Papua New Guinea is a neighboring country to Indonesia. Curiosity arises, what Language of Papua New Guinea? Curious?
Papua New Guinea is one of the last places in the world where a thriving culture of subsystems and traditional tribes resides. Papua New Guinea is filled with about 7,000 different cultural groups.
Language of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has three official languages, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, and English. Papua New Guinea’s constitution recognizes these three languages as the national languages of the 820 regional languages.
Some might never be found. They perform elaborate initiation rites, marriages, and other celebrations. There are 820 different regional languages in Papua New Guinea.
The History of Language in Papua New Guinea
From 1864 to 1912, workers from the South Pacific islands who spoke multiple languages worked together on sugar plantations in Queensland, Australia.
They don’t have the same language. As a result, they developed a pidgin language based on English. It also borrows Portuguese, French, and German words and their various native languages.
When the plantation workers returned to their respective areas, they brought a new language. The languages are Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea, Bislama in Vanuatu, and Pijin in the Solomon Islands.
The new languages are also known as Pisin, Pidgin, Neomelanesian, New Guinea Pidgin English, and Melanesian English.
Tok Pisin Coexists with English
Until recently, English was the official language of education in PNG, although Tok Pisin was widely used in community and church-run early childhood and vocational education.
Currently, however, PNG children can choose the language of Papua New Guinea in the first three years of primary education. Many choose Tok Pisin.
Grammar and vocabulary distinctions distinguish the Tok Pisin dialects spoken in the lowlands, highlands, and islands of Papua New Guinea. More English influence can be seen in certain variants than others.
Tok Pisin has a relatively simple sound system with a smaller inventory of phonemes than the English it is based on.
Below are Some Common Words and Phrases In Tok Pisin
Good day spoken and written gude
Hello spoken and written hello
Goodbye, see you later spoken and written gurbani, lukim yu behain
Thank you spoken and written tenkyu
Please spoken and written plis
No spoken and written No ken, no gat
I am sorry, I am very sorry spoken and written misori, mi sori tumas
Secon Language of Papua New Guinea, Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu (also known as Police Motu or Pidgin Motu) is the official language in Papua New Guinea besides English and Tok Pisin. Hiri Motu is a simplified version of the Motu language. Phonological and grammatical differences prevent Hiri Motu speakers from understanding the Motu language, even though the two are very similar.
The Origin of Hiri Motu
The historic trading journeys that shaped the Motu people’s culture and way of life are known as hiri. A police force called “Police Motu” adopted the phrase “Hiri Motu” as its common tongue.
Early in the 1970s, the Department of Information and Extension Services hosted a meeting where the name Hiri Motu was first conceived. The committee suggested the term “Hiri Motu” during this conference for a number of reasons.
- The history of the language predates what the name “Police Motu” suggests. This was suggested because the Motu people’s language, which they used to do business with their clients and sell commodities in, was simplified.
- At the time, no trade nor social interaction took place in Police Motu. “Police Motu” has largely lost its role in police activity after the 1946 unification of the New Guinea Police Force. The bulk of the police force at the time accepted and used pidgin.
- The committee felt that the new name ought to have some significance. They believed that a language should represent its history and how it is used in daily life rather than being associated with the police.
Wrapping Up
Papua New Guinea is a neighboring country to Indonesia. Papua New Guinea has three official languages: Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, and English. It is one of the last places in the world where a thriving culture of subsystems and tribes resides. Language is also known as Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea, Bislama in Vanuatu, and Pijin in the Solomon Islands. Some varieties show more English influence than others. PNG children can choose the language to use in the first three years of primary education.
