Kiwai, Southern

KJD

developing

Alternate Names: Kiwai

Dialects: Coast Kiwai, Island Kiwai (Bamu Kiwai).

Genealogy:

Trans-New Guinea
Kiwaian

Demographics: 9,700 (Wurm 1975). 3,800 in Coast, 1,000 in Daru, 4,500 in Island Kiwai, 400 in Doumori. Several sources estimate current population now in excess of 20,000 (2011 SIL).

Language Use: Very positive attitudes. They consider it superior to related languages.

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 15%–25%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. NT: 1960.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea

Other Comments: All dialect speakers agree the language and cultural center is on Kiwai Island.