Maleu-Kilenge

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
mgl
Alternate Names
Idne
Population

5,200 (1983 census). 1,560 Kilenge.

Location

West New Britain Province, Talasea district west tip.

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, Kilenge-Maleu
Dialects

Kilenge (Kaitarolea), Maleu. Lexical similarity: 93% between Maleu and Kilenge dialects.

Typology

SVO

Language Use

All or nearly the whole Kilenge group speaks Kilenge. Kilenge dialect: all ages.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 25%–50%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Bible portions: 1990.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maleu-Kilenge
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Maleu and Kilenge dialects may be separate languages (Wurm and Hattori 1981) (Ross 1988).