Dobu

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
dob
Alternate Names
Dobuan
Autonym
Dobu
User Population

61,000, all users. L1 users: 10,000 (1998 SIL). L2 users: 51,000 (2021). 6,000 monolinguals.

Location

Milne Bay province: Esa’ala district, Dobu, parts of Fergusson, Normanby, and Sanaroa islands. 500 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Lingua franca in D’Entrecasteaux Islands.

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, North Papuan Mainland-D’Entrecasteaux, Dobu-Duau
Dialects

Galubwa, Sanaroa, Ubuia, Central Dobu, Loboda (Dawada-Siausi, Roboda). Lexical similarity: 56% with Molima [mox] (most similar).

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Also use English [eng]. Also use Hiri Motu [hmo]. Used as L2 by Anuki [aui], ’Auhelawa [kud], Boselewa [bwf], Bunama [bdd], Bwaidoka [bwd], Bwanabwana [tte], Duau [dva], Galeya [gar], Gumawana [gvs], Iamalele [yml], Iduna [viv], Kaninuwa [wat], Kilivila [kij], Koluwawa [klx], Maiadomu [mzz], Minaveha [mvn], Molima [mox], Muyuw [myw], Mwatebu [mwa], Sewa Bay [sew], Tawala [tbo], West Goodenough [ddi].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 90%. Literacy rate in L2: 90%. Dictionary. Texts. Bible: 1928.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dobu
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Many schools.