Teanu

Print

A language of Solomon Islands

ISO 639-3
tkw
Alternate Names
Buma, Puma
Population

520 (2007 A. François).

Location

Temotu Province, Vanikolo island, Puma, Lavaka, Emua, and Lale villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Temotu, Utupua-Vanikoro
Typology

SVO

Language Use

Shifting to Pijin [pis] (2007). Also use Pijin [pis].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Dictionary. Grammar.
Other Comments

Previously 3 tribal districts corresponded to 3 languages: Tanema [tnx] south, Lovono [vnk] northwest, Teanu [tnx] northeast. Tanema population now dispersed on the island for more than a century and blended with Melanesian population, while most of south coast settled by Polynesians.