For many years the study of Pidgin and Creole languages was widely regarded as marginal or frivolous, but recently, there has been growing interest in the study of these languages all over the world. They have not merely been studied for their own sake, but for the relevance to such concerns as language contact and change, historical linguistics, language learning, first and second language acquisition or language universals (cf. Smith 2002: 3). With this, the area of the Pacific and Indian Ocean has become increasingly significant for linguists. There are many reasons why the position of Tok Pisin, one of the two national languages of the independent nation of Papua New Guinea (with Hiri Motu as the other and alongside English as the official language), stands in the continued focus of scholarly attention. In a variety of ways, the position of Tok Pisin is like that of many other pidgin and creole languages elsewhere and it has a number of advantages as a source of data, as it is one of the best documented contact languages, however, “Tok Pisin is somewhat unusual among the Pidgins of the world in its gradual development over several generations as a second language before any extensive creolization took place.” (Smith 2002: 6). In spite of the work already carried out, there are still a few gaps in the current knowledge of some aspects of Tok Pisin and much of the literature is concerned only with the historical development of the language and the description of its linguistic properties, but it is not always clear how representative the features described are (cf. Smith 2002: 22).
The purpose of this paper is to closer examine the language concerning its history, linguistic features and current situation. We will start with some general background information about Tok Pisin and the region where it is spoken, the development of Tok Pisin into a creole language, the current situation and the external history. Then continue with the linguistic features of Tok Pisin with regard to the specific phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon, and illustrate them on a text sample. And finally we will take a closer look at the educational system of Papua New Guinea, as well as its media, concerning the use of Tok Pisin. In particular, the relationship between Tok Pisin and its main lexifier language English is of primary importance and is explored in further detail in almost every section.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. General Background Information
2.1 Name and Area
2.2 Development of Tok Pisin
2.3 Current Situation
3. External History of Tok Pisin
4. Linguistic Features of Tok Pisin
4.1 Phonology
4.2 Morphology
4.3 Syntax
4.4 The Lexicon of Tok Pisin
5. Analysis of a Sample Text
6. Education
7. Media
7.1 Papua New Guinea’s Press
7.2 Electronic Media
7.3 Radio and Television
8. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the history, linguistic characteristics, and contemporary sociolinguistic status of Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea. The research aims to explore the language's development from a contact-based pidgin to a fully functional national language, while highlighting its structural features and the influence of English as its primary lexifier.
- Historical evolution and emergence of Tok Pisin as a creole
- Core linguistic features, including phonology, morphology, and syntax
- Practical analysis of conversational sample texts
- Sociolinguistic role of Tok Pisin in education and media
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Morphology
Tok Pisin, like many other pidgin and creole languages, does not possess a highly productive inflectional morphology. One of the most characteristic features is the transitivising marker –im, which derived from the English object pronoun ‘him’ (cf. Smith 2002: 59). About 90 verbs show distinct transitive and intransitive meanings depending on the presence or absence of –im, for example dring ‘to be drinking’ and dringim ‘to drink (something)’. However, a few verbs can be used transitively without taking the –im suffix, for example the common verb gat ‘to have’ in some contexts, like em i gat ol naispla nambis ‘it has nice beaches’. Additionally, the suffix may be used in other ways to make semantic distinctions, for example the transitive verb kaikai ‘to eat’ is unmarked by –im, while kaikaim is glossed as ‘bite’ (cf. Kortmann 2004: 720/721). The most notable change in modern Tok Pisin is the frequency with which the final consonant –m is elided, leaving transitive verbs marked by –i. This loss is particularly noticeable before other consonants, glides or when the following word begins with a vowel (cf. Smith 2002: 60/61). Apart from that, when a verb stem ends in –i, for example redim ‘to prepare’, loss of –m can also negate the transitive/intransitive distinction (cf. Kortmann 2004: 721).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the growing importance of pidgin and creole linguistics and sets the scope for examining Tok Pisin’s history and structure.
2. General Background Information: Provides an overview of Tok Pisin's geographical distribution, its classification, and its transition from a pidgin into a creole.
3. External History of Tok Pisin: Details the colonial origins, the influence of plantations, and the development of the language under various administrations.
4. Linguistic Features of Tok Pisin: Explores the technical aspects of the language, specifically its phonological system, morphological processes, syntactic patterns, and lexical composition.
5. Analysis of a Sample Text: Applies the theoretical findings to a real-world conversation between two native speakers to identify specific grammatical features.
6. Education: Discusses the role of Tok Pisin as a language of instruction and its usage within the schooling system of Papua New Guinea.
7. Media: Analyzes how Tok Pisin is represented and utilized in the press, electronic media, radio, and television.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the current status and future outlook of Tok Pisin as an expanding national language influenced by English.
Keywords
Tok Pisin, Papua New Guinea, Pidgin, Creole, Linguistics, Morphology, Syntax, Phonology, Sociolinguistics, Language Contact, Education, Media, Colonization, Language Planning, Multilingualism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper is a comprehensive linguistic study of Tok Pisin, a prominent creole language spoken in Papua New Guinea, focusing on its history, structural properties, and social usage.
What are the main thematic pillars of the work?
Key themes include the historical development of Tok Pisin, its morphological and syntactic mechanisms, the influence of English, and its integration into the country's educational and media systems.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The aim is to analyze how Tok Pisin has evolved into a national language and to document its specific linguistic characteristics through both theoretical description and practical analysis.
Which linguistic methods are employed to investigate the language?
The author uses descriptive linguistic analysis, focusing on phonology, morphology, and syntax, and applies these models to a specific transcript of native speaker conversation.
What topics does the main body cover?
The main body systematically explores the language's phonology, the role of the transitivising marker and other morphology, complex syntax, and the ongoing shift in its lexicon due to contact with English.
Which keywords define this academic work?
Crucial terms include Tok Pisin, Papua New Guinea, Pidgin, Creole, Linguistics, Language Contact, and Sociolinguistics.
How did the colonial history shape Tok Pisin?
The language emerged during the colonial era through contact between traders, missionaries, and plantation workers, particularly in the Bismarck Archipelago, necessitating a simplified medium for inter-group communication.
What does the text conclude regarding the future of the language?
The conclusion suggests that while Tok Pisin is increasingly used and recognized, it faces a potential shift towards greater influence from English, making its future development dependent on the decisions of its native speakers.
- Quote paper
- Nina Schulte-Schmale (Author), Maike Naujoks (Author), 2008, Tok Pisin - English in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/118107
