Unserdeutsch
PrintPrimary tabs
A language of Papua New Guinea
Alternate Names
Rabaul Creole German
User Population
10 in Papua New Guinea (2016 P. Maitz). Total users in all countries: 110.
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
8a (Moribund).
Language Use
Descendant of pidginized Standard German [deu] which originated in Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain during German colonial times among Catholic mixed-race (Vunapope) community. With increased mobility and intermarriage, it is disappearing. Older adults only, but still some younger people who can understand it (Wurm 2007). All shifted to English [eng]. All shifted to Tok Pisin [tpi]. Also use Standard German [deu].
Language Development
Grammar.
Unserdeutsch emerged and used to be spoken in the Rabaul area. However, around the time of independence, nearly the entire speech community moved to Australia (2017 P. Maitz).