Molima

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
mox
Alternate Names
Ebadidi, Fagululu, Morima, Salakahadi
Population

4,010 (2000 census), increasing.

Location

Milne Bay Province, Esa’ala district, west Fergusson island, Salakahadi, Ebadidi, and Ni’ubuo area inland villages; central west coast, Fagululu; central south coast, Molima.

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

Ai’alu, Tola’ai, Tosila’ai. Tola’ai most prominent; Ai’alu mainly spoken in Fagululu; Tosila’ai is from remote mountains and is shifting to Tola’ai. Lexical similarity: 56% with Dobu [dob].

Typology

SOV (shifts to OSV or SVO depending on focus); mostly postpositions

Language Use

All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Church and community leaders, traders, and travelers also use Dobu [dob].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Adults 30%; children 7–12 yrs. 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 20%. Taught in primary schools, attended by almost 90% of children. Poetry. New media. NT: 2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Molima
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Molima refers to the south coast, but sometimes to the whole area; Ebadidi, Salakahadi, Ni’ubuo and Fagululu refer to local areas. Traditional religion, Christian.