Page Type: languageNakanai | Ethnologue

NAK ISO 639-3

Nakanai

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639
nak
Alternate Names
Nakonai
Population
30,000 (2000 census).
Location:
East New Britain province: small area in Pomio district, Mamusi-West Pomio RLLG; West New Britain province: Talasea district, especially Hoskins RLLG, and northwest coast, Biala RLLG, 42 villages.
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Meso Melanesian, Willaumez
Dialects
Losa (Auka, Loso), Bileki (Lakalai, Mamuga, Muku), Vere (Tarobi, Vele), Ubae (Babata), Maututu.
Language Use
Also use English [eng] (Chowning and Goodenough 2016). Also use Tok Pisin [tpi] (Chowning and Goodenough 2016). Used as L2 by Bebeli [bek], Mangseng [mbh].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1983.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nakanai
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Major language of the Nakanai family. Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: East New Britain province: small area in Pomio district, Mamusi-West Pomio RLLG; West New Britain province: Talasea district, especially Hoskins RLLG, and northwest coast, Biala RLLG, 42 villages.