Lungalunga

VMG

vigorous

Alternate Names: Minigir, Tavue, Vinitiri

Genealogy:

Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Oceanic
Western Oceanic
Meso Melanesian
New Ireland
South New Ireland-Northwest Solomonic
Mono-Uruava

Demographics: 600 (2000). Ethnic population: 1,500.

Language Use: Not endangered (2000 D. Tryon). Most domains. All ages.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Papua New Guinea

Other Comments: Although the language name, Lungalunga, was derived from Tok Pisin , ‘longlong’ meaning ‘crazy’, there is unanimous agreement within the community that this is the widely recognized language name, even though they prefer the name Tavue, meaning ‘brother’.