'Auhelawa language


’Auhelawa is an Austronesian language found in Nuakata Island and the southeastern tip of Normanby Island in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It was spoken by about 1,200 people in 1998, 30% of whom were monolingual in the language.
The literacy rate for first language speakers is 85%, and is also 85% for second language users. There are translated Bible portions into the language from 1986–1993.

’Auhelawa examples

A: Auge, yauwedo. Haidova u lalau?
B: Ya lalau oyai. Yagu oya vauvauna ya tudai. Owa haidova u lau?
A: Ya dobi gogowai yada bada ehebo ya ita. Teina gona sabate mata yana vada vauvauna ya abi.
B: Yau dova nuwanuwagu yada bada ya hagui. Ebe u dobi u vada abi, u lauma u vaigau ta dobi ta paihowa.
A: Ausala. Mata ta itago.

Phonology

Vowels

Consonants

occurs only in loanwords.

Writing system

’Auhelawa is written in the Latin script. About 85% of the population is literate.
A aB bBw bwD dE eG gGw gwH hI iK kL lM mMw mw
N nO oP pPw pwS sT tU uV vW wY y’’W ’w-
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