Page Type: languageKoluwawa | Ethnologue

KLX ISO 639-3

Koluwawa

Koluwawa Autonym

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639
klx
Alternate Names
Kalokalo
Autonym
Koluwawa
Population
950 (Guderian and Guderian 2005).
Location:
Milne Bay province: Fergusson island northwest tip.
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, Bwaidoga
Dialects
None known. Lexical similarity: 64% with Iamalele [yml] (most similar), and then Bwaidoka [bwd].
Typology
SOV; Postpositions; Noun Classes: 3 (Alienable, Semi-alienable, Inalienable); Verbal affixation marks subject, object, number, plural inclusivity, plural exclusivity, and modality; Active-Stative; Aspects: 5 (Completed, Continuous, Habitual, Inceptive, Iterative); Consonants: 12, Vowels: 5.
Language Use
Vigorous. Home, community; Mixed use: Market, church. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Dobu [dob], especially older adults. Most also use English [eng], especially young people. Many also use Bwaidoka [bwd]. Many also use Iamalele [yml]. Some also use Iduna [viv]. Some also use Minaveha [mvn]. Used as L2 by Minaveha [mvn].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 50%–80%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–80%. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Bible portions: 2000–2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Koluwawa
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Use of other languages and bilingualism is mainly due to intermarriage. Husbands or wives from other language groups live at Kalokalo with their Koluwawa spouse (2002 B. Guderian and T. Guderian). Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Milne Bay province: Fergusson island northwest tip.