A survey of 98 Papua New Guinea technical university graduates in the applied sciences, engineering fields, and forestry investigated their language skill use and language needs in the workplace. Results indicate that, as in Papua New Guinea society in general, English and Tok Pisin are the two most important languages for technical communication in the workplace. Common language use patterns for technical purposes include Tok Pisin used alone, mixed with English, "simplified" English, and formal, technical English. Practical, appropriate syllabuses, materials, and methods for teaching languages for special purposes (LSP) should be developed to accommodate these existing language use patterns. This could be handled by offering courses in language for occupational purposes and language for academic purposes. It would also be desirable to introduce technical language in the student's dominant language, which in this context is often Tok Pisin, for purposes of concept development, then translate the terms into English. The data also suggest a need to review the assumption that formal rather than local varieties of English should be taught in Papua New Guinea higher education. (Contains 38 references.) (MSE)