Maleu-Kilenge language

Maleu-Kilenge
Maleu-Kilenge
Lolo
Native to	Papua New Guinea
Region	western tip of Talasea District, West New Britain Province
Native speakers	(8,000 cited 2000 census)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Western North New Guinea Ngero–Vitiaz Vitiaz Maleu-Kilenge; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Dialects	Maleu; Kilenge;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	mgl
Glottolog	male1289

Last updated January 02, 2026

Maleu-Kilenge, also known as Lolo^[2] 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

Consonants^[3]
	Labial	Alveolar	Velar
Plosive	p	t d	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.

Vowels^[3]
	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

↑ Maleu-Kilenge at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
↑ Gallagher, Steve and Gallagher, Carol Jean (2000). "Bariai". In: Data Papers in Papua New Guinea Languages. SIL International
1 2 3 Haywood, Graham (1994). Maleu Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.
↑ 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.

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[e25-1] Maleu-Kilenge at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)

[:2-2] Gallagher, Steve and Gallagher, Carol Jean (2000). "Bariai". In: Data Papers in Papua New Guinea Languages. SIL International

[:0-3] 1 2 3 Haywood, Graham (1994). Maleu Organised Phonology Data. SIL International.

[malgram-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.

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