Haigwai is an Oceanic language spoken in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Classification
Haigwai belongs to the Austronesian language family, within the Malayo-Polynesian branch. Its full classification is: Austronesian → Malayo-Polynesian → Oceanic → Western Oceanic → Papuan Tip → Nuclear Papuan Tip → North Mainland–D'Entrecasteaux → Taupota → Haigwai.
Speakers and Status
According to the 2000 census, Haigwai had approximately 1,100 native speakers. Ethnologue (18th edition, 2015) classifies the language as stable and vigorous, with all members of the ethnic community using it at home and in daily interactions. It is not known to be taught in schools.
Dialects
Haigwai has two recognized dialects: Naura and Kapulika. Alternative names for the language include Garaghwaghi, Kapulika, and Naura.
Geographic Distribution
The language is spoken in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea, a region known for its extraordinary linguistic diversity.
Language Code
The ISO 639-3 code for Haigwai is hgw, and its Glottolog identifier is haig1237.
