Database content

Language attitude

Here we include testimonies that indicate the attitude (either positive or negative) of the author or the society towards the language.

Tok Pisin

„Ich nannte es vorhin einen häßlichen Jargon, eine Bezeichnung, die es ohne Zweifel reichlich verdient. Aber es hat auch seine freundlichen, seine versöhnenden Seiten […]“ 

"I called it beforehand an ugly jargon, a designation which it deserves beyond doubt. But it also has its friendly, conciliative aspects [...]"

(Friederici, Georg (1911): „Pidgin-Englisch in Deutsch-Neuguinea.“ Koloniale Rundschau 2: 100)

Setting

Here we include testimonies regarding the languages spoken in a contact situation, as well as general information on the political and economic situation.

"All the races along the coast, in their dealings with the white man, appear to speak a common dialect known as "Kru English.""

(Newland, H. Osman [1916]: Sierra Leone: its people, products, and secret societies. London: John Bale, sons & Danielsson: 12)

"Im Schutzgebiet Kamerun ist z.Z. das Neger-Englisch die Hauptverkehrssprache zwischen der weissen Bevoelkerung und den Eingeborenen. Der Gebrauch der deutschen Sprache steht im Verkehr mit den Eingeborenen weit hinter dem der englischen Sprache zurueck."

"In the protectorate of Cameroon, Neger-English is currently the main interlanguage between the white population and the indigenes. The usage of the German language for the communication with the indigenes is far beyond the usage of the English language."

([Anonymous] (1913): „Nochmals Pidgin-Englisch“.  Samoanische Zeitung 13 (34).1)

Situation

Here we include testimonies surrounding actual language data, meaning statements about the situation in which an utterance was made.

They took us by the hand, and, looking in our faces with their mellow black eyes, accompanied by what were meant for witching smiles and a peculiar singing voice, recognised us as old acquaintances, whether they had seen us before or not, in their broken English [...]"

(Jacobs, Thomas Jefferson. 1844. Scenes, incidents, and adventures in the Pacific Ocean; or, The islands of the Australasian seas, during the cruise of the clipper Margaret Oakley under Capt. Benj. Morrell. New York: Harper and Brothers: 347)

Language description

Here we include testimonies which describe the language, but which we do not gloss; such as, for instance, grammatical descriptions.

"In den angolensischen Lehnwörtern finde ich fast immer l für r geschrieben, z .B .: pala (Präp.), ngálufu (garfo ), nguvúlu (governador), Fúlla (Francisco), polonto (prompto), ngaleja (igreja ), ri-lota (roda), lazá (razâo). Vor i scheint r zu bleiben: lecrim (alecrim), barilu, firila (ferida), marinhu (meirinho), súquiri (açucar) […]"

"In the angolensic loanwords I almost always find i written for r, e.g. pala (preposition), ngálufu (garfo), nguvúlu (governador), Fúlla (Francisco), polonto (prompto), ngaleja (igreja),ri-lota (roda), lazá (razâo). In front of i, r seems to be remained: lecrim (alecrim), barilu, firila (ferida), marinhu (meirinho), súquiri (açucar) [...]"

(Schuchardt, Hugo (1882): "Kreolische Studien I: Ueber das Negerportugiesische von S. Thomé (Westafrika)". Sitzungsberichte der philosophisch-historischen Classe der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Wien: 896)

Language data

Here we include the actual language data. These are the sections that will be glossed.

Chinese Pidgin English

"They took us by the hand, and, looking in our faces with their mellow black eyes, accompanied by what were meant for witching smiles and a peculiar singing voice, recognised us as old acquaintances, whether they had seen us before or not, in their broken English, "My chin-chin you; me savee you lass voyage; my washe you muche good; can do all the same now; muchee good sweetmeats you savee.""

(Jacobs, Thomas Jefferson. 1844. Scenes, incidents, and adventures in the Pacific Ocean; or, The islands of the Australasian seas, during the cruise of the clipper Margaret Oakley under Capt. Benj. Morrell. New York: Harper and Brothers: 347)