Biga language

Biga is a heavily Papuan-influenced Austronesian language spoken in Southwest Papua, Indonesia in the south of the island of Misool. It is the predominant spoken language in the single village of Biga in Misool Timur Selatan District.^[2]

NativetoIndonesia

RegionMisool Island

Native speakers

(300 cited 2001)^[1]

Language family

Austronesian

• Malayo-Polynesian
  • Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
    • Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
      • South Halmahera–West New Guinea
        • Raja Ampat–South Halmahera
          • Raja Ampat
            • Nuclear Raja Ampat
              • Ma'ya–Salawati
                • Ma'ya
                  • Biga

Quick facts Native to, Region ...

Biga
Native to	Indonesia
Region	Misool Island
Native speakers	(300 cited 2001)[1]
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian Eastern Malayo-Polynesian South Halmahera–West New Guinea Raja Ampat–South Halmahera Raja Ampat Nuclear Raja Ampat Ma'ya–Salawati Ma'ya Biga
Language codes
ISO 639-3	bhc
Glottolog	biga1238
ELP	Biga
Biga Location of Misool Island, Biga is spoken in the southern part of this island.
Coordinates: 2.00°S 130.27°E / -2.00; 130.27

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Its status is slightly less precarious than other Raja Ampat–South Halmahera languages, as children of the village still learn the Biga language. However, its use by the younger generation is limited to speech to elders, and Papuan Malay dominates child-to-child speech.^[3]: 37

Laura Arnold classifies Biga as a divergent dialect of the Ma'ya language.^[4]