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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Pacific > Papua New Guinea > Ninggerum

Ninggerum

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3: nxr

Population  5,150 in Papua New Guinea (2000 census). 40% are monolingual. Population total all countries: 6,150.
Region  Western Province between Ok Birim and Ok Tedi rivers, east of Ok Tedi to the main road linking Kiunga and Tabubil, and north to the main mountain range. Also in Indonesia (Papua).
Language maps  Papua New Guinea, Map 5, reference number 233
Papua New Guinea, Map 8, reference number 233
Alternate names   Kasiwa, Kativa, Ningerum, Ninggirum, Ninggrum, Niyium, Obgwo, Tedi, Tidi
Dialects  Kasuwa, Daupka.
Classification  Trans-New Guinea, Ok-Awyu, Ok, Lowland
Language use  Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. 10% can use Hiri Motu [hmo], 5% English, 50% Tok Pisin [tpi], 5% also use neighboring languages (Yonggom [yon], Faiwol [fsi], Telefol [tlf]).
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Taught in primary schools.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  About half the population died 1950–1975 from western diseases. Swidden agriculturalists; copper mine workers; lumbermen; animal husbandry: pigs, chickens, fish, rabbits; market gardening. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Indonesia (Papua)

Language name   Ninggerum
Population  1,000 in Indonesia.
Region  Border area and in Papua New Guinea between Ok Birim and Ok Tedi rivers.
Language map  Indonesia, Eastern Papua, reference number 232
Alternate names  Kasiwa, Kativa, Muyu, Ninggeroem, Ninggirum, Ninggrum, Orgwo
Comments  Called ‘Muyu’. 2002–2003 survey data indicates probably all live in Papua New Guinea, but have land on the Indonesia side where they temporarily migrate to gather food. Agriculturalists; hunters. Christian, traditional religion.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Anonymous. n.d.. Ninggirum Organised Phonology Data.  Available online