Bwanabwana

Bwanabwana is a Western Oceanic language spoken by about 2,400 people in the east of Papua New Guinea. In particular, it is spoken on the islands of Tubetube, Ole, Anagusa, Kitai, Basilaki (parts), Wale, Tewatewa, Buyali, Koyagaugau, Naluwaluwali, Kwalaiwa in the Louisiade Archipelago in Bwanabwana Rural LLG in Milne Bay Province.

Bwanabwana is also known as Tubetube. It is written with the Latin alphabet.

Bwanabwana alphabet and pronunciation

Bwanabwana alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Bwanabwana (Excel)

Sample text

Sine ana yanuwa esana Kepou. Tau ana yanuwa esana Dobu. Sine ana nume Wakai. Sine imiyamiya yo mulimena ikabi. Natuna esana Kiwikiwiwi. Sinana igitekalatani. Yo mulimena sine ilobi ikemyawa. Isaema. Iloliga yo ikekani. Natuna igitekalatini. Yo natuna iyeva. Isae Dobu koina. Itowa. Tamana kebwai italitali. "Sinagu! Sinagu! Tamagu! Tamagu! Kepou! Kepou!" Kiwikiwiwi iyeva. Ilau sinana koina. Yo sinana iwalo, "Natugu, kisi kuyamayalela. Kabo silaoma siunuila."

Translation

The female's place was called Kepou. The male's place was called Dobu. The female's house was a breadfruit tree. She stayed there and after that she gave birth. The child's name was Kiwikiwiwi. The mother looked after it. And the child flew off. It went up to Dobu. It settled there. The father was carving a canoe. "Mother! Mother! Father! Father! Kepou! Kepou!" Kiwikiwiwi flew off. It went to its mother. And its mother said, "My child, be careful you don't reveal us. Then they will come and kill us."

Source: Tubetube Organised Phonology Data

Sample video

Information about Bwanabwana | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Bwanabwana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwanabwana_language
https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/bwan1241
http://www.language-archives.org/language/tte
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/tte

Oceanic languages

Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, ʼAuhelawa, Avava, Babatana, Bariai, Bola, Big Numbas, Buhutu, Bwaidoka, Bwanabwana, Caac, Cheke Holo, Daakaka, Dorig, East Ambae, Hiri Motu, Hiw, Hoava, Kakabai, Kaninuwa, Kara, Kilivila, Kokota, Koro. Kove, Kurti, Kwamera, Lakon, Lehali, Lenakel, Lewo, Lote, Lo-Toga, Löyöp, Manam, Marovo, Maskelynes, Mato, Mavea, Mono-Alu, Mota, Motu, Mussau-Emira, Mwerlap, Mwesen, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Nahavaq, Nali, Namakura, Naman, Nanggu, Nduke, Neve‘ei, Neverver, Ninde, North Efate, Nume, Paamese, Papapana, Raga, Rotuman, Roviana, Sa, Sakao, Saliba, Seimat, Siar, Sio, Ske, Sobei, Sudest, Sursurunga, Tamambo, Tami, Teanu, Tigak, Tirax, Tolai, Touo, Ubir, Ughele, Uneapa, Vatlongos, Vitu, Vurës, Western Fijian, Wuvulu-Aua, Yabem, Yapese

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 03.07.26. Last modified: 04.07.26

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