Mbula | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: mna
Alternate Names: Mangaaba, Mangaava, Mangaawa, Mangap, Mangap-Mbula, “Kaimanga” (pej.)
Autonym: Mbula
Population: 4,500 (Bugenhagen and Bugenhagen 2007), increasing. 450 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 4,500 (Bugenhagen and Bugenhagen 2007).
Location:: Morobe province: Siassi district, east Umboi island, 6 villages; Sakar island, 1 village.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Ngero-Vitiaz, Vitiaz, Mangap-Mbula
Dialects: Mbula (Central Mbula), Northern Mbula, Gauru, Sakar.
Typology: SVO; prepositions.
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, market, church. Used by all. Mixed attitudes, from positive to negative. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Used as L2 by Karnai [bbv].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Literacy is increasing. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1997.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Mbula
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Morobe province: Siassi district, east Umboi island, 6 villages; Sakar island, 1 village.