Wa’ema

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
wag
Alternate Names
Waiema
User Population

1,020 (2000 census).

Location

Milne Bay province: Alotau district, Huhu local government area, Giligili estates to Turnbull war memorial, Milne Bay area north up to East Cape coastal range.

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, Taupota
Dialects

None known. Wa’ema seems to be part of a chain of related varieties with Taupota [tpa]. Tawala [tbo] not intelligible to Wa’ema. Lexical similarity: 76% with Taupota [tpa], 69% with Maiwala [mum], 54% with Tawala [tbo].

Language Use

Also use English [eng]. Also use Hiri Motu [hmo]. Also use Tawala [tbo]. Also use Wedau [wed].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Wa’ema