The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
"PIDGINv ENGLISH.
1t Is Indispensable Rather than Fun
ny to Those who Use 1t.
Pail Mall Gazette.

Pail Mall Gazette.
Those who are chiefly acquainted with
"pdgin" English through the medium of
comic opera and Bret Hartes dialect poems
would be surprised to find how different is
the language which forms the sole me-
dunn of communication between European
and native when encountered in its nat
ural environment.
Pidgin literally business) English is made
up of idiom, of words derived from Eng
lish, French, Portuguese and a few other
languages, with the addition of a dozen or
so expressions of which the origin is I'M
traceable. Although of somewhat nursery
sound and circumlocution, most of the
phrases in ordinary use, as well as those
which the Cinnamon Will invent on the
spur of the moment, are remarkably ex-
pressiye, far more SO than their ei English
course, from the French, is used not only
in the obvious sense of know" but further
to indicate gumption. occasionally craft, as
for example, Boys have plenty savvy,
implying the person under discussion would
act wisely; or, again, My thinkee he too
muchee savvy,' TO convey the idea of
Look see,'' of which the ordinary mean
ing is obvious, is also fairly expressive
when used to indicate mere external show.
"Alfo look see pidgin, summing up the
person whose business i'm life is TO make
good appearance. But the chief interest
of this language undoubtedly centers
around the peculiar use OF =, idiom ON, Al
time no." You are never 10 do So for ex-
ample, would be expressed by ANY time
no can do so fashion"
Who and what curiously enough are
always accompanied by the noun: Who
man?' What thing?" The latter. how.
Again, the adverb $50 invariably replaces
that" as He talkee SO he no manchee
that pidgin." How" becomes What
for |, me, my, mine, and "he" for both
genders and all cases. The use of the
word ''blong'' in place of the verb to be is
one of the things which cannot be ex-
plaihed but is practically universal, while
can TO show futurity, is equally peculiar.
What time you can go?" means what
time will you go?" HE can walkee" he
will start The qualifying word side is
exception, thus a Chinaman speaks of
England side" Japan side 'topside"
(upstairsl. and so forth. The use of
chance for profit is certainly surpris-
/ ing. for no allusion to the doubtful result
of speculation trade is intended, and
among other amusing peculiarities may be
mentioned Number one as the universal
superlative: Number one good or bad, best
or worst, and a Number one person.
meaning chief official. Number one top
side yoss pidgi9 man" Is bishop. number
commanding. Two piece" means two.
'Cathehee plenty face" to obtain or make
a position of dignity.
Ladies appreciate the conventionalities
which surround calling language. When
the front door bell is answered the visitor
inquiries .Mississee have got?" to which the
answer is Have got at home mo got
is not receiving to-day. or "Have go out"
"Chop-chop," be quick; "mauman," go
slowly; "chin-chin." and Chow" are. of
course, Chinese words, pure and simple.
Bhobbery-angry, tiffin-lunch, and chit-a
letter or check, are all Hindustani intro
duced by early traders with previous Indian
experiences. Goodwin. for warehouse. may
also be. traced 10 the same origin, as it was
formerly the custom to store goods in
vaults, to which the merchant had liter
ally TO go down when he wished to handle
his stock.
"Maskee." never mind is Portuguese and
from the same language various words less
in use are culled and are especially to be
met among the Eurasion population which
represents mixed marriages of European
and native. and with whom, very naturally
a bastard tongue neither ordinary pidgin
nor Portuguese prevails. Pidgin is easy to
acquire but takes a little while to follow
among persons speaking rapidly. II is
rather curious that where French and Ger