Social and Political Roles of Some Languages in the Pacific AreaS.A. Wurm

ASIEN – Nr. 13 (1984) pp. 30–45

According to the author, the Pacific area is by far the linguistically most complex area of the world. It contains around 2000 languages with many thousands of dialects. The varied social roles and functions and the political significance of many of the languages are examined. Linguae francae of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu etc. Different English-based pidgins spoken in various countries of the region.