Maiwa | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: mti
Autonym: Maiwa
Population: 1,470 (2001 SIL), increasing. 330 Gairen, 180 Gwareta, 380 Maiwa, 180 Manigara, 400 Oren (2001 SIL). 74 monolinguals (2001 SIL). Ethnic population: 1,470 (2001 SIL).
Location:: Milne Bay province: Rabaraba district, Meneao range area; Moi Biri bay coast; into Oro province.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Trans-New Guinea, Southeast Papuan, Dagan
Dialects: Maiwa, Oren, Manigara, Gairen, Gwareta. All 5 dialects are each mutually intelligible with the others (2001 SIL). Lexical similarity: 41% with Mapena [mnm].
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains except church, where there is mixed use with English [eng] (2001 SIL). Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use English [eng], especially young people. Some also use Hiri Motu [hmo], especially older adults. A few also use Daga [dgz]. Used as L2 by Dima [jma], Mapena [mnm].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%–15%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%–15% in English [eng]. Literature. Grammar. NT: 2012.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Maiwa
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: Milne Bay province: Rabaraba district, Meneao range area; Moi Biri bay coast; into Oro province.