Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 7, 2026

Gnau language

Gnau is a language spoken in Papua New Guinea. It is part of the Torricelli language family, named by convention after its distinctive word for "no". The Gnau people do not identify themselves as a unified group across multiple settlements, despite their shared language.

Last revised
Aug 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
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99 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Gnau
Native toPapua New Guinea
RegionSandaun Province, Namblo Census Division, northwest of Maimai.
Native speakers
(1,300 cited 2000 census)1
Language codes
ISO 639-3gnu
Glottologgnau1240
ELPGnau
Coordinates: 3°35′S 142°11′E / 3.583°S 142.183°E / -3.583; 142.183

Gnau is a language spoken in Papua New Guinea. It is part of the Torricelli language family, named by convention after its distinctive word for "no".2 The Gnau people do not identify themselves as a unified group across multiple settlements, despite their shared language.3

References

References

  1. Gnau at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Lewis, Gilbert (1974). "Gnau1 Anatomy and Vocabulary for Illnesses". Oceania. 45: 50–78. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1974.tb01836.x.
  3. "Gnau". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.