What's it like to live in a country with more than 830 different languages? Where not many people speak only one language and most of us use two or three or four languages every day? Where most of us use Pidgin English to talk to each other in?
The country is Papua New Guinea.
I'm Professor Craig Volker and I'm lucky enough to live in Papua New Guinea. Together on this podcast, every couple weeks we'll spend five or ten minutes looking at language here ⏤ local languages, our pidgin languages, and how we use (or don’t use) English. And sometimes even we'll even go beyond our borders.
Have you ever been confused by the different ways the same word is spelled (or spelt)? Like color and colour? Or center and centre? Listen and find out why this happens.
To read the article this episode was based on, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/should-i-write-colour-or-color/
1 Jan 2025
Language Toktok 10: What languages do I need to work at the United Nations?
One of the reasons so few Papua New Guineans work as United Nations public servants is that they do not have the necessary language skills. Listen and find out which languages you need to be able to speak to work at the UN.
To read the article this episode was based on, go to: https://www.thenational.com.pg/what-languages-do-i-need-to-work-at-the-un/
15 Dec 2024
Language Toktok 9: Why does PNG have so many languages?
Papua New Guinea language expert discusses the unique cultural and historical factors contributing to the country's remarkable linguistic diversity.
1 Dec 2024
Language Toktok 8: Does phonics work for Papua New Guineans?
Papua New Guinea language expert Dr. Terry Crowley explores whether phonics can effectively teach English to children who speak indigenous languages.
15 Nov 2024
Language Toktok 7: Are Papua New Guinea languages primitive?
Have you ever heard PNG languages described as "primitive"? Do you think English is more developed than your language? Before you answer, listen to this!
To read the article this episode was based on, go to: https://www.thenational.com.pg/how-primitive-are-png-languages/
1 Nov 2024
Language Toktok 6: What's the language situation like in Indonesia?
Indonesia is Papua New Guinea's closest neighbour, but do you know what languages are spoken on the other side of the border? And how many? Listen and find out!
To read the article this episode was based on, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/what-is-the-language-situation-in-indonesia/
15 Oct 2024
Language Toktok 5: How can I help my students with spelling?
English is a terrible language for spelling and many students have a lot of difficulty in learning how to spell correctly. But English is the language of education in Papua New Guinea and we have to learn how to spell it correctly. What's a teacher to do?
To read the article this episode was based on, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/how-can-i-help-my-students-with-spelling-and-writing-difficulties/
1 Oct 2024
Language Toktok 4: How was Hebrew revived?
For many centuries no one spoke Hebrew as a home language. It was known only through books and dictionaries. But now it is once again the home language of millions of people. How did this happen and what lessons are there for Papua New Guinea?
To read the article this episode was based on, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/how-hebrew-was-revived/
15 Sept 2024
Language Toktok 3: How do we know two languages are related?
What does it mean we say two languages are related? How can we find out if two languages are or are not related? Listen and find out!
To read the article this episode was based on, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/how-do-we-know-if-two-languages-are-related/
1 Sept 2024
Language Toktok 2: How can I make a dictionary for my language?
Does your language have a dictionary? If it doesn't, do you want to know how to make one?
To read the article this was based on, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/can-make-dictionary-language/
23 Aug 2024
Papua New Guinea Language Toktok
What's it
like to live in a country with more than 830 different languages? Where not
many people speak only one language and most of us use two or three or four
languages every day? Where most of us use Pidgin English to talk to each other
in?
The country
is Papua New Guinea.
I'm Professor
Craig Volker and I'm lucky enough to live in Papua New Guinea. Together on this podcast, every couple weeks we'll spend five or ten minutes looking at language here ⏤ local languages, our pidgin languages, and how we use (or don’t use) English. And once in a while we'll take a break and look at language elsewhere, and see what Papua New Guinea can learn about language issues beyond our
borders.
So Lukaut--Papua New Guinea Language Toktok is coming!
23 Aug 2024
Language Toktok 1: What is the international decade of indigenous languages?
What is the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and why is it relevant to Papua New Guinea?
https://www.thenational.com.pg/decade-of-indigenous-languages/
23 Aug 2024
Papua New Guinea Language Toktok trailer
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5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
63
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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