Leipon

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: lek
Alternate Names: Pitilu, Pityilu
Population: 1,320 (2000 census).
Location:: Manus province: Lolo village, Hauwai, Ndrilo, and Pityilu islands.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Admiralty Islands, Eastern, Manus, East
Dialects: Pafulu.
Typology: SVO.
Language Use: Some young people, all adults. Most children passively understand Leipon but few speak it fluently (2020 Z. O’Leary). Most also use Tok Pisin [tpi], more often than Leipon by children, and interchangeably with Leipon by adults in most domains (2020 Z. O’Leary). Also use Lele [lle].

Location: Manus province: Lolo village, Hauwai, Ndrilo, and Pityilu islands.