Page Type: languageKuman | Ethnologue

KUE ISO 639-3

Kuman

Kuman Autonym

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639
kue
Alternate Names
Chimbu, Simbu
Autonym
Kuman
Population
185,000, all users. L1 users: 115,000 (2000 census). L2 users: 70,000 (2021). Few monolinguals.
Location:
Chimbu province: northern third; Eastern Highlands province: Daulo, Lufa and Unggai-Benna Lufa districts.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Major area language used as a trade language for all the other Chimbu languages.
Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Chimbu-Wahgi, Chimbu
Dialects
Kuman, Nagane (Genagane, Genogane), Yongomugl.
Typology
SOV; clause chaining, auxiliary verbs with adjuncts.
Language Use
Vigorous in villages farther from highways and towns, while vitality is lower in the villages closer to the highways and towns (2015 SIL). In all villages, there is mixed use with Tok Pisin [tpi] in church. All domains except church in some villages, mixed use in all domains with Tok Pisin [tpi] in other villages (2015 SIL). Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Most also use Tok Pisin [tpi] (Hardie 2003). Some also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Chuave [cjv], Dom [doa], Golin [gvf], Kandawo [gam], Nomane [nof], Sinasina [sst], Yui [sll].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Literacy rate in L2: 35%–40%. Used in first 3 grades in school. 20,000 can read and write Kuman. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kuman
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Chimbu province: northern third; Eastern Highlands province: Daulo, Lufa and Unggai-Benna Lufa districts.