Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea Conference 2025
Short Title: LSPNG 2025
Theme: Language Crossroads: Standards, Identity, and Multilingual Complexity

Date: 17-Sep-2025 - 19-Sep-2025
Location: Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Contact: Mr Philip Tama
Contact Email: [email protected]
Meeting URL: http://www.uog-lspng.com

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics; Discipline of Linguistics; General Linguistics; Language Acquisition; Language Documentation
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
Tok Pisin (tpi)
Language Family(ies): Austronesian; Central Papuan; East Papuan; Micronesian; Polynesian

Submission Deadline: 30-Jun-2025

The conference also invites presentations on other topics relating to the field of linguistics. This year, we welcome in particular presentations addressing the following two themes:

1. Linguistic/Language in the Pacific region
One of the purposes of the conference is to bring together language workers, researchers, linguists, anthropologists, creolists, translators and educators who are working on languages in the Pacific region and to promote collaboration and research in this area; as the region is arguably the most linguistically diverse in the world. The presentations should capture the broadly interdisciplinary approach to linguistics inquiry including diverse approaches to linguistic theory and analysis especially on work done on Papuan and Austronesian languages. The conference also encourages presentations which celebrate and promote the United Nation’s declaration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL2022-2032).

2. Standard of English in Papua New Guinea
The country experienced a drastic fall of standard of English competency in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. An example is drawn from the UOG English Enrichment Diagnostic Test administered in 2023. The alarming results indicated that only 3% of the first-year students who took the test were competent English users, while 97% of the students were considered incompetent users. Further researches indicate poor quality of education in PNG linking to students’ delayed age of onset of learning English and their scores (Temple, et al., 2019) and the lack of establishing English performance standards for both teachers and students (Vetunawa, 2008). The aim of the conference is to bring teachers, researchers, educators, government agents, NGOs, and literacy workers together to address this national issue and provide recommendations to assist with resolving the issues encountered with English.

Additional topics include
- Documentation and description of indigenous languages
- Language Diversity and Endangerment
- The impact of English on indigenous languages
- Language policies and their implications for multilingual education.
- Failing standards of English in Papua New Guinea

The conference will coincide with the Goroka Show from 18-22 September 2025 which is a significant cultural festival in Papua New Guinea, showcasing the country's diverse tribal culture and traditions. The event features singsings, or traditional performances, from over 100 tribes, along with agricultural displays, art exhibitions, and local crafts and food stalls.