Rawa

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
rwo
Alternate Names
Erawa, Erewa, Raua
Autonym
Rawa, Rawa mande
User Population

11,500 (1998 SIL), increasing. 7,000 Rawa and 4,500 Karo.

Location

Madang province. Rai Coast district (Karo dialect), Upper Ramu district (Rawa dialect); dialects on opposite sides of Finisterre Range.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Finisterre-Huon, Finisterre, Gusap-Mot
Dialects

Rawa, Karo.

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Due to migration, use of Tok Pisin [tpi] increasing. All domains with same dialect speaker. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use English [eng]. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi], and are slowly shifting towards it, though it was formerly learned mostly by women through intermarriage.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 20% (Rawa), below 10% (Karo). Literacy rate in L2: 10%–20% can read Tok Pisin [tpi]. Literature. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 1992–2001.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Rawa
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

People report Rawa and Karo dialects seem to be drifting apart. Christian, traditional religion.