Languages in Papua New Guinea

The official languages of Papua New Guinea are Tok Pisin, English and Hiri Motu. However, the nation is considered as the most linguistically diverse country in the world, having about 820 languages all over the country. Tok Pisin is English-based creole and is the most widely spoken, serving as the country’s lingua franca. Though most frequently used in Parliament and in commerce, Tok Pisin is partly used in the Western, Gulf, Central, Oro Province, and the Milne Bay provinces. English is spoken only by 1% to 2% of the population but is used in business and as a language of instruction in many schools after the elementary level.

Hiri Motu is a simplified version of Motu, and possesses some features of Pidgin and Creole languages. Its two dialects—Austronesian and Papuan—are both Austronesian in grammar and vocabulary. The longest established languages in the country are the Papuan languages, which are neither Austronesian nor Australian but are also spoken in areas outside the country such as Indonesia, East Timor, and Solomon Islands.

Among the various languages in the country, suki is spoken by about 3500 people in the island, particularly along the Fly River in the country’s southwestern side and in the villages of the Western Province, Guwaku, Iwewi, Ewe, Gwibaku, Duru and Isala.

The language of instruction in the basic education is the vernacular, that is, from preparatory to Grades 1 and 2 or among children 6 to 8 years of age, and a combination of the vernacular and English from Grades 3 to 5 for children 9 to 11 years of age. From Grade 6 to 8, with children 12 to 14 years of age, English is used although the vernacular language is still encouraged in the classroom.

 Teachers in the preparatory level and in Grades 1 and 2 are required to be graduates of Grade 10 and have the knowledge about the local language and community culture for them to be effective in the teaching job.