Wagawaga

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
wgb
Alternate Names
Baeaula, Beauli, Ealeba, Gamadoudou, Gibara, Kilikilana
User Population

600 (2000 census). 60 monolinguals.

Location

Milne Bay province: Upper and Lower Dawadawa wards, along Tawala river and east of Wagawaga village, in the middle of Tawala [tbo] language area.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Wagawaga, Wagawaga Inland. Reportedly similar to Yaleba [ylb]. Lexical similarity: 61% with Oya’oya [oyy], 31% with Tawala [tbo], 55% with Buhutu [bxh].

Language Use

Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use English [eng]. Many also use Suau [swp]. Many also use Tawala [tbo], especially speakers of Wagawaga Inland. Some also use Tok Pisin [tpi], especially youth. A few also use Hiri Motu [hmo].

Language Development

2 schools.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Wagawaga
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].