Mekeo

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
mek
Alternate Names
Mekeo-Kovio
User Population

20,000 (2015 BTA).

Location

Central province: Kaiyuku district, inland, west boundary is Waima, east are Kuni [kse] and Kunimaipa [kup] language areas; into Gulf province.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Peripheral, Central Papuan, West Central Papuan, Nuclear
Dialects

East Mekeo, West Mekeo, North Mekeo, Northwest Mekeo (Kovio), Ninikani. Dialects mutually unintelligible, except North and West Mekeo, but most Mekeo are reportedly familiar with neighboring dialects. Kovio not contiguous and is peripheral to other dialects. Lexical similarity: 81% between Kovio dialect and West Mekeo and North Mekeo dialects, 79% with East Mekeo, 87% between East and West Mekeo dialects.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use English [eng]. A few also use Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development

Grammar. NT: 1998.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mekeo
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Above average education level. Christian.