Papua New Guinea Languages

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In other languages: Tok Pisin | English

Papua New Guinea

Languages

Description

Papua New Guinea, a sovereign state in Oceania, is the most linguistically diverse country in the world. There are 839 living languages spoken in the country. Languages with statutory recognition are Tok Pisin, English, Hiri Motu, and Papua New Guinean Sign Language. Tok Pisin, an English-based creole, is the most widely spoken, serving as the country's lingua franca. A lingua franca is any language used for communication between people who do not share a native language. Papua New Guinean Sign Language became the fourth officially recognized language in May 2015, and is used by the deaf population throughout the country.

• English - English is an official language of Papua New Guinea and is used by the government, courts, and the education system. In the 2011 census, 48.9% of the population were literate in English.
• Tok Pisin - Tok Pisin is an English-based creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an official language of Papua New Guinea and the most widely used language in the country. In parts of Western, Gulf, Central, Oro and Milne Bay provinces, however, the use of Tok Pisin has a shorter history, and is less universal especially among older people. In the 2011 census, 57.4% of the population were literate in Tok Pisin. In the north was a colony known as German New Guinea, in which German was the official language. Tok Pisin derives some vocabulary from German as a result of this influence.
• Hiri Motu - Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a simplified version of the Motu language of the Austronesian language family. In the 2011 census, 4.7% of the population were literate in Hiri Motu.
• Papua New Guinean Sign Language - Papua New Guinean Sign Language (PNGSL) is a sign language originating from Papua New Guinea. The standardized form of PNGSL was made an official language of Papua New Guinea in 2015.

Word List(s)

• Hunter, John. Papua New Guinea phrasebook. South Yarra, Vic., Australia: Lonely Planet, 1986. Available at: WorldCat.
• Z' graggen, John A. A comparative word list of the Mabuso languages, Madang province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Dept. of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, 1980. Available at: WorldCat.
• Tok Pisin phrasebook at Wikitravel

Basics of Tok Pisin Language

• Hello.

Gude. (goo-DAY)

• Hello. (informal)

Hi. Hai. (HIGH)

• How are you?

Yu stap gut? (yoo stahp goot?)

• Fine, thank you.

Mi stap gut. (mee stahp goot)

• What is your name?

Husat nem bilong yu? (HOO-zaht naym bee-LONG yoo?)

• My name is ______ .

Nem bilong mi emi ______ . (naym bee-LONG mee em ee _____ .)

• Nice to meet you.

Gutpela long bungim yu. (GOOT-peh-lah long BOONG-im YOO)

• Please.

Plis. (plees)

• Thank you.

Tenkyu. (TENK-yoo)

• You're welcome.

Nogat samting. (NO-gaht sahm-ting)

• Off.

Offim ("Off-im")

• On.

Onim ("On-im")

• Yes.

Yes. (YESS)

• No.

Nogat. (noh-GAHT)

• Excuse me. (getting attention)

Skius. (skyooz)

• Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Skius. (skyooz)

• I'm [very] sorry.

Mi sori [tumas]. (mee SOH-ree [too-MAHS])

• Goodbye

Gutbai. (GOOT-bigh.)

• Goodbye (informal)

Lukim yu bihain. (LOO-keem yoo bee-HIGHN)

• I can't speak tok Pisin [well].

Mi no save [gut] long Tok Pisin. (mee noh SAH-vay [goot] long tohk PIH-zin)

• Do you speak English?

Yu save long tok Inglis, a? (yoo SAH-veh long tohk ING-glis ah?)

• Is there someone here who speaks English?

Husat i save long tok Inglis? (hoo-ZAHT ee SAH-veh long tohk ING-glis?)

• Help!

Help! (HEHLP!)

• Good morning.

Moning/Moning tru/Moning nau (MOHN-ing/MOHN-ing troo/MOHN-ing now)

• Good night.

Gut nait. (guhd NIGHT)

• Good night (to sleep)

Gut nait. (good NIGHT)

• I don't understand.

Mi no harim tok bilong yu. (mee noh HAH-reem tawk bee-LONG yoo)

• Enough of all this talking!

Maski long planti toktok! (MAHS-kee long PLAHN-tee TOHK-tohk!)

• Where is the toilet?

Smolhaus i stap we? (SMOLL-hows ee stahp WEH?)

Phrases taken from Tok Pisin phrasebook at Wikitravel

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Hainsworth, C. Joan, Patricia T Brien, and Summer Institute of Linguistics. Narak A B D = Narak alphabet book. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 2003. Available at: WorldCat.
• Kale, Joan. A first alphabetical listing of the non-Austronesian languages of Papua, New Guinea. Port Moresby: University of Papua New Guinea, Dept. of Language, 1975. Available at: WorldCat.
• Kola, Jeff, Andru Mei, and Liisa Melliger. Pinai we ABC-bukum = Pinai language ABC-book. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 2002. Available at: WorldCat.
• Parker, Diane, Steve Simpson, Elyce D Cobb, and Summer Institute of Linguistics. Ure sunas = Alphabet and number book. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1992. Available at: WorldCat.

Language Aids and Dictionaries

• How To Learn The Hiri Motu Language (Police Motu) at Master Any Language
• Say It in Motu at Exkiap

Additional Resources

• Romaine, Suzanne. Language, education, and development : urban and rural Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea. Oxford, New York: Clarendon Press ; Oxford University Press, 1992. Available at: WorldCat.
• Wurm, Stephen Adolphe, and J B Harris. Police Motu : an introduction to the Trade Language of Papua (New Guinea) for Anthropologists and other fieldworkers. Canberra: The Australian National University, 1972. Available at: WorldCat.