Teop

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
tio
Alternate Names
Teapu
Population

5,000 (1991 SIL).

Location

Bougainville Province, Tinputz district, northeast.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Bougainville Autonomous Region (2007, Education Plan, Section 1.1.3), not yet implemented (2012).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Meso Melanesian, New Ireland, South New Ireland-Northwest Solomonic, Nehan-North Bougainville, Saposa-Tinputz
Dialects

Coastal Teop, Kosina Mohina, Manava, Rausara (Rausiara), Taunita. Coastal Teop speakers understand other dialects, and vice versa. Coastal Teop is 84% cognate with Rausara, 73% with Taunita dialects.

Typology

SVO; 3 noun classes

Language Use

Some dislike borrowed words entering Teop. Daily life, village meetings, some in church, market. All ages. Positive attitudes.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 75%–100%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Taught in primary schools, 3 years in some schools. Poetry. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1958–1966.
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian.