(Talk Pidgin) is the official language of Papua New Guinea. It is also called Wontok (One Talk). It is its own language, not a creole. It is English-based, despite the fact that it was developed while New Guinea was a German colony. There are German and Portugese influences as well. Some of the vocabulary is kind of cute: a wall mural in a restaurant says “Yu angary? Kamin et samting!” At first I thought it meant “You angry? Come and eat something!” because the painting depicts a guy with a mean look on his face tucking into a bowl of soup, but it actually meant “hungry.”
This is a photo of a paper that allied pilots were given during their bombing raids over Rabaul. Note that pidgin for white man is "masta." I have to wonder whether the locals dutifully followed these instructions when a shot-down allied pilot staggered into their village, anticipating the masta's wants and deceiving the Japanese in hope of some future payment. I have transcribed:
1. Dispala masta i gifim pas long yu i peren bilong Gavman.
(The white man holding this paper is a friend of the government).
2. Balus belong en i bagarap tru nau yupala mas lukaut gut long en inap long masta ikamap long mipala gen.
(His plane has crashed and you must look after him so that he reaches safety.)
3. Im ino save gut long tok pisin nau yupala mas ting long ol liklik samting bilong em.
(He is not able to ask in pidgin for everything he needs so you must anticipate his wants.)
4. Gifim wara bilong druing olkem kulau.
(Bring drinking water and drinking coconuts.)
5. Gifim kaikai olsem kokuruk nau kiau nau banana mau nau pope nau ol gutpala kaikai.
(Give him food, such as fowls, eggs, bananas, pawpaws and other suitable foods.)
6. Sapos Japan ikam kilostu yupala haitim masta nau giamonim ol Japan.
(If the Japanese come hide the white man and give them false information.)
7. Wanpala boi igat taumam olsem kalambo i gifim long masta.
(If anyone has a mosquito net give it to the white man.)
8. Sapos piles ino gat auskiap olrait makim wanpala nupala aus bilong im i silip. Wokir gut bet bilong im olsem pasin bilong wok bus.
(If there is no resthouse in the village allot him a newly built house to sleep in. Make a bush bed for him.)
9. Sapos masta ino nap long wokabaut yupala mekim bet nau karim.
(If he is unable to walk make a stretcher and carry him.)
10. Dokta boi lukaut long sor bilong en.
(The village medical orderly should to any wounds or sores.)
11. Sampala boi i wokabaut wantaem long masta nau karim liklik samting bilong en. Yupala bringim long kiap no long ol masta no long ol slodia bilong Inglis.
(Some natives are to travel with him to carry his effects and to guide him to a Government officer or our lines or to other whites.)
12. Biaen igat pe ikamap long ol dispala samting.
(Later you will be paid for all these services.)
13. Yupala kisim pepa na pensil long misin boi bilong yupala na masta i wokim pas nau gifim long yupala. Taem kiap ikamap gifim pas long kiap nau kisim pe. Sapos Japan ilaik kamap haitim pas gut inap long ol ino kan lukim.
(Get a pencil and paper from your native mission teacher and the white man will write a note to leave with you. When a Government officer visits you show him this and he will pay you. If the Japanese come to your village do not let them see this note.)
GAVMAN I TOK YUPALA MAS ARIM
(THESE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND YOU MUST OBEY THEM)
