Kapin | Ethnologue

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639: tbx
Alternate Names: Katumene, Sambio, Taiak, Tayek
Autonym: Nambei nyon
Population: 3,500 (2002 SIL).
Location:: Morobe province: Bulolo and Mumeng districts; hills southwest of Mumeng, 5 villages; Lae and Wau settlements.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Huon Gulf, South, Hote-Buang, Buang
Dialects: Kapin, Garawa (Gawawa). May be part of the Mumeng group of related varieties.
Typology: SVO; prepositions; genitives before nouns, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; V, CV, CVC, CVV, CVVC, CVCC, VC; nontonal.
Language Use: In villages closer to the road, children learn Tok Pisin [tpi] as their first language. Further away from the road, children learn the vernacular first (2011 SIL). Mixed use in church with Tok Pisin [tpi], English [eng], and Yabem [jae] (2011 SIL). Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Kumalu [ksl]. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Also use Yabem [jae].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: Possibly 10% are fluent readers, 25% halting. Bible portions: 2015–2020.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kapin
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Morobe province: Bulolo and Mumeng districts; hills southwest of Mumeng, 5 villages; Lae and Wau settlements.