Bunama

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
bdd
Alternate Names
Kelelegeia
Population

4,000 (1993 SIL).

Location

Milne Bay Province, south Normanby island, Esa’ala district.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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

Barabara, Bunama, Kasikasi, Kerorogea, Kumalahu, Lomitawa, Meudana, Sawabwala, Sawatupwa, Sipupu, Weyoko. Lexical similarity: 66% with Mwatebu [mwa], 75% with most Dobu [dob] dialects.

Language Use

Also use some Dobu [dob].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 85%. Literacy rate in L2: 85%. NT: 1991.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bunama
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.