Saliba

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
sbe
Alternate Names
Saliba-Logea
Autonym
Saliba
User Population

3,000 (Oetzel 2019), increasing. 200 monolinguals (2001 UNESCO).

Location

Milne Bay province: China strait, Rogeia and Saliba islands, mainland across from Rogeia island, southwest Sideia island.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, Suauic
Dialects

Saliba, Logea. Distinct from Suau [swp].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use English [eng] (Margetts 2004). Many also use Suau [swp], especially older adults (Margetts 2004).

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 80% (2007 R. Oetzel). Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Taught in primary schools in early grades only, in 7 schools. Literature. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2007–2017.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Saliba
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.