Sibe

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A language of Papua New Guinea

Alternate Names

Nagovis, Nagovisi, Nagovisinarai Karetaake, Sibbe, Sibe-Nagovisi

User Population

12,000 (Stebbins et al 2018), increasing. 100 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 12,000 (Stebbins et al 2018).

Bougainville province: Buin district.

Language Maps

Papua New Guinea, Map 13

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

South Bougainville, Nasioi

Teleipi, To’mau, Laagasi’, Tobe’laaki’, Welipe’.

Used by all. All also use Tok Pisin [tpi] (Evans 2018). Used as L2 by Naasioi [nas].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: More than 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Literacy stopped, but revival plans exist. Literature. Radio. Grammar. Bible portions: 1984.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Sibe

Latin script [Latn].

Moderate acculturation. Christian.