Summary of language use in churches
Both reported and observed data indicate that Tok Pisin is the primary language used in Bebeli churches, both during services and for church activities outside of services. English is the second most common
language used by churches. It was reported that small amounts of Bebeli are also used for some parts of church services, and four of the six church leaders use some Bebeli when interacting with members of
the community outside of services, but Tok Pisin is clearly the predominant church language in the area. Such widespread use of Tok Pisin in the church, one of the major institutions in the area, could have a
negative effect on the vitality of the Bebeli language.
4.2.9 Multilingualism with other vernaculars
People in the Bebeli language area can speak other vernacular languages, including Bola, Kaulong and Nakanai. The following paragraphs give reported data regarding multilingualism in the Bebeli language
area. Older adults can speak Bola, as can middle-aged adults in Mosa. Middle-aged adults in the other two
villages can speak a little Bola. Young adults in Morokea can speak a little Bola, and young adults in Banaule and young men in Mosa can understand a little.
Middle-aged and older adults in Mosa can speak Kaulong as well. Young men in Mosa can understand a little Kaulong.
All adults in Morokea can understand Nakanai but not speak it. In the other two villages older adults can speak Nakanai, and older women in Banaule said that it was like their food. Some middle-aged
adults can speak Nakanai, young men in Banaule can speak a little, and young women in Banaule and young men in Mosa can understand some.
Some adults in the Bebeli language area are able to speak other vernacular languages, but this multilingualism does not appear to pose a threat to the vitality of the Bebeli language. When Bebeli
people speak a language other than Bebeli, it is usually Tok Pisin rather than another vernacular language.
4.2.10 Code switching
On at least twenty-six separate occasions within three days, the survey team observed people switching code between Bebeli and Tok Pisin. Some code switching consisted of one or two Tok Pisin words
inserted into a Bebeli phrase, and at other times code switching occurred at the phrasal level. Many of the inserted Tok Pisin words and phrases referred to concepts that could easily be expressed in Bebeli,
and code switching did not appear to be associated with a change in topic, setting or participants. A school headmaster in Morokea remarked that many children use Tok Pisin words without even realizing
that these words are Tok Pisin, which would indicate borrowing. Unbounded code switching that does not follow a consistent pattern, as is the case in Bebeli, may be a sign of low language vitality Landweer
2006:191.
4.2.11 Summary of language use
Adults in the Bebeli language area use both Bebeli and Tok Pisin, although older adults tend to use more Bebeli, and younger adults tend to use more Tok Pisin. Children speak primarily Tok Pisin, and use only
Bebeli minimally. Bebeli is the primary language used for traditional events such as weddings and funerals, and both Bebeli and Tok Pisin are used for joking, but Tok Pisin is the primary language used in
all other domains. Tok Pisin, along with some English, is the primary language used for instruction in the schools in the Bebeli area, and Tok Pisin is the main language used during church services and for
church activities outside of services. Unbounded code switching between Bebeli and Tok Pisin was also observed within the Bebeli language area. Some Bebeli speakers are multilingual in other vernacular
languages, but they are speaking Tok Pisin, rather than other vernaculars, at the expense of Bebeli. The
widespread use of Tok Pisin within the Bebeli language area indicates a low vitality for the Bebeli language.
4.3 Language attitudes
