Austronesian language
Waropen is an Austronesian language spoken at the Geelvink Bay of Indonesian Papua. It is fairly closely related to the Yapen languages.
Dialects are Waropen Kai, Napan, and Ambumi.
Phonology
/w/ can also be heard as a fricative [β].
/h/ may also exist phonemically in other dialects.
Sounds /w,j/ can be heard as vowels [ʊ,ɪ] when after vowel sounds.
/ɛ/ may be pronounced as [ɛ] or [e].
Distribution
In Papua province, it is spoken in Mamberamo Raya Regency and Waropen Regency. The Ambumi dialect is spoken in the south Waropen Bay area. Waropen is also spoken southwest to the Rombak River mouth.
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- * indicates proposed status
- ? indicates classification dispute
- † indicates extinct status
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