Which language groups belong to the Trans-New Guinea family?
The Trans-New Guinea family is the largest group of Papuan languages. Its classification includes several established groups and a number of potential members that require further comparative study.
Established Groups
The following groups are recognized as belonging to the Trans-New Guinea family:
* Finisterre-Huon group: Comprising 60 to 65 languages.1
* Eastern Highlands group: Subdivided into the Kainantu and Gorokan languages.1
* Papuan Highlands group: Divided into the Dani and Wissel Lakes languages.1
* Madang family: Highly likely to be part of this family.1
Potential Members
Research suggests the following families may also belong to the Trans-New Guinea group:
* Enga, Chimbu, Binandere, and Angan families.1
* Ok, Awyu, Mek, and Asmat families.1
* Smaller families such as Koiarian and Goilalan.1
If these potential members are confirmed, the family would encompass nearly 300 languages and represent at least 50 percent of the total Papuan-speaking population.1