Children’s language use Adult’s language use

7.1.2 Children’s language use

In Ebea, Savaea, Kovelo and Isurava it was reported that children use both Biage and Tok Pisin with their brothers and sisters, with more Biage than Tok Pisin. In Kanga it was reported that the children use Biage and Tok Pisin with their brothers and sisters; how much Tok Pisin they use depends on whether the children are from a mixed marriage or not. Children with an immigrant parent are reported to use more Tok Pisin than those with two parents from Biage. In Pelai it was reported that children only use Biage with their brothers and sisters. In Kanga, Ebea, Savaea, Kovelo, Isurava and Pelai it was reported that children use only Biage with their parents and grandparents, the only exception being children from mixed marriages in Kanga who are reported to use Tok Pisin as well as Biage with their parents and grandparents. Children in Kanga, Isurava and Pelai are said to be able to speak Biage well by the time they start school. In Ebea and Kovelo children are reported to occasionally make a few mistakes in how they speak Biage when they start school. Children in Kanga, Ebea, Kovelo, Isurava and Pelai are all reported to learn Biage before they learn any other language.

7.1.3 Adult’s language use

Young men and women in Kanga and Pelai are reported to use Biage with their brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents. Young people in Ebea and Isurava are reported to use only Biage with their parents and grandparents, but use a little Tok Pisin, English and Motu with their brothers and sisters as well as Biage. In Kovelo and Savaea young men and women were reported to use mostly Biage but also some Tok Pisin with their brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents. In Kanga and Pelai, middle-aged and old men and women are reported to only use Biage with other people in the village. In Ebea, Kovelo and Isurava, middle-aged and old men and women are generally reported to use Biage with other people in the village with some exceptions. Middle-aged men in Ebea are said to use a little Tok Pisin and English with children as well as Biage. Middle-aged men in Isurava are reported to use a little Motu and Tok Pisin with children. In Kovelo, middle-aged and old people are all reported to use a little Tok Pisin with everyone in the village. For young, middle-aged and old people in all Biage villages, Biage is always reported to be the dominant language when speaking to other people in the village.

7.1.4 Reported mixing