous and used across all ages, with speakers having a strong ethno-linguistic identity and a desire to maintain the language. This is seemingly no longer true; the Simbali have since lost most of their land to palm oil and logging companies, a large risk factor for language death.

External links

• A collection of mostly open-access Simbali material is available at the Endangered Languages Archive .

References