Introduction

The Sursurunga language group of Papua New Guinea has a population of over 3,000 people, located in the New Ireland province: Namatanai district.

The Sursurunga language [sgz] is classified as Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Meso Melanesian, New Ireland, South New Ireland-Northwest Solomonic, Patpatar-Tolai. There is one dialect known as Surkutus.

Schools are still teaching in Sursurunga for the first three years. This allows the children to learn to read, then transfer to another language much easier.

The Sursurunga culture includes headmen who make decisions. There are social groupings including moieties, in which there are communication taboos. Expressions such as "my stomach is fine (meaning I am happy)" permeate the language. There are many terms for sea creatures due to their habitat.