Kaninuwa

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
wat
Alternate Names
Kaokao, Wataluma
Autonym
Kaninuwa
User Population

600 (2020 SIL). 400 monolinguals (2020 SIL). Ethnic population: 800 (2020 SIL). 100 or so live outside language area.

Location

Milne Bay province: Sivesive village and 1 other; 2 villages north of Goodenough island.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, North Papuan Mainland-D’Entrecasteaux, Are-Taupota, Are
Dialects

None known. Lexical similarity: 51% with Iduna [viv] (most similar).

Language Use

Vigorous (Kassell 2012). All domains except church. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use English [eng] (Kassell 2012). Many also use Bwaidoka [bwd] (Kassell 2012). A few also use Dobu [dob], especially elderly (Kassell 2012). Also use Hiri Motu [hmo]. Also use Iduna [viv].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Highly literate in English. Taught in primary schools in early grades only, in 1 school. Bible portions: 2015.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kaninuwa
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.