The Magori Language of Papua New Guinea

According to a census taken in 2000, there are about 100 speakers of Magori in a total population of 1,012 people. Magori is an Austronesian language of Central province, Papua New Guinea.Traditionally spoken in the some small villages in east Papua New Guinea, the language was first recorded by Europeans. Much borrowing of vocabulary from a neighboring language, Mailu, can be seen in the dialect although it does not seem to have had much effect on the phonology or grammar.

Many linguists agree that Magori was on a preliminary Papua New Guinea list as endangered with two hundred speakers, who represent 40% to 60% of the ethnic group, and a few to half the children. Even though the language was reported to be used for all important functions, the people were negative to neutral about Magori. Its demise has been reported for the last decade, but linguists are finding it difficult to record the language due to the death of almost all its speakers.

Magori has been dying out as people switch to the lingua franca of Papau New Guinea (PGN): Tok Pisin. It is estimated that more than 1000 different cultural groups exist in PNG, and most groups have their own language. Because of this, many indigenous languages are becoming obsolete to make room for this new bridge to communication.

There are 15 highly endangered languages in PGN, so why is saving one of them so important? Because of its diversity, the people in Papau New Guinea take pride in their many different styles of cultural expression that have emerged. Each group has an important role in creating its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes, singing, music, and architecture. Aspects of these are found within PGN's small, indigenous languages and they contribute to society's overall cultural diversity.