Bunama | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: bdd
Alternate Names: Kelelegeia
Autonym: Bunama
Population: 4,000 (1993 SIL).
Location:: Milne Bay province: Esa’ala district, south Normanby island.
Language Status: 5* (Developing).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, North Papuan Mainland-D’Entrecasteaux, Dobu-Duau
Dialects: Bunama, Barabara, Sawatupwa, Lomitawa, Sipupu, Weyoko, Meudana, Kerorogea, Kumalahu, Kasikasi, Sawabwala. Lexical similarity: 66% with Mwatebu [mwa], 75% with most Dobu [dob] dialects.
Language Use: Also use Dobu [dob]. Used as L2 by ’Auhelawa [kud], Duau [dva].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 85%. Literacy rate in L2: 85%. NT: 1991.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Bunama
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Milne Bay province: Esa’ala district, south Normanby island.