Mbula

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
mna
Alternate Names
Mangaaba, Mangaava, Mangaawa, Mangap, Mangap-Mbula, “Kaimanga” (pej.)
Autonym
Mbula
User Population

4,500 (Bugenhagen and Bugenhagen 2007), increasing. 450 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 4,500 (Bugenhagen and Bugenhagen 2007).

Location

Morobe province: Siassi district, east Umboi island, 6 villages; Sakar island, 1 village.

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, Mangap-Mbula
Dialects

Mbula (Central Mbula), Northern Mbula, Gauru, Sakar.

Typology

SVO; prepositions.

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, market, church. Used by all. Mixed attitudes, from positive to negative. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Used as L2 by Karnai [bbv].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Literacy is increasing. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1997.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mbula
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.