Makolkol language explained

Makolkol
Also Known As:	(unattested)
Region:	New Britain
Speakers:	7 in 1988. May still be alive
Date:	2016
Ref:	e25
Familycolor:	Papuan
Family:	unclassified
Iso3:	zmh
Glotto:	mako1250
Glottorefname:	Makolkol

Makolkol is a possible Papuan language formerly spoken on the Gazelle Peninsula of East New Britain Province on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Stebbins (2010) reports it is unattested.^[1] Palmer (2018) treats it as unclassified.^[2]

It is not known if it was related to the neighboring Baining languages.

Rosensteel (1988) contains a 174-word list of Makolkol.

Sociolinguistic situation

Makolkol was spoken only in the village of Gunapeo. Speakers were shifting to Tok Pisin and Meramera.^[3] Rosensteel (1988) reported that out of a total population of about 35 ethnic people, there were 7 elderly fluent speakers.^[4]

References

1. Dunn, Michael. 2012. Systematic typological comparison as a tool for investigating language history.
2. Book: Palmer, Bill . Palmer . Bill . 2018 . The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide . Language families of the New Guinea Area . The World of Linguistics . 4 . Berlin . De Gruyter Mouton . 1–20 . 978-3-11-028642-7.
3. https://pnglanguages.sil.org/resources/languages/language/zmh Makolkol
4. Rosensteel, Gary L. 1988. A sociolinguistic survey report on five Baining languages: Kairak, Makolkol, Mali, Simbali and Uramët. Unpublished manuscript. Ukarumpa: SIL.