Saliba

Primary tabs

ISO 639-3

Population

2,500 (2007 SIL), increasing. 1,000 monolinguals. Young children, elderly.

Location

Milne Bay province: China strait, Rogeia and Sariba islands, mainland across from Rogeia island.

Language Maps

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Dialects

Saliba, Loga. Distinct from Suau [swp].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Suau [swp], Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 87%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Taught in primary schools, up to Grade 2. Literature. Grammar. Bible portions: 2007–2017.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.