How many languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea, a sovereign state in Oceania, is the most linguistically diverse country in the world. There are 839 living languages spoken in the country. 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. A lingua franca is any language used for communication between people who do not share a native language. Papua New Guinean Sign Language became the fourth officially recognized language in May 2015, and is used by the deaf population throughout the country. • English - English is an official language of Papua New Guinea and is used by the government, courts, and the education system. In the 2011 census, 48.9% of the population were literate in English. • Tok Pisin - Tok Pisin is an English-based Creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an official language of Papua New Guinea and the most widely us