Papuan languages refer to a diverse group of languages spoken in the region of New Guinea and surrounding islands. These languages are not part of the Austronesian language family, which includes many languages spoken in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Instead, Papuan languages belong to several distinct language families and isolates, making them unique and varied. There are over 800 different Papuan languages, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the region. Some well-known language families within this group include Trans-New Guinea and Torres-Basement. Despite their differences, many Papuan languages share certain linguistic features, such as complex phonetic systems and diverse grammatical structures.