The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
SIL code: PDG
ISO 639-2: tpi
| Population | 50,000 first language, 2,000,000 second language speakers (1982 SIL). |
| Region | Mainly in the northern half of the country. |
| Alternate names | PISIN, PIDGIN, NEOMELANESIAN, NEW GUINEA PIDGIN ENGLISH, MELANESIAN ENGLISH |
| Classification | Creole, English based, Pacific. |
| Comments | There are dialect differences between lowlands, highlands, and the islands. The highlands lexicon has more English influence (J. Holm). The native language of some people in mixed urban areas. The main means of communication between speakers of different languages. The most frequently used language in Parliament and commerce. Some second language users speak a 'broken' Pidgin. Official language. Dictionary. Grammar. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1989. |
