Multilingualism and Social Networks among Language Speaking Communities of Wondama Bay, Papua, Indonesia

Abstract

The article aims at describing the contribution of multilingualism in studying traditional patterns of social networks and social relations among language speaking communities in Wondama Bay, Papua, Indonesia. This area is a multilingual area in which multilingualism reflects the complexities of social identity that contribute to social networks and social relations established for centuries. The nature of multilingualism produces other patterns of language use such as lingua franca, language shifted, language switched, language mixed, and language endangerment. These language phenomena may be used to analyze social networks and among language speaking communities in this region. Some social practices such as socio-cultural activities, political and economic motivations and the practices of slavery are among social activities that are shared by people across social and cultural boundaries and those are reflected by the establishment of multilingualism and such a society is considered a common practice in Papua.