Page Type: languageHewa | Ethnologue

HAM ISO 639-3

Hewa

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639
ham
Alternate Names
Sisimin, Taduaguay, Yoliapi
Population
4,800 (2014 SIL). 1,600 monolinguals (2001 UNESCO). Ethnic population: 4,800 (2014 SIL).
Location:
Enga province: Lagaip district; Sandaun province: Telefomin district; Hela province: Koroba district; Lagaip river area, mountains north of Duna [duc] and Ipili [ipi] language areas; south of Lagaip river northward to Central range high peaks (boundary between Sepik region and the highlands).
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Sepik, Sepik Hill, Sanio
Dialects
Upper Lagaip, Central Lagaip, Lower Lagaip, North Hewa. Potentially 7–8 dialects. Some are mutually intelligible, while others are highly divergent from the others (2014 SIL).
Typology
SOV.
Language Use
Vigorous. Use of Hewa is the norm (2014 SIL). All domains except church, where there is mixed use with Tok Pisin [tpi] (2014 SIL). Used by all. Some also use Duna [duc]. Some also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Ipili [ipi]. Also use Oksapmin [opm].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 2%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. 25 or fewer can read it, 10 or fewer can write it. Bible portions: 1985–2019.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Hewa
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Seminomadic. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Enga province: Lagaip district; Sandaun province: Telefomin district; Hela province: Koroba district; Lagaip river area, mountains north of Duna [duc] and Ipili [ipi] language areas; south of Lagaip river northward to Central range high peaks (boundary between Sepik region and the highlands).