Solomon Islands Pijin and Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin become new Pacific Language Weeks from 2024
Written by Dr Angela Bland, Tui Tuia facilitator.
In 2024, there will be two more Pacific Languages added to the celebrations. The two new language weeks will be Solomon Aelan Pijin and Papua Niugini Tok Pisin. The dates are for Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin are from 10 November – 16 November, 2024, and the Solomon Islands Pijin is from 24 November – 30 November, 2024. Both of these languages are lingua francas in these respective countries.
Both the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are rich with many languages. Papua New Guinea has been described as the most linguistically diverse nation in the world with a population of about 10 million.
The Melanesian Pijin is spoken by Papua New Guineans, Solomon Islanders, and ni-Vanuatu. These are essentially dialects of a single language. They have a high degree of mutual intelligibility, but they are different structurally and lexically. The following examples show both the similarities and the differences between these three varieties:
Tok Pisin Dispela pikinini i sindaun i stap na kaikai kiau wantaim kek.
Pijin Desfala pikinini i sidaon an kaekae eg weitim kek.
Bislama Pikinini ya i stap staon mo kakae eg wetem gato. ‘This child is sitting down and eating eggs and cake.’
However, of a tricky nature, both of Papua Niugini and Tok Pisin and Solomon Aelan Pijin and are having an impact on the indigenous languages in both of these countries. For example, Renck (1977) estimated that there were 25,000 speakers of Jabêm in Papua New Guinea. Today this number has receded, as the younger generation is instead acquiring Tok Pisin as the language of inter-tribal communication. Similarly, according to the 1976 census, there were then 5365 native speakers, and 16,000 people who spoke Roviana as a second language. Previously used as a lingua franca, especially for church purposes, Roviana is being displaced in this role by Solomon Islands Pijin. This raises some interesting discussion about while New Zealand recognises and celebrates these language weeks, there needs awareness of the rich linguistic diversity of these two nations.
Lynch, J. (1998). Pacific languages: An introduction. University of Hawai'i Press. Lynch, J., Ross, M., & Crowley, T. (2001). The oceanic languages. Curzon.
A new App for learning for te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani
Written by Dr Angela Bland, Tui Tuia facilitator.
The range of Apps being released to support on the go learning of Pacific languages is increasing. While the Centre for Pacific languages released its App last year, there are numerous Pacific languages who have recently had Apps released with the support of the University of the South Pacific and other organisations and agencies. These are exciting additions that can be used in all Pacific language classes to encourage linguistic analysis in across Pacific languages. These Apps provide a critical link in the revival and maintenance of these languages. In late December, 2023, Te Punanga O Te Reo Kuki Airani Inc released Pu’era to support te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani.
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2024 - Pasifika - Term 1 Newsletter Articles
Solomon Islands Pijin and Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin become new Pacific Language Weeks from 2024
Written by Dr Angela Bland, Tui Tuia facilitator.
In 2024, there will be two more Pacific Languages added to the celebrations. The two new language weeks will be Solomon Aelan Pijin and Papua Niugini Tok Pisin. The dates are for Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin are from 10 November – 16 November, 2024, and the Solomon Islands Pijin is from 24 November – 30 November, 2024. Both of these languages are lingua francas in these respective countries.
Both the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are rich with many languages. Papua New Guinea has been described as the most linguistically diverse nation in the world with a population of about 10 million.
The Melanesian Pijin is spoken by Papua New Guineans, Solomon Islanders, and ni-Vanuatu. These are essentially dialects of a single language. They have a high degree of mutual intelligibility, but they are different structurally and lexically. The following examples show both the similarities and the differences between these three varieties:
Tok Pisin Dispela pikinini i sindaun i stap na kaikai kiau wantaim kek.
Pijin Desfala pikinini i sidaon an kaekae eg weitim kek.
Bislama Pikinini ya i stap staon mo kakae eg wetem gato. ‘This child is sitting down and eating eggs and cake.’
However, of a tricky nature, both of Papua Niugini and Tok Pisin and Solomon Aelan Pijin and are having an impact on the indigenous languages in both of these countries. For example, Renck (1977) estimated that there were 25,000 speakers of Jabêm in Papua New Guinea. Today this number has receded, as the younger generation is instead acquiring Tok Pisin as the language of inter-tribal communication. Similarly, according to the 1976 census, there were then 5365 native speakers, and 16,000 people who spoke Roviana as a second language. Previously used as a lingua franca, especially for church purposes, Roviana is being displaced in this role by Solomon Islands Pijin. This raises some interesting discussion about while New Zealand recognises and celebrates these language weeks, there needs awareness of the rich linguistic diversity of these two nations.
Lynch, J. (1998). Pacific languages: An introduction. University of Hawai'i Press. Lynch, J., Ross, M., & Crowley, T. (2001). The oceanic languages. Curzon.
A new App for learning for te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani
Written by Dr Angela Bland, Tui Tuia facilitator.
The range of Apps being released to support on the go learning of Pacific languages is increasing. While the Centre for Pacific languages released its App last year, there are numerous Pacific languages who have recently had Apps released with the support of the University of the South Pacific and other organisations and agencies. These are exciting additions that can be used in all Pacific language classes to encourage linguistic analysis in across Pacific languages. These Apps provide a critical link in the revival and maintenance of these languages. In late December, 2023, Te Punanga O Te Reo Kuki Airani Inc released Pu’era to support te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani.
