Gapapaiwa

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
pwg
Alternate Names
Manape
Autonym
Gapapaiwa
User Population

3,000 (2007 SIL), increasing.

Location

Milne Bay province: Makamaka district, Cape Vogel south coast, inland on Ruaba river.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Gapa, Paiwa. The Gapa dialect is spoken in the eastern part of the language area and the Paiwa dialect is spoken in the western part. They are mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: 73% with Ghayavi [bmk] (Boyanai dialect most similar).

Typology

SOV; verb affixes mark person and number; 16 consonants and 6 vowels; stress on penultimate syllable; inclusive/exclusive pronouns; alienable/inalienable possession.

Language Use

All domains except with outsiders, some church services. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Anuki [aui]. Many also use Are [mwc]. Many also use Ghayavi [bmk]. Some also use English [eng], especially young people. Also use Wedau [wed], especially very old adults. Used as L2 by Dima [jma], Ghayavi [bmk].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 80% in English [eng]. Literature. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 2009.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gapapaiwa
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

A number of well-educated people. Christian.