The classification of Orokaiva according to Ross 2005:35,37 is shown in table 2. Table 2. Orokaiva linguistic relationships Ross 2005
Trans New Guinea Binanderean
Binandere Baruga
Binandere Doghoro
Ewage-Notu Gaina
Korafe
Orokaiva
Suena Yekora
Zia In the Hunjara villages surveyed, everyone said the name of their language was Hunjara or Hunjara
Ke ke means ‘word’. In the Kaina villages surveyed, everyone said the name of their language was Kaina Ke. No one reported a name to cover both Hunjara and Kaina Ke, so the name Hunjara-Kaina Ke
will be used in this report. After studying the linguistic and sociolinguistic situation in the area, it seems appropriate to
conclude that Hunjara-Kaina Ke is a separate language from Orokaiva, with two major dialects: Hunjara and Kaina Ke see section 7.
1.2 Language location
1.2.1 Description of the area
The Hunjara and Kaina people live in a wide valley at about a 400 metre elevation flanked on three sides by steep mountains. To the north is the Ajule Kajale range, and to the south and west are the Owen
Stanley Ranges. The east side opens out into a wide plain that runs down to the coast. The valley is dominated by oil palm plantations, with rainforest on the hills. Houses are made from local timber with
either a sago leaf or corrugated iron roof. A wide variety of vegetables are grown in the area; staples are cooking bananas, taro and sweet potato.
There are numerous clear, fast-flowing rivers coming down from the mountains, which the survey team was told are difficult to cross in the wet season. Most of the rivers were between knee- and waist-
deep when the team crossed them, with the exception of the Kumusi River, where it was necessary to swim or be pushed across on an inner tube. The team observed numerous inner tubes, but no canoes.
© 2015 SIL-PNG © 2015 SIL-PNG
1.2.2 Maps
Map 1. Hunjara-Kaina Ke language area in Papua New Guinea
Geodata from worldgeodatasets.com.
© 2015 SIL International
®
Area of focus
According to Gordon 2005, the languages neighbouring Hunjara-Kaina Ke are classified as in table 3.
Table 3. Classification of neighbouring languages Gordon 2005 Trans-New Guinea
Main Eastern
Central and South Eastern Goilalan
Fuyug Koiarian
Koiaric Biage
Mountain Koiali Baraic
Ömie Namiae
Barai Ese
Yareban Bariji
Nawaru
Map 2. Neighbouring languages
Includes geodata from worldgeodatasets.com and Esri. Used by permission.
© 2015 SIL-PNG
Map 3. Major Hunjara-Kaina Ke villages and geographical features
Includes geodata from worldgeodatasets.com, SIL International, and Esri. Used by permission. Map 4. Hunjara villages and facilities
Includes geodata from worldgeodatasets.com, SIL International, and Esri. Used by permission.
© 2015 SIL-PNG
© 2015 SIL-PNG
Map 5. Kaina villages and facilities
Includes geodata from worldgeodatasets.com, SIL International, and Esri. Used by permission.
1.3 Population
