Wabo Language Facing Extinction, BRIN Compiles Grammar to Preserve Papuan Heritage
The Wabo language in the Yapen Islands Regency, Papua, is now spoken only by the older generation aged 50-70 years. This condition has prompted the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to accelerate documentation efforts and the compilation of a descriptive grammar to preserve the critically endangered language.
BRIN held a focus group discussion to verify Wabo language data at the Bapperida Office of the Yapen Islands Regency, Papua, from 8 to 12 June 2026. The activity involved native Wabo speakers, the local government, the Yapen Customary Council, and the Yapen Cultural Association (Persada).
The Head of the BRIN Research Team, Satwiko Budiono, stated that Wabo language data has been archived in the National Scientific Repository (RIN) through the Language Documentation in Indonesia (Ladin) programme managed by BRIN. “In addition, Wabo language recording data has also been archived in an international repository called The Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR),” Satwiko said on Thursday.
Satwiko explained that this activity is a continuation of the Wabo language documentation research conducted in 2023-2024. After the data archiving process in 2025, BRIN is now entering the verification stage to compile a grammar that can serve as a reference for preserving the language. “This Wabo language documentation research has a long and continuous work process, thus requiring assistance from various parties, including the Wabo speakers themselves and the local government,” said Satwiko.
According to him, Wabo is one of the critically endangered regional languages in Papua because it is no longer used in daily communication. One of the causes is the prohibition of using the Wabo language in educational and religious activities in the past. As a result, the use of Wabo has continued to decline and now only survives among the older generation.
“This condition makes documentation and the compilation of a descriptive grammar important so that the uniqueness of the Wabo language can still be passed on and learned by the next generation,” Satwiko said. During the verification process, researchers re-examined words, phrases, clauses, and sentences that had been collected previously. Verification was carried out to ensure all data matched the original usage of the Wabo language and to obtain agreement from the speakers.
The Head of Bapperida for the Yapen Islands Regency, Saskar Paiderouw, expressed support for the research conducted by BRIN. He noted that the Yapen Islands have many regional languages facing the threat of extinction, requiring serious attention. “Bapperida of the Yapen Islands is committed to continuously supporting and striving for research on these regional languages to be carried out in the future through cooperation or collaboration with BRIN,” said Saskar.
A member of the Yapen Regency House of Representatives (DPRK), Mikha Runaweri, assessed that the activity provides hope for the preservation of the Wabo language, which is increasingly rarely used by the community. “With this activity, I become optimistic and spirited that the Wabo language can be saved from the threat of extinction,” said Mikha.