Kapin

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
tbx
Alternate Names
Katumene, Sambio, Taiak, Tayek
Autonym
Nambei nyon
User Population

3,500 (2002 SIL).

Location

Morobe province: Bulolo and Mumeng districts; hills southwest of Mumeng, 5 villages; Lae and Wau settlements.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Huon Gulf, South, Hote-Buang, Buang
Dialects

Kapin, Garawa (Gawawa). May be part of the Mumeng group of related varieties.

Typology

SVO; prepositions; genitives before nouns, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; V, CV, CVC, CVV, CVVC, CVCC, VC; nontonal.

Language Use

In villages closer to the road, children learn Tok Pisin [tpi] as their first language. Further away from the road, children learn the vernacular first (2011 SIL). Mixed use in church with Tok Pisin [tpi], English [eng], and Yabem [jae] (2011 SIL). Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Kumalu [ksl]. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Also use Yabem [jae].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 25%–50%. Literacy rate in L2: Possibly 10% are fluent readers, 25% halting. Bible portions: 2015–2020.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kapin
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.