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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Prince Charles in Papua New Guinea: how to speak pidgin English like a royal | Prince Charles in Papua New Guinea: how to speak pidgin English like a royal |
| (30 days later) | |
| Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were given a warm welcome on Saturday as they arrived in Papua New Guinea to begin a two-week Antipodean tour to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. | Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were given a warm welcome on Saturday as they arrived in Papua New Guinea to begin a two-week Antipodean tour to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. |
| The Prince of Wales spoke in the local language called Tok Pisin as he introduced himself as the "nambawan pikinini bilong Misis Kwin" – the number one child belonging to Mrs Queen. Similarly, when the Duke of Edinburgh visits he is addressed as "oldfella Pili-Pili him bilong Misis Kwin". | The Prince of Wales spoke in the local language called Tok Pisin as he introduced himself as the "nambawan pikinini bilong Misis Kwin" – the number one child belonging to Mrs Queen. Similarly, when the Duke of Edinburgh visits he is addressed as "oldfella Pili-Pili him bilong Misis Kwin". |
| Tok Pisin is a creole language and is the most widely spoken in Papua New Guinea with between one and two million exposed to it as a first language. Tok is derived from the English word talk and Pisin from pidgin. Much of its vocabulary has a charm of its own, as the following testify: | Tok Pisin is a creole language and is the most widely spoken in Papua New Guinea with between one and two million exposed to it as a first language. Tok is derived from the English word talk and Pisin from pidgin. Much of its vocabulary has a charm of its own, as the following testify: |
| • liklik box you pull him he cry you push him he cry – an accordion | • liklik box you pull him he cry you push him he cry – an accordion |
| • bigfella iron walking stick him go bang along topside – a rifle | • bigfella iron walking stick him go bang along topside – a rifle |
| • skru bilong han (screw belong arm) – elbow | • skru bilong han (screw belong arm) – elbow |
| • gras bilong het (grass belong head) – hair | • gras bilong het (grass belong head) – hair |
| • maus gras (mouth grass) – moustache | • maus gras (mouth grass) – moustache |
| • gras bilong fes (grass belong face) – beard | • gras bilong fes (grass belong face) – beard |
| • bel hevi (belly heavy) – the heavy sinking feeling that often accompanies extreme sadness | • bel hevi (belly heavy) – the heavy sinking feeling that often accompanies extreme sadness |
| • magimiks bilong Yesus (Magimix belong Jesus) – helicopter | • magimiks bilong Yesus (Magimix belong Jesus) – helicopter |
| • pen bilong maus (pen belong mouth) – lipstick | • pen bilong maus (pen belong mouth) – lipstick |
| • bun nating (bone nothing) – a very thin person | • bun nating (bone nothing) – a very thin person |
| • tit i gat windua bilong em (teeth have window belong him) – a broken-off tooth | • tit i gat windua bilong em (teeth have window belong him) – a broken-off tooth |
| • sikispela lek (six legs) – man with two wives | • sikispela lek (six legs) – man with two wives |
| • susok man (shoe sock man) – urbanite | • susok man (shoe sock man) – urbanite |
| • frok-bel (frog belly) – obese person | • frok-bel (frog belly) – obese person |
| • pato-lek (duck legs) – waddling person | • pato-lek (duck legs) – waddling person |
| • emti tin (empty tin) – person who speaks nonsense | • emti tin (empty tin) – person who speaks nonsense |
| • flat taia (flat tire) – exhausted person | • flat taia (flat tire) – exhausted person |
| • smok balus (smoke bird) – jet airplane | • smok balus (smoke bird) – jet airplane |
| • poket bruk (pocket broken) – out of money | • poket bruk (pocket broken) – out of money |
| • bagarap (bugger up) – broken, to break down | • bagarap (bugger up) – broken, to break down |
| • haus moni (house money) – bank | • haus moni (house money) – bank |
| • haus sik (house sick) – hospital | • haus sik (house sick) – hospital |
| • belhat (belly hot) – angry | • belhat (belly hot) – angry |
| Adam Jacot de Boinod is author of The Meaning of Tingo and creator of the iPhone App Tingo | Adam Jacot de Boinod is author of The Meaning of Tingo and creator of the iPhone App Tingo |
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