hiri motu: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (outside Papua New Guinea)Formal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “hiri motu” mean?
An official language of Papua New Guinea, a simplified form of Motu used historically for trade.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An official language of Papua New Guinea, a simplified form of Motu used historically for trade.
A Central Papuan language, also known as Police Motu, developed from the traditional Motu language and used as a lingua franca.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; term is specific to Papua New Guinea's linguistic context.
Connotations
Academic, linguistic, or anthropological interest.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday English in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hiri motu” in a Sentence
Hiri Motu is spoken...They use Hiri Motu for...A speaker of Hiri MotuVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hiri motu” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Hiri Motu phrases
- the Hiri Motu lexicon
American English
- Hiri Motu grammar
- a Hiri Motu text
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in linguistics, anthropology, and Pacific studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Refers to a specific contact language with documented grammar and lexicon.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hiri motu”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hiri motu”
- Misspelling as 'Hiri Moto' or 'Hiry Motu'.
- Confusing it with Tok Pisin, another PNG lingua franca.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are distinct languages. Both are lingua francas of Papua New Guinea, but Tok Pisin is English-based, while Hiri Motu is Motu-based.
Resources are limited compared to major world languages. It is considered simpler than traditional Motu but requires dedicated study materials focused on Papua New Guinea.
It was widely used by the police force during the colonial period, which helped spread its use as a lingua franca.
Estimates vary, but speaker numbers have declined significantly. It is far outnumbered by speakers of Tok Pisin and English.
An official language of Papua New Guinea, a simplified form of Motu used historically for trade.
Hiri motu is usually formal, historical in register.
Hiri motu: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɪri ˈməʊtuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɪri ˈmoʊtu/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HEAR-ee MO-too' was the language you might HEAR in MOtion for TOUriŋ trade in Papua.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TOOL FOR TRADE.
Practice
Quiz
What is Hiri Motu primarily known as?