Dobu

DOB

wider communication

Alternate Names: Dobuan

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

Status Notes: Lingua franca in D’Entrecasteaux Islands.

Genealogy:

Austronesian

Malayo-Polynesian

Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian

Eastern Malayo-Polynesian

Oceanic

Western Oceanic

Papuan Tip

Nuclear

North Papuan Mainland-D’Entrecasteaux

Dobu-Duau

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

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.

Typology: SOV.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea

Other Comments: Many schools.