6.08.2005

Where does it bilong?

Vitamin Q has posted a fascinating list of terms in Tok Pisin (the Pidgin English spoken in Papa New Guinea) using the term "bilong," "belonging," which is used as "from" or "to" to construct a variety of interesting phrases. We came across this briefly in a History of the English Language class when we were discussing pidgins, and the only one I remember now is "gras bilong fes," "grass belonging to face" -- beard. (This list offers "gras bilong ai," eyebrow.) Some quite interesting ones. One of my favorites is "ol pikinini bilong rop wain" -- "those babies belonging to wine rope" -- grapes.

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