Abu

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: ado
Alternate Names: Adjora, Adjoria, Azao
Population: 4,200 (2000 census). 820 Sabu, 3,380 Abu.
Location:: Madang and East Sepik provinces: between Angoram, Ramu, and Sepik rivers; northwest of Madang. 22 villages.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Ramu-Lower Sepik, Ramu, Grass
Dialects: Abu, Auwa, Sabu. Intelligibility among dialects sufficient to understand each other’s complex and abstract discourse. Most closely related to Waran [byz]. Sabu in northeast language region. Auwa may be a different language.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; word order distinguishes subjects, objects, indirect objects; CV, CVC, CCV, V, VC; nontonal.
Language Use: Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], especially educated young and middle-age adults. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 3%–5% in Tok Pisin [tpi]. Literature. Bible portions: 2006.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Abu
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: Madang and East Sepik provinces: between Angoram, Ramu, and Sepik rivers; northwest of Madang. 22 villages.