How have hundreds of languages in Papua New Guinea affected the readership for English-language literature?

In Papua New Guinea, the existence of several hundred indigenous languages has contributed to a relatively low level of literacy in English, which serves as the primary medium for the country's written literature. Because English is not an indigenous language to the region, its use as a literary tool creates a barrier that limits the readership of English-language works.1

Consequently, interest in local written literature is generally restricted to an emerging educated elite residing in urban centers. For the majority of the population, traditional oral literatures—including storytelling, dance, and musical performances—remain the primary means of satisfying aesthetic and cultural needs. While some writers have experimented with Melanesian Pidgin, no significant body of literature has emerged in that language, and book publishing in the country remains in its infancy.123