Ramoaaina

RAI

educational

Alternate Names: Duke of York, Ramuaina

Dialects: Aalawa (Aalawaa, Alawa, Mioko, South Islands, Ulu), Makada, Molot (Main Island). Makada dialect very different, possibly not intelligible to speakers of other dialects.

Genealogy:

Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Oceanic
Western Oceanic
Meso Melanesian
New Ireland
South New Ireland-Northwest Solomonic
Patpatar-Tolai

Demographics: 10,300 (2000 census), increasing.

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Youth also use English [eng]. Older adults also use Kuanua [ksd] (Tolai). Also use Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 70%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–90%. Most adults can read it, 10% can write it. Taught in primary schools. New media. Videos. NT: 2007.

Typology: SVO.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea

Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.