Biak language

Biak (wós Vyak or 'Biak language'; wós kovedi or 'our language'; Indonesian: bahasa Biak), also known as Biak-Numfor, Noefoor, Mafoor, Mefoor, Nufoor, Mafoorsch, Myfoorsch and Noefoorsch, is an Austronesian language of the South Halmahera-West New Guinea subgroup of the Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages. According to Ethnologue, it is spoken by about 70,000 people in Biak and Numfor and numerous small islands in the Schouten Islands, located in Papua province of Western New Guinea, northeastern Indonesia. There are a number of different dialects of Biak spoken on various different islands, the most well-known being Biak-Numfoor, spoken on the island of Numfoor. These dialect differences are minor and mostly limited to slight regular sound changes. The vast majority of Biak speakers are also fluent in the local variety of Malay, but not all of them are proficient in standard Indonesian. Geographical distributions of Biak dialects within Raja Ampat Regency (Ronsumbre 2020): Betew dialect Waigeo Selatan District: Saonek, Saporkren, Yenbeser, Yenwaupur, Sawinggrai, Kapisawar, and Arborek villages. Waigeo Barat District: Mutus, Biantsyi, Waisilip, Manyaifun, Meos Manggara, and Pam villages. Kofiau District: Deer, Balal, and Tolobi villages. Misool District: Pulau Tikus, Solol, Meos Kapal, and Umkabu villages. Samate District: Jefman village. Teluk Manyalibit District: Mumes village. Kafdaron dialect Samate District: Yensawai, Amdui, Yenanas, and Aresi villages Karon dialect Sausapor District: Sausapor village Bikar (Biak Karon) District, Tambrauw Regency Usba dialect Waigeo Utara District: Rauki village. Ayau District: Dorekar and Meosbekwan villages. Wardo dialect Waigeo Timur District: Yensner, Urbinasopen, Yembekaki, and Puper villages. Waigeo Utara District: Menir, Warwanai, Boni, Asukweri, and Kabare villages. Ayau District: Rutung, Reni, and Yenkawir villages. Despite the comparatively high number of speakers compared to some other Austronesian languages, Biak is still in danger of extinction.