Pidgin English in CJ, another installment

David Robertson ddr11 at COLUMBIA.EDU
Fri Apr 30 23:58:53 UTC 2004


Klahawiam, kanawi tilikom,

Look here, /olsim/ is identical to 'allsame' in Chinese Pidgin English and
to 'olsem' in South Pacific / Melanesian Pidgin English.  Interesting find.

>From Kamloops Wawa #112 (January 1894) page 17:

"Iht buk: 'Ankati ST Mamuk Sahali Ilihi pi Ukuk Ilihi' tlil iktas.  Kopit
Chinuk.  Iht tala ukuk buk = $1.00

"Olsim buk pil iktas iht tala pi kwata

"Olsim buk piktyurs pi Inglish wawa kanamokst tlil iktas, iht tala pi tlun
bits  $1.35

"Olsim buk, pil iktas, iht tala pi sitkom $1.50"

Translated into English:

"A book:  'God Made Heaven and Earth', black material [=cloth cover?].
Only in Chinook.  This book is one dollar.

"The same book, red material, one dollar and a quarter.

"The same book, pictures and English included, black material, one dollar
and three bits ($1.35).

"The same book, red material, one dollar and a half."

--Dave R.

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