Torres Strait Island languages

Languages used at home by Torres Strait Islanders in localities with significant share of Torres Strait islander population.

There are three languages spoken in the Torres Strait Islands: two indigenous languages and an English-based creole. Kalaw Lagaw Ya is spoken mainly in the western and central islands. It belongs to the Pama–Nyungan languages of the Australian mainland. The other indigenous language spoken mainly in the eastern islands is Meriam Mir: a member of the Trans-Fly languages spoken on the nearby south coast of New Guinea and the only Papuan language spoken on Australian territory. Yumplatok, or Torres Strait Creole, is the most widely spoken of the three. It is a creole language based on English.

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