Mekeo

MEK

developing

Alternate Names: Mekeo-Kovio

Dialects: East Mekeo, Ninikani, North Mekeo, Northwest Mekeo (Kovio), West Mekeo. Dialects mutually unintelligible, except North and West Mekeo, but most Mekeo are reportedly familiar with neighboring dialects. Kovio not contiguous and is peripheral to other dialects. Lexical similarity: 81% between Kovio dialect and West Mekeo and North Mekeo dialects, 79% with East Mekeo, 87% between East and West Mekeo dialects.

Genealogy:

Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Oceanic
Western Oceanic
Papuan Tip
Peripheral
Central Papuan
West Central Papuan
Nuclear

Demographics: 19,000 (2003 SIL).

Language Use: Positive attitudes.

Language Development: Grammar. NT: 1998.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea

Other Comments: Above average education level.