Languages of Papua New Guinea

This survey of South Watut [mcy], Middle Watut [mpl] and North Watut [una] in central Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea was requested by SIL-PNG Morobe Regional Directors in November 2011. The Directors desired to know the level of the vitality of the Watut vernaculars and what would be required to meet the language development needs of the Watut communities. The first goal of the survey was therefore to determine whether the Watut vernaculars had strong vitality. The second goal was to determine whether the Watut communities had interest in vernacular language development and Bible translation. The third goal was to determine how many ethnolinguistic groups could be involved in the program and their willingness to work together.

We conclude that all three language communities would benefit from a language development program, but that various challenges exist for each. An excellent first step for such a program would be to conduct a workshop in Lae, a gathering point for all three communities and a town they call their own. Additionally, there is sufficient unity between the three Watut Valley languages to indicate that they would likely be willing to cooperate in such a program.

If a program involving all three proves impractical, we recommend that a program be initiated in North Watut. Middle Watut is a second possibility, but a lack of ethnolinguistic unity could prove difficult. The geography of the South Watut area is prohibitive and their population more scattered; therefore a program is least feasible there.