Bislama
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A language of Vanuatu
10,000 in Vanuatu (2011), increasing. Ethnic population: 95% Melanesian. Total users in all countries: 12,570.
Widespread.
1 (National). Statutory national language (1980, Constitution, Article 3(1)). Most in the country understand and use it as lingua franca and as a symbol of national identity. Since 2012, Bislama has a significant role in formal education.
SVO; prepositions; dual number; tense; 17 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes; non-tonal.
Literacy rate in L1: 35%. Literacy rate in L2: Low. Proposed vernacular education (2011). Taught in some primary schools in grades 1–3. The national language policy and expectation is that teachers are supposed to use the Bislama curriculum but teach all subject matter in the early grades in the local language.. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1998.
Christian.