Gao
[aka Nggao,]Classification: Austronesian
·threatened
Classification: Austronesian
·threatened
Nggao |
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Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Meso Melanesian |
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ISO 639-3 |
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gga |
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As csv |
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Information from: “Personal Communication” . Johanna Whiteley (2014)
962
The 2009 census has the population of Kaloka Ward - the main Gao speaking Ward - as 962 out of a total population of 26, 158.
Some households are predominately Cheke Holo. Although children from such households will pick up Gao from class mates due to contact at local primary school. School teaching language is largely pidgin, Cheke Holo, but occasionally Gao. There is an impetus to speak Gao because Gao speakers immediately understand and can speak Cheke Holo, whereas the reverse does not hold. Cheke Holo speakers frequently do not feel confident to speak Gao.
Cheke Holo
Pijin
Internal to West Gao/Kaloka Ward Gao is used during Church services and there is a published (2008) Common Prayer Book . A translation of the New Testament is underway. Many hymns are also sung in Gao.
It is used mostly in the home, occasionally in village speeches although here again, it competes with Cheke Holo due to the fact some of the chiefs and catechists have Cheke Holo as their first language and lack confidence in Gao.
In feasting ceremonies such as fangamu taego (to feed the caregiver), Gao is frequently the preferred language.
Santa Isabel Island, Kaloka Ward
Information from: “Australasia and the Pacific” (425-577) . Stephen Wurm (2007) , Christopher Moseley · Routledge
Speaker number may still be valid today, but there is an increasing number of mixed marriages, and the home language of children tends to become increasingly the large neighboring closely related Cheke Holo (or Maringhe) language.
Cheke Holo (Maringhe)
Bughotu
Solomon Pijin
Southeastern Isabel Island, around Tatamba