The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-05
"PIDGIN," A NEW DIALECT.
The Soldier Talk of the Philippines
Is n Strange Mixture.

The soldier talk, or 'pidgin," in use in
the Philippines, must be classed by itself,
as II is neither English nor Spanish nor a
mixture Of the two, says the Ohio State
journal. In some cases a nucleus was
furnished by veterans who had served
in the Southwest and knew a little Span
ish, but this was of little service in the
interior, where the natives do not speak
Spanish.
Probably the first thing that soldiers
asked the natives for was water. Their
aqua" and aqua did very well around
Manila. But as the lines extended into
the provinces we had to learn other
w words i, and in Pampanga we said "tubg,"
A new word is taking root. and in the
course of time will prevail-"wate" or
'watty." After water food was of the
next importance, and for lack of other
words the Chinese English "chow-chow''
reigns supreme. From the same language
comes the universal word for washing,
'washee-washee."
Our English got" serves to express all
applications Of to have and to be:
thus, got San Fernando" means to be
In San Fernando, and no got Espanola''
means Il do not understand Spanish"
"Matrimony," being very similar in
Spanish. serves for all phrases Of the
marital condition. Thus the state Of mar
rage, the husband and wife, the wedding,
are all expressed by "matrimony'' as 4
noun, and the act of marrying by the
saiae WORD as a verb. Conversation along
AAilO 1AllO, IlOWSNeI, so lar as soldiers ara.
concerned, is more theoretical than prac-
teal. -
Two remarkable words of the vernac-
uiar are ''upshecomes" and 1awbone :"
me hrst of these was adopted by natives
from nearing the cry of the chuck-a-
luck man. '.All down-up she comes !"
ana Is the generic and universal name
OF every kind of gambling "JaWbone'5
also originated in gambling or betting
without money, but has extended unfit
IS USED by every one for every kind Of
e ere or r, debt And the amenities of
opeted between pay days.
me average soldier can order an ex-
ttsnslVe dinner at restaurant by using
for babuy" (pig, Pangasian5' or ma
nu5 (chicken); but if his desires eT-
Sends to beef and eggs he resorts to
These are the staples. If he should re-
CURE anything else he would probably
nave 70 draw q picture of it. When he
mas mas nn1shed he asks, "Quanto vale?'
taYos. The last mentioned coin is CON
Per or iron, and in this province is called
'sakkle balug."
heard gGo in tSis Iard is a. word commonly
every appurtenance Of battle-riies, can
non, cartridges, pistols-or to the batfIa
11s on1v ais saS sa eombate" is more COM
means a hight, personal, or even a Guar.
Eel Eel. Manuk ccmbate" is a chicken
HSnC-
on rvamoose" is probably more used than
come, and, transitively, to bring. take 70
remove, steal or carry. Thus CONVEX,
sat1on between a soldier and a native
might run thus:
Donde got you?I Where were vo,o
Me vamoose youI went 20 you.
casa, habla YOU house anS SGoi
n ~ - 1, 81 Q your wife where you
PoI,o natrlmony were. She said you
! maDLa you Vamoose, went to gamble on
upstteCoiheS manuki the cock fights. I
Gonpate. Me quire want credits for 20
3 tawoone ooes pese- cents worth Of ci-
etc.