Papuan languages

Papuan languages refer to a diverse group of languages spoken mainly in New Guinea and nearby islands, outside the Austronesian language family. They are not related to each other or to large language families like Indo-European but are instead a collection of many distinct languages, often with complex structures. Thousands of years of history and geographic isolation have led to this linguistic diversity. These languages are vital for the cultures and identities of local communities, with some having few speakers and others being more widely used. Overall, Papuan languages highlight the rich and complex linguistic landscape of the region.