People
The people are largely descendants of the Papuans – Melanesians include island countries as Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Today there over seven (7) million people living in Papua New Guinea – more than a third of them in the rugged Highlands. The traditional Melanesian cultures are kept alive in elaborate rituals that accompany deaths, feasts, marriages, compensation ceremonies and initiation rites.
Variations in village construction, dialect and dress are common in country areas while annual Sing Sing shows, part of the Papua New Guinea Cultural Events Calendar, see villagers from around the country demonstrate their singing, dancing and elaborate bilas (traditional costumes). The shows at Goroka and Mount Hagen are among the country’s most impressive, attracting thousands of spectators to Papua New Guinea each year.
Language
More than 800 local languages (in addition to many minor dialects) exist in Papua New Guinea – about a third of the world’s indigenous tongues. Pidgin (Tok Pisin) is common to most Papua New Guineans, and learning a few words can be handy, especially when travelling in more remote areas.
| English | Tok Pisin |
| Yes | Yes |
| No | Nogat |
| Good morning | Monin |
| Good night | Gut nait |
| Thank you | Tenkiu |
| How much does it cost? | Em hamas? / Hamas long em? |
| I would like to buy | Mi laik baim |
| Where is the toilet? | Toilet istap weh? |
| Please help me | Halivim mi, plis |
| I do not like it | Mi no laikim |
| Where are we going? | Yumi go weh? |
| Food or to eat | Kai kai |
| What is your name? | Wanem nem bilong yu? |
| Where are you from? | Yu bilong weh? |
| Hospital | Haus sik |
| May I take a photo? | Inap mi kisim piksa? |