It is sometimes classified with the Bosavi languages. Søren Wichmann (2013)[2] tentatively considers it to be a separate, independent group. Pawley and Hammarström (2018) note that similarities between Bosavi and Dibiyaso are likely due to loanwords, therefore leaving Dibiyaso as unclassified.[3]
There is 19% lexical cognacy with Turumsa, suggesting contact or perhaps even a genetic relationship with Doso–Turumsa.[4]
The following basic vocabulary words are from Franklin and Voorhoeve (1973), Reesink (1976), and Shaw (1986), as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database:[6]
^Wichmann, Søren. 2013. A classification of Papuan languagesArchived 2020-11-25 at the Wayback Machine. In: Hammarström, Harald and Wilco van den Heuvel (eds.), History, contact and classification of Papuan languages (Language and Linguistics in Melanesia, Special Issue 2012), 313-386. Port Moresby: Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea.
^Pawley, Andrew; Hammarström, Harald (2018). "The Trans New Guinea family". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 21–196. ISBN978-3-11-028642-7.
^Hammarström (2015) Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions: a comprehensive review: online appendices
