Koluwawa

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
klx
Alternate Names
Kalokalo
Autonym
Koluwawa
User Population

950 (Guderian and Guderian 2005).

Location

Milne Bay province: Fergusson island northwest tip.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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

None known. Lexical similarity: 64% with Iamalele [yml] (most similar), and then Bwaidoka [bwd].

Typology

SOV; Postpositions; Noun Classes: 3 (Alienable, Semi-alienable, Inalienable); Verbal affixation marks subject, object, number, plural inclusivity, plural exclusivity, and modality; Active-Stative; Aspects: 5 (Completed, Continuous, Habitual, Inceptive, Iterative); Consonants: 12, Vowels: 5.

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, community; Mixed use: Market, church. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Dobu [dob], especially older adults. Most also use English [eng], especially young people. Many also use Bwaidoka [bwd]. Many also use Iamalele [yml]. Some also use Iduna [viv]. Some also use Minaveha [mvn]. Used as L2 by Minaveha [mvn].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%–80%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–80%. Literature. Bible portions: 2000–2010.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Koluwawa
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Use of other languages and bilingualism is mainly due to intermarriage. Husbands or wives from other language groups live at Kalokalo with their Koluwawa spouse (2002 B. Guderian and T. Guderian). Christian.