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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Pacific > Papua New Guinea > Baruga

Baruga

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3: bjz

Population  2,230 (2003 SIL). 796 Tafota, 987 Bareji, 444 Mado.
Region  Oro Province, Tufi District, in Musa and Bariji (Bareji) River flood plains. Gaina [gcn], Bariji [bjc], and Yareba [yrb] on south border. The Okeina dialect of Ewage-Notu [nou], Ambe Tofo, Korafe-Mokorua, Miniafia-Arifama, Ubir [ubr], and Maisin [mbq] on east border. Dyke Ackland Bay is north.
Language map  Papua New Guinea, Map 16, reference number 750
Dialects  Bareji, Baruga, Mado, Tafota Baruga. Lexical similarity: 56%–61% with Korafe-Yegha [kpr], Gaina [gcn] and Dogoro [dgx] (Dutton 1971), 43% with Ewage dialect of Ewage-Notu [nou].
Classification  Trans-New Guinea, Binanderean, Binandere
Language use  Vigorous. Non-Baruga wives of Baruga men learn it. All domains. Some use Baruga in religious services. Oral literature. All ages. Positive attitude. Some also use Hiri Motu [hmo], Ewage dialect of Ewage-Notu, Korafe-Yegha, Tok Pisin [tpi], or English.
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. 100% children, 45% women, 90% men. Primary schools bilingual from Prep to grade 2. Bible portions: 1995.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Go to Port Moresby and other towns to work but prefer to retire in Baruga territory. SOV. Swidden agriculturalists; fishermen; hunters. Christian, traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

FARR, Cynthia J.; FARR, James B., facilitators. 2005. "Baruga (Tafota) language [Oro province]."  Available online

PARKER, Stephen G., editor. 2005. Phonological descriptions of Papua New Guinea languages.