Mekeo language

Mekeo
Native toPapua New Guinea
RegionCentral Province
Native speakers
20,000 (2015)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3mek
Glottologmeke1243
Approximate location where Mekeo is spoken
Approximate location where Mekeo is spoken
Mekeo
Coordinates: 8°14′S 146°35′E / 8.24°S 146.59°E / -8.24; 146.59
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Mekeo is a language spoken in Papua New Guinea and had 19,000 speakers in 2003. It is an Oceanic language of the Papuan Tip Linkage.[2] The two major villages that the language is spoken in are located in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea. These are named Ongofoina and Inauaisa.[3] The language is also broken up into four dialects: East Mekeo (or "Bush Mekeo"); Northwest Mekeo (or "Kovio"); West Mekeo and North Mekeo. The standard dialect is East Mekeo.[4] This main dialect is addressed throughout the article. In addition, there are at least two Mekeo-based pidgins.

  1. ^ Mekeo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Lewis 2009
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference sil2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference chung1995 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).