Maleu-Kilenge

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
mgl
Alternate Names
Idne, Lolo, Maleu
User Population

7,730 (2000 census).

Location

West New Britain province: Talasea district west tip.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Ngero-Vitiaz, Vitiaz, Kilenge-Maleu
Dialects

Maleu, Kilenge (Kaitarolea). Lexical similarity: 93% between Maleu and Kilenge dialects.

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

All or nearly the whole Kilenge group speaks Kilenge. Used by all, especially in the Kilenge dialect. A few also use Amara [aie] (Paris et al 2012a). Used as L2 by Amara [aie], Anem [anz], Bariai [bch].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 25%–50%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. NT: 2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maleu-Kilenge
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Maleu and Kilenge dialects may be separate languages (Wurm and Hattori 1981, Ross 1988).