Iyo

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
nca
Alternate Names
Bure, Nabu, Naho, Nahu, Ndo
Population

6,900 (2003 SIL).

Location

Madang Province, Finisterre mountains’ south slopes along Nahu and Bure rivers; north slopes along Kipuro and Kasang rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Finisterre-Huon, Finisterre, Gusap-Mot
Dialects

Lexical similarity: 54% with Rawa [rwo].

Language Use

Very stable on the inland side of the Finisterres because of isolation. On the coastal side, with more cross-language interaction, there is much more admixture with Tok Pisin [tpi]. Home, church, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Tok Pisin [tpi] widely used.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Vernacular preschools. Grammar. NT: 2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Iyo
Writing
Latin script.