Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Maleu-Kilenge language

Maleu-Kilenge, also known as Lolo or Idne, is an Austronesian language spoken by several thousand swidden farmers in the Talasea District of West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
216 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Maleu-Kilenge
Lolo
Native toPapua New Guinea
Regionwestern tip of Talasea District, West New Britain Province
Native speakers
(8,000 cited 2000 census)1
Dialects
  • Maleu
  • Kilenge
Language codes
ISO 639-3mgl
Glottologmale1289

Maleu-Kilenge, also known as Lolo2 or Idne, is an Austronesian language spoken by several thousand swidden farmers in the Talasea District of West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.

Phonology

Consonants3
Labial Alveolar Velar
Plosive p t k
Fricative β ⟨v⟩ s ɣ ⟨g⟩
Nasal m n ŋ
Approximant w r, l
  • The fricatives /β ɣ/ are pronounced [b g] following a homorganic nasal.
  • The sequences /tn kŋ/ manifest as [n̥n ŋ̊ŋ].
  • /w/ only occurs intervocalically.
Vowels3
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid-high e o
Mid-low ɛ ⟨ë⟩ ɔ ⟨ö⟩
Low a

Additionally, Maleu-Kilenge has the following diphthongs: /ei/, /ai/, /oi/, /ae/, /ua/, /iu/, /ɛu/, /au/, /ou/, /ɔu/.

Haywood (1996) 4 however only lists five vowels, /a e i o u/.

Stress occurs on the penultimate syllable.3

References

References

  1. Maleu-Kilenge at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. Gallagher, Steve and Gallagher, Carol Jean (2000). "Bariai". In: Data Papers in Papua New Guinea Languages. SIL International
  3. Haywood, Graham (1994). Maleu Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.
  4. Haywood, Graham (1996): "A Maleu grammar outline and text". In: Ross, M.D. editor, Studies in languages of New Britain and New Ireland. C-135:63-144. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University.