|
With more than 100 local languages
along with English and French, Bislama (Pidgin English) is used as a vital
communications tool. It allows the 40% who were educated in French to talk
with the 60% who were educated in English. The colourful language reflects
the friendliness of the people as well as the fact that it has to exist
with only 2500 words (English and French each have more than 35,000
words). It's pretty much a phonetic language, so try saying the words out
loud to get the feel of it.
And so, to a few words in Bislama - (Smol tok tok
long Bislama)
- Hello - Alo
- Goodbye - Tata
- Please - Plis
- Good morning - Gud morning
- Good night - God naet
- Excuse me - Skiusmi
- Thank you very much - Tank yu tumas
- And - Mo
- How much? - Hamas
- Do you have…? - Yu gat…?
- I don't understand - Mi no savee
- Child - Pikinini
- Drunk - Fuldrong
- Fish - Fis
- See you - Lukim yu
- I am very sorry - Sori tumas
- What is your name? - Wanem nem blong yu?
- My name is… - Nem blong mi…
- Big - Bigfala
- Food - Kakae
- This food is delicious - Kakae emi gud
- Drinking water - Kolwater
- Seawater - Solwater
- Seagull - Pigeon blong solwater
- Excellent - Nambawan
- I am hungry/thirsty - Mi wantem samting
long kakae/dring
- Call a doctor/police! - Singalot
doctor/polis!
- You must do good work every day - Yu mas
makem gud work evri dai
All in all a pretty
simple language, but it's simplicity is also what gives it its
eccentricity… for example:
- His Royal Highness, Prince Charles is known as
nambawan pikinini blong Missus Kwin…
- a super supreme pizza will come with evri
samting…
- a bra is - basket blong titi…
- a piano is black fala box we igat black
teeth, hemi gat white teeth you faetem hard I singout…
- a violin - wan smol box blong white man,
oli scratchem beli I singout gudfala…
- A saw - Pulem I kam, pushem I go, wood I
fall down
- A helicopter - mixmaster blong Jesus Christ
As you can see, it's fun and pretty easy to pick
up. The locals will be happy to teach you a few words! For
more general information
on Vanuatu to: |
