Sibe

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: nco
Alternate Names: Nagovis, Nagovisi, Nagovisinarai Karetaake, Sibbe, Sibe-Nagovisi
Population: 12,000 (Stebbins et al 2018), increasing. 100 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 12,000 (Stebbins et al 2018).
Location:: Bougainville province: Buin district.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: South Bougainville, Nasioi
Dialects: Teleipi, To’mau, Laagasi’, Tobe’laaki’, Welipe’.
Language Use: Used by all. All also use Tok Pisin [tpi] (Evans 2018). Used as L2 by Naasioi [nas].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: More than 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Literacy stopped, but revival plans exist. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Grammar. Bible portions: 1984.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Sibe
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Moderate acculturation. Christian.

Location: Bougainville province: Buin district.