Mesem

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Mese, Momalili, Momolili

Population

4,000 (1997 census).

Location

Morobe Province, Lae district, Boana subdistrict, interior north of Lae. 14 villages.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Dialects

East Mese, Momolili, West-Central Mese, Zezagi.

Typology

SOV; adjectives, numerals after noun heads; verb affixes mark number; CV, CVC, CVV, CCV, VC, V; nontonal

Language Use

Also use Yabem [jae], Kâte [kmg], or Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Below 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. NT: 2012.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script.

Other Comments

Community schools at Hobu and Samanzing. Christian, traditional religion.