Haigwai

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
hgw
Alternate Names
Garaghwaghi, Kapulika, Naura
Population

1,060 (2000 census). 15% monolingual.

Location

Milne Bay Province, Alotau district, Huhu local government area, inland from Milne Bay head between Hagita and Waigani estates and mountains west.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Kapulika, Naura. Naura dialect and Gweda [grw] users agree that Gweda is most similar to Haigwai. Lexical similarity: 68% between the Naura dialect and Gweda, 65% between Kapulika dialect and Taupota [tpa], 52% with Wedau [wed], 48% with Maiwala [mum].

Language Use

Positive attitudes. Some also use Suau [swp], Tawala [tbo], Wedau [wed], English [eng], or Motu [meu].

Language Development
1 mother tongue primary school.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Haigwai