Transition of spatial communication in papua new guinea

Communication is the lifeline to progress in any civilization and can be expressed verbally, literally, numerically or graphically. Graphic communication involves the use of symbology, via signs and symbols to convey messages to enhance visualization. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) the main form of communication before colonization (just before the First World War) was verbal or by “word-of-mouth”. Verbal cartographic communication has been the norm and many societies describe metes and bounds or make references verbally. The receiver or map-user stores the verbal message as visualized temporal mental map and executes the instructions. The present generation in PNG is in a period of transition between the old and the new systems of communication. This paper emphasizes the importance of graphic communication in PNG. Traditional methods of space perception are discussed. Current status in general cartographic communication, cartographic institutions, their functions and datasets available in PNG are evaluated and discussed. Past methods, current practices and trends, Internet web mapping possibilities for spatial communication and education are analyzed. Optimal dissemination options are explored and proposed for graphic communication as a tool to complement literal and numeral communication to enhance spatial understanding and improve map literacy.