Doctoral Dissertation Research by Thomas Diaz: Documentation of Heyo [auk], a Torricelli language of Papua New Guinea

The Endangered Language Documentation Programme (ELDP) provides grants worldwide to for the linguistic documentation of endangered language and knowledge. Grantees create multimedia collection of endangered languages. These collections are preserved and made freely available through the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) housed at the library of SOAS University of London.

The primary goal of this project is the documentation of Heyo, a Torricelli language of northwestern Papua New Guinea. Within Torricelli, Heyo is a member of the Maimai subbranch. To date there are no descriptions or published documentation of a Maimai language. Heyo is spoken by between 500 and 1,500 people across three wards in Sandaun Province in the Torricelli Mountains. Due to the widespread shift from traditional languages to the lingua franca Tok Pisin, the number of Heyo speakers is in a state of decline. However, many adults continue to use the language in their daily lives. Primary investigator: Thomas Diaz

Project Details


Location: Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, Oceania Organiser(s): Endangered Languages Documentation Programme Project partner(s): The Research Foundation for SUNY on behalf of the University at Buffalo Funder(s): Arcadia Funding received: £23,762.00 Commencement Date: 01/2014 Project Status: Active
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