Bieria

A language of Vanuatu

ISO 639: brj
Alternate Names: Bieri, Vovo, Wowo
Population: 70 (Early 2006), decreasing. Ethnic population: 100.
Location:: Shefa province: south Epi, between Maii [mmm] and Lewo [lmu] language areas.
Language Status: 7 (Shifting).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, North and Central Vanuatu, Northeast Vanuatu-Banks Islands, Epi, Bieria-Maii
Dialects: Bieria, Vovo (Wowo). Wurm and Hattori (1981) treat Bieria and Vovo as separate languages.
Language Use: Some domains. Adults only. No one under 20 regarded as a good speaker (2007 R. Early). Positive attitudes. Desire for maintenance and revival. Shifting to Baki [bki], but use as L2 is declining.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 40%. Bible portions: 1898.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Bieria
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: Shefa province: south Epi, between Maii [mmm] and Lewo [lmu] language areas.