Bugawac

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
buk
Alternate Names
Bukaua, Bukawa, Bukawac, Kawa, Kawac, Yom Gawac
Population

12,000 (2011 W. Eckermann). 4,800 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 12,500.

Location

Morobe Province, Huon gulf coast. Eastern dialect: Ulugidu, Bukawasip; Central-Western dialect: Wideru, Hec, and Cape Arkona villages, Buhalu, Tikeleng; Western dialect: Lae city villages; South Western dialect: Busamang, Asini.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, North New Guinea, Huon Gulf, North
Dialects

Central Bugawac, Central-Eastern Bugawac, Central-Western Bugawac, Eastern Bugawac, South-Western Bugawac, Western Bugawac. Reportedly similar to Yabem [jae].

Typology

Tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous. Yabem [jae] decreasingly used in religious services, being replaced by Bugawac or Tok Pisin [tpi]. Home, community. 85% also use Tok Pisin [tpi]. Yabem [jae] use decreasing.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 80% Tok Pisin, 15%–25% Yabem. Taught in primary schools, in about half the villages. Poetry. Dictionary. NT: 2001.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bugawac
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 2000.