This essay aims at taking a closer look at the Pacific pidgin Tok Pisin. Especially the development of the pidgin into a creole will be considered in the following text.
The chapter on the history of Tok Pisin is preceded by an excursus on the conditions of language contact and the definition and genesis of pidgins in general. The history and thus the development into a creole as well as the current situation of Tok Pisin is completed with some examples of the lexicon of the creole. Here I laid certain emphasis on the different origins of English influence on Tok Pisin, as the social backgrounds of those who introduced the first form of the pidgin, the foreigner talk, are still reflected in the Tok Pisin vocabulary. Additionally I paid regard to the German influence on the pidgin and the linguistically changed situation under Australian administration after WWI. This part of the essay includes a brief paragraph on the sociolinguistic conditions and the conscious use of speech acts with in the pidgin.
Finally I tried to give a rather short overview on the phonological and morphological features of Tok Pisin as well as on its grammar.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Pidgin and Creoles: A Result of Language Contact
2.1 Melanesian Pidgin- Focus on Tok Pisin
3. Historical background of Tok Pisin
3.1 Development into a Creole
4. Linguistic features of Tok Pisin
4.1. Lexicon
4.1.1 Words from occupational registers
4.1.2 Words from regional dialects
4.1.3 Words from criminal cant and sailors´ jargon
4.1.4. Changes
4.2 Morphology and Phonology
4.2.1 Suffixes
4.2.2 Phonology
4.3 Grammar
4.3.1 Tense markers
4.3.2 Prepositions
5. Conclusion
6. References
Internet sources
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper investigates the linguistic evolution of Tok Pisin, specifically analyzing its transition from a functional contact pidgin to a fully developed creole language within the socio-political context of Papua New Guinea.
- Historical development and the influence of colonial administration.
- Analysis of lexical origins, including nautical and regional dialect influences.
- Examination of morphological, phonological, and grammatical structures.
- Sociolinguistic status and the role of Tok Pisin in national identity.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.1 Words from occupational registers
It is obvious that the Melanesian Pidgins show a high proportion of nautical elements in their lexicon. The studying of logbooks dating back to the times of the first trade with the islands of the Pacific shows that the sailors had “ a manner and dialect peculiar to themselves” which they transferred to the natives. It is consequently not surprising that typical nautical expressions were adopted, some of them in a slightly changed way. The direct adaption of technical terms such as foksel (from forecastle) or lafap (from luff) can be found in Tok Pisin as well as in Bislama. Other nautical expressions are used in a different sense. The Tok Pisin word for sailors is boskru, which is derived from the word boat´s crew. The order “All hands”, implying that everyone has to participate has been changed into the meaning for everyone. This process shows that the meaning of the expressions was understood and converted in the pidgin.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the study, emphasizing the historical and linguistic development of Tok Pisin and the reference materials used.
2. Pidgin and Creoles: A Result of Language Contact: This section defines the origins of pidgins and creoles, exploring their nature as mixed languages and their function in colonial contexts.
2.1 Melanesian Pidgin- Focus on Tok Pisin: This chapter differentiates between various Melanesian pidgins and establishes the focus on Tok Pisin as a distinct, evolving language.
3. Historical background of Tok Pisin: This section traces the timeline from early trade contacts and the role of "foreigner talk" to the influence of various colonial administrations.
3.1 Development into a Creole: This part examines the sociolinguistic shift of Tok Pisin as it became a mother tongue for urban generations and an essential national lingua franca.
4. Linguistic features of Tok Pisin: This chapter provides a structural analysis of the language, covering its vocabulary, phonology, and grammar.
4.1. Lexicon: This section investigates the etymological origins of Tok Pisin vocabulary, highlighting influences from English, German, and local languages.
4.1.1 Words from occupational registers: This part analyzes how nautical terminology from sailors and traders shaped the early lexicon of the pidgin.
4.1.2 Words from regional dialects: This section explores how the speech of sailors from various British and Irish regions influenced the development of Tok Pisin.
4.1.3 Words from criminal cant and sailors´ jargon: This chapter discusses the adoption of abusive and slang terminology from the social environment of the ships' crews.
4.1.4. Changes: This part explains how imported words were semantically restructured or compounded to align with substrate language patterns.
4.2 Morphology and Phonology: This chapter covers the limited morphological processes and the simplified phoneme inventory of Tok Pisin.
4.2.1 Suffixes: This section details specific linguistic markers like '-im' for transitivity and 'pela' for pronouns.
4.2.2 Phonology: This part analyzes the phonological system, including common variations like h-dropping and the feature of reduplication.
4.3 Grammar: This chapter outlines the simplified grammar of Tok Pisin, focusing on tense markers and the usage of prepositions.
4.3.1 Tense markers: This section explains the use of particles like 'bai', 'bin', and 'pinis' to indicate temporal relations.
4.3.2 Prepositions: This part covers the basic prepositional system using 'bilong' and 'long'.
5. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the evolution of Tok Pisin and assesses its future as an established, prestigious language in Papua New Guinea.
6. References: This section lists the academic sources and internet resources consulted during the research.
Keywords
Tok Pisin, Pidgin, Creole, Melanesian, Language Contact, Lexicon, Morphology, Phonology, Grammar, Lingua Franca, Sociolinguistics, Papua New Guinea, Colonial history, Nautical terminology, Language evolution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the linguistic evolution of Tok Pisin, exploring how it transitioned from a rudimentary trading pidgin into a full-fledged creole language.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work covers the history of Tok Pisin, the impact of colonial and maritime contact, lexical borrowings, structural linguistic features, and the sociolinguistic status of the language today.
What is the primary research goal of the author?
The objective is to document the development process of Tok Pisin and analyze how socio-political factors in Papua New Guinea have influenced its current status as a national language.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a qualitative, descriptive linguistic approach, drawing on established creole studies and historical documentation to analyze the language's development.
What topics are covered in the main body of the essay?
The main body investigates the historical background, the linguistic features (including phonology, morphology, and syntax), and the sociocultural development of Tok Pisin.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Tok Pisin, Pidgin, Creole, Language Contact, Sociolinguistics, and Papua New Guinea.
How did nautical and regional dialects influence Tok Pisin's vocabulary?
The author explains that early sailors and traders introduced nautical jargon and British/Irish regional dialect terms, which were later adapted and integrated into the Tok Pisin lexicon.
What is the significance of the "taboo register" mentioned in the study?
The development of a taboo register indicates that Tok Pisin has evolved beyond basic trade communication into a complex language capable of expressing social nuances and euphemisms.
How does the author distinguish between "Bush Pidgin," "Rural Pidgin," and "Urban Pidgin"?
These terms refer to different sociolects: Bush Pidgin is highly variable, Rural Pidgin is considered more stable and "real," and Urban Pidgin shows heavier English influence.
- Quote paper
- Silja Recknagel (Author), 2005, Pacific Pidgins and Creoles , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86343
