Minaveha | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: mvn
Alternate Names: Kukuya, Minavega
Autonym: Minaveha
Population: 2,300 (2007 SIL), increasing. 500 monolinguals (2001 UNESCO).
Location:: Milne Bay province: Bolubolu district, southwest Fergusson island near Mapamoiwa station.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, North Papuan Mainland-D’Entrecasteaux, Are-Taupota, Taupota
Dialects: None known. Lexical similarity: 60% with Iamalele [yml] (most similar), Koluwawa [klx], and Bwaidoka [bwd].
Typology: SOV.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains except in Catholic Churches, where there is mixed use with other languages (2001 UNESCO). Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bwaidoka [bwd]. Also use Dobu [dob]. Also use English [eng], steadily increasingly. Also use Iamalele [yml]. Also use Koluwawa [klx]. Also use Molima [mox]. Used as L2 by Koluwawa [klx].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 25%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. 1,100 can read, 400 can write. Taught in primary schools as of 2011. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2008.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Minaveha
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Little arable land, and population increase endangers the future of agriculture (2001 UNESCO). Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Milne Bay province: Bolubolu district, southwest Fergusson island near Mapamoiwa station.