Melpa is the first language of more than one third of the people. It and closely related Gawigl, Nii, and Wahgi are the languages of about three-fourths of the people. Enga Kayaka, from the Baiyer River area, is the other main language. Tok Pisin is the main second language. It is spoken especially by plantation workers from other provinces.
Gardening is the main subsistence activity.
The market at Mount Hagen has the widest variety of foods in PNG, a mixture of traditional foods and recently introduced cool weather fruits and vegetables. Western Highlands men plant and harvest sugarcane, bananas, and pandanus. Women plant and harvest the staple sweet potatoes, other root crops, and greens. They also tend the pigs. Pigs are the centre of ceremonial exchanges and an important part of compensation payments and feasts.