This term paper primarily raises the question in what way the German language took influence on Tok Pisin. For this purpose, it is necessary to take a closer look at individual words of Tok Pisin, which is along with English and Hiri Motu one of the three official languages of Papua New Guinea. After giving a definition of the object of investigation, the essay also seeks to provide an insight into the external history of Tok Pisin.
Tok Pisin (“talk pidgin”) is widely spoken across Papua New Guinea, whose population, according to the 2015 Census, was 7.5 million. English, the “language of the urban elite”, is only used by a small population group. It is a controversial issue, whether Tok Pisin and the other Melanesian Pidigins can be called creole or not. Primarily the fact that Tok Pisin is spoken by thousands of native speakers and has “functions and grammatical features found in typical creoles” makes people categorizing it as a creole. People saying it is still a pidgin stress that more than 90% of its speakers have a different native language background.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Definition of Tok Pisin
- 3. External History of Tok Pisin
- 4. German influence and German Tok Pisin Vocabulary
- 5. Closing words
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to investigate the influence of the German language on Tok Pisin, one of the three official languages of Papua New Guinea. It explores the language's definition, external history, and the role of German influence in its development.
- Definition and classification of Tok Pisin as a pidgin or creole language.
- Historical development of Tok Pisin, tracing its origins and evolution.
- The impact of German colonial presence on the vocabulary and structure of Tok Pisin.
- The role of Tok Pisin as a lingua franca in Papua New Guinea.
- Comparison of Tok Pisin with other pidgins and creoles in the region.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the essay by outlining its central focus: examining the German influence on Tok Pisin. It highlights the importance of Tok Pisin as one of Papua New Guinea's official languages and briefly introduces the approach taken in the essay to analyze the language's development and German influence. The chapter establishes the scope of the research and provides a concise overview of the topics to be covered in the subsequent sections.
2. Definition of Tok Pisin: This chapter delves into the definition of Tok Pisin, addressing the ongoing debate about its classification as a pidgin or a creole. It examines the characteristics that support both classifications, such as its widespread use by native speakers and its grammatical features. The chapter also explores the concept of pidginized languages, explaining their origins in language contact situations, primarily for business or slavery reasons, and their tendency to utilize minimal grammatical resources. The chapter establishes the context of Tok Pisin within the broader linguistic landscape of Papua New Guinea, highlighting its role as a lingua franca among diverse language groups.
3. External History of Tok Pisin: This chapter traces the external history of Tok Pisin from its origins in the 19th century. It describes the role of early merchants and whalers in introducing simplified English jargons to the region, laying the foundation for the language's development. The chapter emphasizes the significant impact of German colonial expansion in the Pacific and the recruitment of Bismarck Islanders for plantations in Samoa. This movement of workers, particularly those from Kiribati, contributed to the evolution of Tok Pisin by creating a need for intergroup communication. The chapter highlights the importance of plantation settings in the standardization of the evolving lingua franca and emphasizes the role of German plantation owners and colonial administrators in its development. Furthermore, the integration of Pidgin English into penal education is mentioned as a notable aspect of its development and spread.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Tok Pisin, Pidgin, Creole, Papua New Guinea, German influence, Lingua franca, Language contact, Colonialism, Linguistic development, Melanesian Pidgin.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Tok Pisin and German Influence
What is the main focus of this essay?
The essay investigates the influence of the German language on Tok Pisin, one of Papua New Guinea's three official languages. It explores the language's definition, external history, and the role of German influence in its development.
What topics are covered in the essay?
The essay covers the definition and classification of Tok Pisin (pidgin or creole), its historical development, the impact of German colonial presence on its vocabulary and structure, its role as a lingua franca in Papua New Guinea, and a comparison with other regional pidgins and creoles.
What is the purpose of the "Introduction" chapter?
The introduction sets the stage by outlining the central focus (German influence on Tok Pisin), highlighting the language's importance, and briefly introducing the analytical approach. It establishes the research scope and provides an overview of the subsequent topics.
What does the "Definition of Tok Pisin" chapter discuss?
This chapter defines Tok Pisin, addressing its classification as a pidgin or creole. It examines characteristics supporting both classifications, explores the concept of pidginized languages, and establishes Tok Pisin's context within Papua New Guinea's linguistic landscape.
What historical aspects are covered in the "External History of Tok Pisin" chapter?
This chapter traces Tok Pisin's history from its 19th-century origins, detailing the roles of early merchants and whalers, German colonial expansion, the recruitment of Bismarck Islanders for Samoan plantations, and the standardization of the lingua franca in plantation settings. It also highlights the influence of German plantation owners and colonial administrators and the integration of Pidgin English into penal education.
What keywords are associated with this essay?
The keywords include Tok Pisin, Pidgin, Creole, Papua New Guinea, German influence, Lingua Franca, Language contact, Colonialism, Linguistic development, and Melanesian Pidgin.
What is the structure of the essay?
The essay is structured with an introduction, followed by chapters defining Tok Pisin, detailing its external history, specifically focusing on German influence, and concluding with closing remarks. The content also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the overall goal of this analysis?
The overall goal is to provide a structured and professional analysis of the German influence on the development and structure of the Tok Pisin language.
- Citar trabajo
- Dominik Keßel (Autor), 2017, Tok Pisin. History, linguistic development and German influence, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/353245
