Indo-Pacific is a hypothetical language macrofamily proposed in 1971 by Joseph Greenberg and now believed to be spurious. It grouped together the Papuan languages of New Guinea and Melanesia with the languages of the Andaman Islands and, tentatively, the languages of Tasmania, both of which are remote from New Guinea. The valid cognates Greenberg found turned out to be reflexes of the less extensive Trans–New Guinea family. Recently the Kusunda language, which is generally seen as a language isolate, is also included in the Indo-Pacific proposal. Greenberg did not include "Australian" in his original 1971 proposal.
Amto–Musan is a language family of two closely related but mutually unintelligible Papuan languages, Amto and Siawi, spoken along the Samaia River of Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea.
The Left May or Arai languages are a small language family of half a dozen closely related but not mutually intelligible languages in the centre of New Guinea, in the watershed of the Left May River. There are only about 2,000 speakers in all. Foley (2018) classifies them separately as an independent language family, while Usher (2020) links them with the Amto–Musan languages.
Papua New Guinea, a sovereign state in Oceania, is the most linguistically diverse country in the world. According to Ethnologue, there are 839 living languages spoken in the country. In 2006, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare stated that "Papua New Guinea has 832 living languages ." 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. Papua New Guinean Sign Language became the fourth officially recognised language in May 2015, and is used by the deaf population throughout the country.
Amto is an Amto–Musan language spoken in Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea.
Siawi, also known as Musan, is one of two Amto–Musan languages. It is spoken in Siawi village, Green River Rural LLG, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.
Pyu is a language isolate spoken in Papua New Guinea. As of 2000, the language had about 100 speakers. It is spoken in Biake No. 2 village of Biake ward, Green River Rural LLG in Sandaun Province.
The Sepik River is the longest river on the island of New Guinea, and the second largest in Oceania by discharge volume after the Fly River. The majority of the river flows through the Papua New Guinea (PNG) provinces of Sandaun and East Sepik, with a small section flowing through the Indonesian province of Papua.
Tabo, also known as Waia (Waya), is a Papuan language of Western Province, Papua New Guinea, just north of the Fly River delta. The language has also been known as Hiwi and Hibaradai.
Arai–Samaia is a language family of New Guinea, proposed by Timothy Usher, that includes the Arai and Samaia (Amto–Musan) languages and the Pyu isolate.
Green River Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located along the border with Keerom Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia.
The Arai River or May River is a river in southern Papua New Guinea. Various Papuan languages are spoken in the watershed of the May River, including the Iwam language and the Arai–Samaia languages.
The Bamu River is a river in southwestern Papua New Guinea.
The Timper River is a river in northern Papua New Guinea.
The Wogamush River is a river in northern Papua New Guinea.
Segero Creek is a creek located in Western Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Wanang River is a river in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Tomul River is a river in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Kokun River, also spelled Kokon River or Kokan River, is a river in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea