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1 Introduction
1.1 Language name and classification
Speakers of the language referred to as Galeya [gar] by Ethnologue Lewis 2009 live in Sebutuya and Momo’awa wards. People in Duduna, Lau’oya, Ulua, and Gameta wards gave other names for the
languages they speak. In all of the wards from Sebutuya to Gameta, people reported speaking four languages: Galeya alternative spelling: Garea, Basima
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in Duduna and Lau’oya wards, Ulua in Ulua ward, and Gameta in Gameta ward. In this report, all the dialects in these wards will be referred to as
the Galeya language. According to the sixteenth edition of Ethnologue, Galeya’s linguistic affiliation is Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western
Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, North Papuan Mainland-DEntrecasteaux, Dobu-Duau. Other languages in the Dobu-Duau family are Bosilewa [bwf], Bunama [bdd], Dobu [dob], Duau [dva], Mwatebu [mwa],
and Sewa Bay [sew] Lewis 2009.
1.2 Language location
The Galeya-speaking people live on the northeastern area of Fergusson Island, part of the DEntrecasteaux Islands of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Most of the villages
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are along the coast between Seasea village on the northeast coast and O’oya village, south of Sebutuya Sebutuia Bay.
1.2.1 Maps
Map 1 indicates the location of the Galeya language area in Papua New Guinea. Map 2 shows the governmental ward units in the Galeya area.
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Most Galeya speakers identify more with their wards than with the language group as a whole. For example, three of the names given for the language in section
1.1 are ward names. Map 3 through Map 8 show villages within each ward. Note that these maps only include villages that the survey team visited or walked through.
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Map 1 was created by Sara Van Cott. Maps 2–11 were created by Alison Kassell and Margaret Potter.
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People in some villages in Lau’oya ward gave Lau’oya as the name for their language, but also grouped themselves under ‘Basima’ as a name for their language.
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Here and throughout the report, the term ‘village’ is used interchangeably with the term ‘hamlet.’ See section 1.5.1.
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This map does not indicate exact ward boundaries, as the survey team was not able to obtain Global Positioning System GPS points for the boundaries.
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There are more than 160 villages in the Galeya area, with many villages having fewer than three houses.
Map 1. Galeya language area in Papua New Guinea
Map 2. Governmental wards in the Galeya area
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
Map 3. Gameta ward
Map 4. Ulua ward
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
Map 5. Lau’oya ward
Map 6. Duduna ward
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
Map 7. Momo’awa ward
Map 8. Sebutuya ward
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
© SIL-PNG. Geodata from http:worldgeodatasets.com
Map 9 gives approximate language boundaries on east Fergusson Island.
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Map 10 indicates the locations of government and religious facilities used by Galeya people, including schools, aid posts,
health centres, churches, and mission stations.
Map 9. Language boundaries
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As with Map 2, this map does not show exact boundaries. © SIL-PNG. Geodata from
http:worldgeodatasets.com
Map 10. Facilities
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1.3 Population
The 2000 census National Statistical Office 2002 lists a total population of 2,623 for the six Galeya wards. Table 1 shows the number of households and people counted in each of the six wards, as well as
the total figures.
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Note for the reader: In case it is difficult to distinguish the colour codes on your copy of this report, locations of church denominations are listed here. United churches are located in Kenan, Yoridan, Lau’oya, Gubayawe, and
Sebutuya. There is a United mission station in Wadalei. Catholic churches are located in Lau’oya, Momo’awa, Alalate, Taigwana’oya, and O’oya. There is a Catholic mission station in Budoya. There are SDA churches in
Pwepwe’ura and Sebutuya. There is a Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witness in Yaya. © SIL-PNG. Geodata from
http:worldgeodatasets.com
Table 1. Galeya population
Ward Households
Population
Basima
a
147 727
Duduna 89
408 Gameta
47 219
Momoawa
b
35 180
Sebutuya 166
805 Urua
c
58 284
Total 542
2,623
a
Presumably, the ward called ‘Basima’ in the census is the ward local people refer to as ‘Lau’oya’.
b
Spelled ‘Momo’awa’ in this report.
c
Spelled ‘Ulua’ in this report.
1.4 Previous research