Dobu

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
dob
Alternate Names
Dobuan
Population

10,000 (1998 SIL). 6,000 monolinguals. L2 users: 100,000 (1987 SIL).

Location

Milne Bay Province, Esa’ala district, Sanaroa, Dobu, parts of Fergusson and Normanby islands. 500 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).Lingua franca in D’Entrecasteaux Islands.

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, North Papuan Mainland-D’Entrecasteaux, Dobu-Duau
Dialects

Central Dobu, Galubwa, Loboda (Dawada-Siausi, Roboda), Sanaroa, Ubuia. Lexical similarity: 56% with Molima [mox] (most similar).

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Also use English [eng], Hiri Motu [hmo]. Used as L2 by ’Auhelawa [kud], Boselewa [bwf], Bunama [bdd], Bwaidoka [bwd], Bwanabwana [tte], Duau [dva], Galeya [gar], Gumawana [gvs], Iamalele [yml], Kilivila [kij], Koluwawa [klx], Molima [mox], Muyuw [myw], Mwatebu [mwa], Sewa Bay [sew], Tawala [tbo].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 90%. Literacy rate in L2: 90%. Dictionary. Bible: 1928.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dobu
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Many schools.