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However, as Sarvasy demonstrates, these attitudes can be transformed through a deeper understanding of the languages themselves. By guiding native Nungon speakers to discover the systematic complexity of their language's tenses, phonemes and parts of speech, Sarvasy kindled a renewed appreciation for their linguistic inheritance. Participants recognized that mastering a language with five tenses, like Nungon, could facilitate learning languages with simpler tense systems, such as English. This realization strengthened their resolve to maintain Nungon's vitality by encouraging children to continue speaking it.

Efforts like Sarvasy's are crucial for preserving PNG's linguistic diversity, but they require collaboration between linguists, community members, and the government. Linguists can play a vital role by working with local language communities to document grammars, develop orthographies, and create language learning resources. The government should invest in mapping and supporting the country's languages, recognizing them as a source of national pride and cultural heritage.

Moreover, PNG's linguistic diversity could be harnessed for strategic purposes, as exemplified by the Navajo Code Talkers in the Solomon islands, Palau, Kiribati and Japan during World War II. The complexity and obscurity of the Navajo language made it an ideal basis for an unbreakable military code. In an era of increasing reliance on technology and artificial intelligence, PNG's fast-changing, primarily oral languages could prove invaluable for secure communication systems.

However, preserving PNG's linguistic diversity requires more than practical applications; it necessitates a fundamental shift in societal attitudes. The perception that indigenous languages are inferior to English or Tok Pisin must be challenged, and the value of linguistic diversity must be celebrated. This shift can be fostered through education, media representation, and government policies that promote the use and status of indigenous languages.

For PNG's linguistic landscape is at a crossroads. The rapid decline of indigenous languages risks erasing a wealth of cultural knowledge and identity. Only by investing in language documentation, promotion, and preservation can PNG safeguard its linguistic heritage for future generations.

The benefits of maintaining PNG's indigenous languages extend beyond cultural continuity. These languages encode unique worldviews, knowledge systems, and ways of understanding and interacting with the environment. They are a source of resilience, adaptability, and creativity in the face of global challenges.

In a future where technology and artificial intelligence threaten to homogenize communication, PNG's linguistic diversity could be a vital resource. The complexity and adaptability of these languages could provide a model for resilient, secure communication systems. By preserving and promoting its indigenous languages through translated public information, PNG would only safeguard its cultural heritage but also position itself at the forefront of linguistic innovation.

However, achieving this vision requires a concerted effort to change attitudes and perceptions towards indigenous languages. The dream of a future where educated Pacific people abandon their native tongues for English or French must be replaced by a celebration of multilingualism and linguistic diversity. PNG's languages are not a hindrance to progress but rich resources to tap into.

PNG's linguistic diversity is a national treasure that deserves recognition, preservation, and promotion. By working together, PNG can harness the power of its linguistic heritage for cultural, social, and economic purposes. This effort requires collaboration, investment, and a fundamental shift in attitudes towards valuing linguistic diversity. With the right policies, resources, and mindsets, PNG's languages can continue to thrive as a source of identity, resilience and potential for generations to come.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a nation unparalleled in its linguistic diversity, counting over 800 indigenous languages across its terrain. This wealth of tongues is a national treasure, encoding the knowledge, culture, and identity of PNG's diverse communities. However, this linguistic landscape is undergoing a rapid shift, as local languages are increasingly abandoned in favor of Tok Pisin, the English-based creole that serves as a lingua franca, or English itself. Preserving and promoting PNG's linguistic heritage is crucial, not only for maintaining cultural continuity but also for harnessing the untapped potential of these unique communication systems.

"The perception that indigenous languages are inferior to English or Tok Pisin must be challenged"

Linguist Hannah Sarvasy's work with the Nungon language community in the Saruwaged Mountains highlights the complex attitudes towards indigenous languages in PNG. Many native speakers perceive their mother tongues as unsophisticated and imprecise compared to English, a belief that contributes to the languages' decline. This lack of appreciation for the grammatical structures and subtleties of indigenous languages is a barrier to their preservation.

Treasure tongues: Papua New Guinea's Languages at crossroads