Mesem | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: mci
Autonym: Mese
Population: 4,000 (1997 census).
Location:: Morobe province: Lae district, Boana subdistrict, interior north of Lae. 14 villages.
Language Status: 5* (Developing).
Classification: Trans-New Guinea, Finisterre-Huon, Huon, Western
Dialects: West-Central Mese, East Mese, Momalili (“Momolili” (pej.)), Zezagi.
Typology: SOV; adjectives, numerals after noun heads; verb affixes mark number; CV, CVC, CVV, CCV, VC, V; nontonal.
Language Use: Also use Kâte [kmg]. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Also use Yabem [jae]. Used as L2 by Musom [msu].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Over 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Vernacular pre-schools since 1995. NT: 2013.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Mesem
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Community schools at Hobu and Samanzing. Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Morobe province: Lae district, Boana subdistrict, interior north of Lae. 14 villages.