Bwaidoka

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
bwd
Alternate Names
Bwaidoga
Population

6,500 (2000 SIL). 50% monolingual.

Location

Milne Bay Province, south tip of Goodenough island; Bolubolu district, west Fergusson island.

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, Bwaidoga
Dialects

Bebebele Ii, Belebele I, Bwaidoga, Faiyava, Kalauna, Kilia, Kiliva, Lauwela, Mataitai, Wagifa. Lexical similarity: 72% with Iduna [viv] (most similar).

Language Use

Vigorous. West Goodenough [ddi], Iamalele [yml], and Kaninuwa [wat] use Bwaidoka as L2. All domains. Main language used in church, along with Dobu [dob]. Oral and written use in local commerce. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Dobu [dob] or English [eng].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 65%. Literacy rate in L2: 65%–75%. Bible portions: 1934–2006.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bwaidoka
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Half of the children are in school.