Mato

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
met
Alternate Names
Nenaya, Nengaya, Nineia
Population

580 (2002 SIL).

Location

Morobe Province, Huon peninsula north coast, near Morobe-Madang provincial border, Uruwa river plain west of Wasu, north of Sapmanga, southeast of Saidor.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Ngero-Vitiaz, Vitiaz, Roinji-Nenaya
Dialects

Ramuk, Tabares. Lexical similarity: 54% with Ronji [roe], 29% with Sio [xsi] and Pano [mqz], 28% with Karnai [bbv], 23% with Arop-Lokep [apr] and Mutu [tuc], 19% with Gitua [gil].

Typology

SVO

Language Use

Not endangered (2000 D. Tryon).

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 4%. Literacy rate in L2: 41%. Bible portions.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mato
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.