3.2 Language attitudes
3.2.1 As reported by residents
All four languages surveyed appear to have neutral prestige based on the attitudes of outsiders. Speakers of other languages do not seem to have any interest in learning the languages in the survey area, except
where there are marriage ties. While in town or travelling to town, people reported using primarily Tok Pisin. However, when we asked what language they would use in that same setting to speak to a friend
from their language area, they reported that they would use their vernacular. This indicates that their language is not assigned low prestige by outsiders, because they are willing to use their language in
public settings in town.
It appears that there are no local vernaculars that have a higher prestige than the others. Most people from the languages surveyed did not report any interest in knowing any of the other vernacular
languages. The exception was villages of western Yabong where they speak Karo because of marriage and social ties with nearby Karo villages. There still does not appear to be any special prestige in
knowing Karo.
There are two things that would help increase positive language attitudes in the surveyed languages. There are no written materials in these languages except for some prep school materials that
have been produced recently. Increasing the production and distribution of these materials may foster positive language attitudes. Speakers in none of these languages reported their local language being used
on radio broadcasts. Changing this may also encourage more positive language attitudes.
Nevertheless, the responses to the following questions indicate that people in the area generally do have positive attitudes toward their own language.
What languages do you like hearing stories in? Everybody reported their local language, except in the Nekgini village of Serieng, where they reported Tok Pisin.
What languages do you want your children to know well? Everyone’s first response was their own language. The second response was usually Tok Pisin, followed by English.
What languages do you think your children will use when they grow up? Singor Migum was the only village to respond with Tok Pisin. The rest believe their children will use the local language.
What languages do you think your grandchildren will use when they grow up? With only two exceptions the response in all villages was their own local language. In Singor Migum they reported Tok Pisin and
in Baded Yabong they reported Tok Pisin and English. What language do the children in this village learn first? The response to this question in Yabong
villages was always Yabong. Responses from villages in the other language groups were varied and are shown in table 17.
Before school age do the children understanduse the vernacular well? and Do they speak it as well as you? The response to both of these questions in Yabong villages was always “yes” with the exception of
Baded village where they said the children only speak the language about half as well as adults. The responses of the other villages were somewhat mixed and are shown in table 17.
Table 17. Children’s first language Language
Migum Nekgini
Neko Village
Lamtub Singor Sorang Asang
Reite Serieng
Damoing Warai What language do the
children in this village learn first?
Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin
Nekgini Nekgini Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin Neko Neko
Before school age do the children
understanduse vernacular well?
Yes Some
of it Yes
Yes Yes
No Yes
Yes
Do they speak it as well as you?
Yes Not
quite A little
Yes Not
quite as well
Know ABC’s a
few words only
Not too well
Yes
Considering the data shown above, it appears that in all four languages people feel that their own language is still important. Their interest in its survival seems strongest in the mountain Yabong villages
and weakest in Singor village, in the Migum language area. Serieng and Reite, both Nekgini villages, also show some signs of weakening language vitality.
3.2.2 As reported by school staff and parents