Dobu | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: dob
Alternate Names: Dobuan
Autonym: Dobu
Population: 61,000, all users. L1 users: 10,000 (1998 SIL). L2 users: 51,000 (2021). 6,000 monolinguals.
Location:: Milne Bay province: Esa’ala district, Dobu, parts of Fergusson, Normanby, and Sanaroa islands. 500 villages.
Language Status: 3 (Wider communication). Lingua franca in D’Entrecasteaux Islands.
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: Galubwa, Sanaroa, Ubuia, Central Dobu, Loboda (Dawada-Siausi, Roboda). Lexical similarity: 56% with Molima [mox] (most similar).
Typology: SOV.
Language Use: Also use English [eng]. Also use Hiri Motu [hmo]. Used as L2 by Anuki [aui], ’Auhelawa [kud], Boselewa [bwf], Bunama [bdd], Bwaidoka [bwd], Bwanabwana [tte], Duau [dva], Galeya [gar], Gumawana [gvs], Iamalele [yml], Iduna [viv], Kaninuwa [wat], Kilivila [kij], Koluwawa [klx], Maiadom [mzz], Minaveha [mvn], Molima [mox], Muyuw [myw], Mwatebu [mwa], Sewa Bay [sew], Tawala [tbo], West Goodenough [ddi].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 90%. Literacy rate in L2: 90%. Dictionary. Texts. Bible: 1928.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Dobu
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Many schools.

Location: Milne Bay province: Esa’ala district, Dobu, parts of Fergusson, Normanby, and Sanaroa islands. 500 villages.