1. Introduction
Nigeria and Papua New Guinea are two of many countries which have adopted English as their main language. But having so many other, substrate languages influencing the development of a English-speaking country, two major pidgin languages developed: Nigerian Pidgin and Tok Pisin.
If one wants to compare these two pidgins with each other, it seems almost inevitable to consider their great geographical distance as well as their historical differences.
But my intent in this work is not to elaborate on the status and function and development of the two pidgins but on their differences in grammar. Therefore I’ll mainly focus on the noun phrase and the verb phrase.
2. Morphology
2.1 Plural marking on nouns in Tok Pisin
The majority of the English based Creole and Pidgin languages both at the Atlantic coast and the South Sea waive marking plurality on nouns or rather use it very optionally. Thus, the same applies to Nigerian Pidgin and Tok Pisin. But if there occurs the need to make a clear distinction between singular and plural both pidgins absolutely dispose of a pluralizer.
In Tok Pisin the most common way to express plurality is by the use of the particle ol, which at the same time is identical to the third person plural pronoun. Ol, clearly derived from the English ‘all’, occurs before the noun as opposed to the post-nominal English plural marking suffix -s.
(1) Mi lukim dok. (2) Mi lukim ol dok.
I saw the dog. I saw the dogs.
(Siegel)
But according to Geoff P. Smith (2002), “ there is a great deal of variability, and the presence or absence of ol is still somewhat unpredictable” (p 66). This can clearly be seen in the following example, in which only one noun takes the pre-nominal ol although both have plural meaning.
(3) Em i stap nau ma(ma) bl’ em wokim spia nau em i kam nau ma bl’ em wokim ol bet.
He stayed, his mother made arrows, he came and his mother made beds.
(Smith 2002: 66)
Although the particle ol is the dominant plural marker, the pluralizing suffix -s “has also become a feature of urban Tok Pisin” (Romaine 1992:219). In order to explain the use of the plural -s, Smith adopts from Romaine “that animacy does have some influence, with a larger proportion of human than animates using the suffix, and that count nouns take -s considerably more often than mass nouns” (p 71). It is also very often found that the plural is doubly marked...
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Morphology
2.2 Plural marking on nouns in Nigerian Pidgin
2.3 The pronoun system in Tok Pisin
2.4 The pronoun system in Nigerian Pidgin
3. Syntax
3.1 Word order
3.2 Special features of Melanesian Pidgin
3.3 Negation
3.4 Tense, mood and aspect
3.4.1 Future tense
3.4.2 Past time reference
3.4.3 Habitual and continuous aspect
3.4.4 Perfective aspect
3.4.6 The particle laik in Tok Pisin
3.4.7 The pre-verbal come in Nigerian Pidgin
3.4.8 Modal auxiliaries
3.5 Verb serialization
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines and compares the grammatical structures of Nigerian Pidgin and Tok Pisin. The primary objective is to move beyond historical development and status, focusing instead on structural linguistic differences within the noun phrase and the verb phrase of these two English-based pidgins.
- Comparison of plural marking strategies and noun phrases.
- Analysis of personal pronoun systems, including inclusive and exclusive forms.
- Investigation of tense, mood, and aspect markers.
- Examination of syntactic patterns, negation, and verbal serialization.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 The pronoun system in Tok Pisin
A very prominent feature of the standard Tok Pisin personal pronoun system and probably also the most conspicuous difference to Nigerian Pidgin pronouns is the greater variety in the distinction of number and the use of the inclusive and exclusive form of the first person plural pronoun. Apart from the normal singular and plural forms, Tok Pisin also features dual and even trial numbers.
As one can clearly detect from the table above, the suffix -pela is added to pronouns in order to mark the plural. This suffix derives from the English word fellow which “appears to have been in frequent use in the early days of contact” (Smith 2004: 723). In Tok Pisin there seems to be no distinction between subject and object or gender as in English, thus the pronoun em, for example, can have various meanings, depending on the context.
However, the system is more complex in other respects. There are two different pronouns for the English “we”. One always has to consider whether the addressee is included or not. Mühlhäusler mentions that “failure to observe the distinction can lead to misunderstandings” (p 17). So in contrast to English, many mistakes in understanding a sentence can be avoided.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the two pidgin languages and establishes that the focus of the work is a comparative grammatical analysis rather than a socio-historical survey.
2. Morphology: This section covers pluralization strategies in both languages and provides a detailed comparison of their complex personal pronoun systems.
3. Syntax: The chapter explores word order, negation markers, tense and aspect systems, and the function of verb serialization in both pidgins.
4. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the key findings, noting that despite their shared English superstrate, the geographical and cultural influences have led to distinct grammatical identities.
5. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and references consulted for the linguistic analysis.
Keywords
Nigerian Pidgin, Tok Pisin, English-based pidgins, grammar, morphology, syntax, plural marking, pronoun systems, tense, mood, aspect, verb serialization, linguistic comparison, language contact, Melanesian Pidgin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this linguistic study?
The work provides a comparative analysis of the grammatical systems of two specific English-based pidgins: Nigerian Pidgin and Tok Pisin.
What are the primary areas of grammar analyzed?
The study focuses specifically on the morphology of the noun phrase and the syntax of the verb phrase in both languages.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to identify and contrast structural differences in grammar between these two languages, rather than discussing their socio-political development.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a comparative linguistic approach, evaluating markers for plurality, pronouns, tense/aspect, and verbal serialization based on established creolistic research.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers morphological features (plurality and pronouns) and syntactic structures (word order, negation, tense, mood, aspect, and serial verbs).
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Nigerian Pidgin, Tok Pisin, morphology, syntax, pronoun systems, and verb serialization.
How does Tok Pisin handle plural marking compared to Nigerian Pidgin?
Tok Pisin primarily uses the pre-nominal particle 'ol', whereas Nigerian Pidgin frequently uses the post-nominal 'dem' to mark plurality.
What is the significance of the pronoun 'em' in Tok Pisin?
'Em' acts as the third-person singular pronoun but lacks the gender or subject-object distinctions found in standard English, relying on context for interpretation.
What role do 'bai' and 'go' play in tense marking?
'Bai' is used in Tok Pisin to mark the future tense, while 'go' serves as the auxiliary for future tense or irrealis mood in Nigerian Pidgin.
- Quote paper
- Julia Burg (Author), 2006, Nigerian Pidgin vs. Tok Pisin: A Comparison of the Grammar, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/67700
