hmo ISO 639

Hiri Motu Autonyms

Motu, Hiri

  • Geography

    PG Central and Gulf provinces: concentrated in Port Moresby area; widely scattered elsewhere: Oro, Milne Bay and Western provinces.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Papua New Guinea

hmo
Hiri, Pidgin Motu, Police Motu
Hiri Motu
95,000, all users. L1 users: Very few L1 speakers (1992 T. Dutton). L2 users: 95,000 (2021).
Central and Gulf provinces: concentrated in Port Moresby area; widely scattered elsewhere: Oro, Milne Bay and Western provinces.
3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (1975, Constitution, Articles 67 and 68). Originated with the arrival of European sailor-explorers and missionaries in the 1870s. Developed as a lingua franca in early 1900s in the form of Police Motu used by colonizers and non-indigenous police agents to communicate with Papua New Guinea’s indigenous people. Since about 1970 has been declining as a lingua franca in favor of English [eng] and Tok Pisin [tpi].
Pidgin, Motu based
Austronesian Hiri Motu, Papuan Hiri Motu. Linguistically a pidginization of Motu [meu]. Influenced by English [eng], Tok Pisin [tpi], and Polynesian languages. Speakers cannot understand Motu due to phonological and grammatical differences. Lexical similarity: 90% with Motu [meu].
Most of the remaining L1 speakers are adults. Used as L2 by Abadi [kbt], Aeka [aez], Aneme Wake [aby], Aramba [stk], Are [mwc], Bamu [bcf], Bariji [bjc], Barikewa [jbk], Baruga [bjz], Bauwaki [bwk], Binahari [bxz], Boselewa [bwf], Buhutu [bxh], Dawawa [dww], Dibiyaso [dby], Dima [jma], Dobu [dob], Domu [dof], Doromu-Koki [kqc], Ese [mcq], Fuyug [fuy], Ginuman [gnm], Gweda [grw], Haigwai [hgw], Humene [huf], Ikobi [meb], Ipiko [ipo], Kakabai [kqf], Kaki Ae [tbd], Kanasi [soq], Kaninuwa [wat], Kasua [khs], Keoru-Ahia [xeu], Kerewo [kxz], Kibiri [prm], Kilivila [kij], Koiari [kbk], Koita [kqi], Korafe-Yegha [kpr], Kuni [kse], Lala [nrz], Magori [zgr], Maiadomu [mzz], Maiwa [mti], Maiwala [mum], Mapena [mnm], Maria [mds], Miniafia Oyan [aai], Moikodi [mkp], Morawa [mze], Mountain Koiali [kpx], Mouwase [jmw], Mubami [tsx], Nawaru [nwr], Nen [nqn], Ninggerum [nxr], Northeast Kiwai [kiw], Ömie [aom], Orokaiva [okv], Rema [bow], Rumu [klq], Samo [smq], Sinaugoro [snc], Suau [swp], Suki [sui], Tairuma [uar], Tawala [tbo], Turaka [trh], Wa’ema [wag], Wagawaga [wgb], Waima [rro], Wipi [gdr], Yaleba [ylb], Yareba [yrb], Yongkom [yon], Zia [zia].
Literacy rate in L1: Below 5%. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1994.
Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
The Papuan dialect was adopted as the standard for official publications.
OLAC resources in and about Motu, Hiri