Uma

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
roe
Alternate Names
Gali, Roinji, Ronji
User Population

450 (2003 SIL). Ethnic population: 740 (2020 SIL).

Location

Madang and Morobe provinces: 1 village in each province, north coast of Huon peninsula, northwest of Wasu, north-northwest of Sapmanga, southeast of Saidor.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

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

None known. Lexical similarity: 54% with Mato [met], 36% with Pano [mqz], 36% with Karnai [bbv], 33% with Arop-Lokep [apr], 33% with Sio [xsi], 28% with Mutu [tuc] 28% with Mala [mmt], 24% with Gitua [ggt].

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Children mainly grow up speaking Tok Pisin [tpi], but eventually learn to speak Uma [roe]. Some young people, all adults. All also use Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Uma
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.