Pidgin English in Hawaii: From Befoah to From Now
(Pidgin English in Hawaii: From Past to Present)What was just said in the title was, "Let us chat about Pidgin English in Hawaii- Its Past to Present." First of all, what is "pidgin"? Unless a person has been exposed to or researched two or more cultures living together, whether through assimilation or pluralism, he or she would not really know about pidgin. Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines "pidgin" as "a simplified speech used for communication between people with different languages" (1991:890)
Pidgin English (often referred to as "broken" English) on the other hand, is defined as "an English based pidgin -- especially one originally used in the Orient" (Webster’s 1991:890). Pidgin English usually carries the stigma of being a substandard language because it seems the majority of the speakers are people who have little or no experience in speaking English. In fact, as Albert Valdman states in his entry in the Academic American Encyclopedia, the term "serves to designate unimaginative use of language or impoverished and socially inferior speech" (1990:15). However, in Hawaii, just the opposite is true, although it may have started that way. So, What is Hawaiian Pidgin? How did it emerge? How does it sound? How is it put together? What are examples of Pidgin? How did Hawaiian residents feel about it? How do they feel about it today?
Methodology
Most of the information for this research paper was gathered through written sources such as books, essays, articles and a few sites on the Internet. I also relied on personal observations.
What is Hawaiian Pidgin English?
Hawaiian Pidgin English is a native speech that evolved as a result of Hawaii’s diverse background. It is also called "Da Kine" or, more commonly, "Pidgin" when it really isn’t a pidgin anymore but actually a creole, or Hawaii Creole English, as termed by the Ethnologue Database. Creole, in this case, is defined as "a language based on 2 or more languages that serves as the native language of it’s speakers" (Webster’s 1991:305-6). Unlike other English based pidgin, Hawaiian Pidgin is founded on several different languages, with the Hawaiian language contributing the most words. Still, the term "Pidgin" remains.
How Did Hawaiian Pidgin English Emerge?
From my understanding, Hawaii had so many immigrant workers from many different places, that a common language based on English had to be established. This was because the majority of the persons in charge of the workforce spoke English.
In 1849, Westerners came to Hawaii for its agricultural capabilities. Plantations, sugar refineries, and pineapple canneries became widespread. The native Hawaiians laborers realized that the wages they received from the Westerners could not support the increasingly higher cost of living. They soon refused to work under the slave like conditions. In 1850, under the Masters and Servants Act, Chinese laborers were brought in, as well as Japanese workers in 1860. Eventually, along came many other immigrants who saw the many job opportunities. They came from Korea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Samoa, and the Philippines, just to name a few.
According to Albert Valdman in his entry in the Academic American Encyclopedia, a pidgin arises "in a situation of limited social interaction between groups not sharing a common language." This is how Pidgin started in Hawaii. In his article, "‘Pidgin English’ in Hawaii," John Reinecke’s believes Pidgin arose because it was a hassle for English speaking masters to learn their servants’ language (1938: 210). Since there were too many different ethnic backgrounds that influenced the Pidgin English in Hawaii, this was no easy task. It was also bothersome for those who gave orders (usually white Europeans) to speak English correctly (Reinecke 1938: 210) to the non-English speaking workers.
Valdman stated that a pidgin becomes a creole when it is "acquired by children and becomes the primary language of a linguistic community" taking on "all the characteristics of normal language" (Academic American Encyclopedia 1990: 15). Derek Bickerton, a professor of linguistics at the University of Hawaii, concluded through his research in Hawaii, that pidgin explodes into creoles (Berreby 1992:44+). It seems that through the years, pidgin in Hawaii has emerged into a language that boasts Hawaii’s rich heritage and ethnic pride, therefore, proving his statement.
People who are not familiar with English often have a difficult time with phonetics and pronunciation. Many different languages do not have certain sounds. The Hawaiian language, for example, does not have an "R" in its alphabet. The Japanese have a hard time with L’s and R’s in English. Filipinos mix the B’s and V’s and P and F sounds, saying "por" when trying to say "for."
Since there wasn’t anyone around to provide a correct model for English, most of these pronunciations became the "proper" pronunciations. As a result, people, especially children, learned Pidgin as a "real" language. These all contributed to its simplified pronunciations. Below is an excerpt from a story written as one who would pronounce it in Pidgin:
"My Ungko...he tink my Antee steh going deaf. My Antee... she no like go doctah, but. One time..my Ungko wen go look da doctah. My Ungko wen tell da doctah... ‘Hoy, doctah. I tink Mada stay going deaf. She no like come doctah, but. Wot can do, eh?’...."
(Oribio 1995)
The phonological differences are shown when Oribio uses the word "da" for "the." Also notice the word "doctah," this is why some linguists have even compared Pidgin to the dialogue of English spoken in Boston suburbs ("Pahk da caa?"), New York ("Nevah have I herd such stoopid remahks!"), and Afro-American ("Mo’ Bettah!") pronunciations and accents.
The syntax of Hawaiian Pidgin, or the way it is put together, is fairly simple. For example, in proper English, one would say, "I wanted to go to the concert, but I can’t afford it." In Pidgin, you would say, "I wen like go concert -- no could, but." The speaker just states what needs to be said and rarely elaborates. Many words are taken out and just implied. The sentences are short and sweet or to the point. For instance, the word "to" was not needed in the example above. The word "of" is another that is not really needed. Where some would say in proper English, "I have a copy of one of his works at home." Someone who speaks Pidgin would say, "I get one copy - stay home." "Stay home" is an elaboration.
Another obvious elaboration is the usage of "but" at the end of the sentence as shown in Oribio’s excerpt. In "I neva like- though."( But I didn’t want to.) and "She said - even" (Even she said to) "though and "even" are elaborations.
Pidgin is also prone to double negatives. This is one of three common characteristics Bickerton found in all creoles (Berreby 1992:44+). "I neva do nothing" means "I did not do a thing" or "I didn’t do anything wrong." Most of the time, these double negatives could use one word like, "no mo’ nothing" means simply "nothing" and "no mo’ nobody" means "nobody."
A final example of elaboration is specificness, another similar characteristic Bickerton found in all creoles (Berreby 1992:44+). In Hawaiian Pidgin, the speaker makes the distinction by placing a filler, most commonly the word "one" in front of the noun. For example, "Can have one pizza?" means the speaker would like a piece of a pizza. "Can have pizza?" would imply the speaker wants pizza- any size or any kind.
The different types of languages (from Samoan, Portuguese, to slang) used in Pidgin by far is what really make it unique. Listed here are only some terms and phrases found in "Peppo’s Pidgin to Da Max," and "Pidgin to Da Max - Hana Hou!" two handbooks of Pidgin words, terms, and usage. (Simonson 1981, 1992)
Word
Origin
Meaning
Atsui Japanese Hot. Or, "Hot Stuff" Babooze Portuguese Clown or Dummy. Brah Slang Brother, Bro, pal Chicken Skin Slang Goose Pimples Da Kine Pidgin What you say when you don’t know what else to say. Also means Hawaiian Pidgin Eat it Slang To fall down. Fa’afetai Samoan Thank you. Going go Pidgin Future tense of "Going" Haole Hawaiian Foreigner. Slang for Caucasian-or one who acts like one. Howzit Pidgin Pidgin for "Aloha" Indai ( or Endai) Filipino Sweetheart (feminine). Lua Hawaiian Bathroom Manong/Manang Filipino Describes anything Filipino, Uncle or Aunt in proper use No? Pidgin Yeah? Don’t you think? You know? Agree? Ohana Hawaiian Family, or just like family Okole Hawaiian Undetachable padded seat What you sit on. Puka Hawaiian Hole. Rat Bite Slang Bad razor haircut Stink-Eye Slang Evil eye, dirty look. How Do Resident Hawaiian View Pidgin English? Good or Bad?
When English speaking foreigners first came to Hawaii, it was hard for the islanders to adjust. Communication became increasingly harder when more and more immigrants of different ethnic backgrounds came to Hawaii. To many residents, it was an awkward situation just trying to talk with others. The English speakers often viewed pidgin speaking residents as inferior. Those who spoke "Da Kine" soon grew frustrated trying to communicate because they constantly had to fight the impression that they were dumb or illiterate due to the way they spoke. Those who could make the transition and learned to speak English fairly well, felt the weight of those who couldn’t. The Pidgin speakers only hindered the success of well-versed islanders.
In "Speak American," Shigeo Yoshida urged Japanese Americans in Hawaii to speak English. This was mostly because there were a lot of hostility and suspicion towards anyone of Japanese ancestry at the time of World War II. However, he mentions that speaking pidgin or even mixing Japanese and English was "un-American" (1938:330), "discourteous" (1938:331), and an "irritating habit" (1938: 330). This was because he felt many of the speakers were well educated and perfectly capable of speaking good English (1938:330).
At the same time, teenagers and young adults couldn’t make the transition so easily. To talk proper English was to become "haole-fied." The word Haole is Hawaiian for "foreigner" In Pidgin, it is slang for "Caucasian - or one who acts like one" (Simonson 1981: 85). In Reinecke’s study, they felt that "only a Haole could speak English properly anyway, so why try?" (1938:215) One teenager stated, "Sometimes when I used good English some people say that I act as if I know everything or acting fresh. Sometimes when we are in a crowd of people some people tease us saying ‘black haole.’ And of course we hate to be called ‘haoles’ because of many reasons" (1938:216). Dennis Ogawa in his introduction to selected essays on Pidgin highlighted an unsaid fact: If you didn’t speak Pidgin, you didn’t belong (Kodomo no tame ni 1978:196).
Today, "talking haole" is not as big of a deal. Proper English is beneficial for those who speak it well. Pidgin, however, remains to be a language that will not die. There is a sense of pride that its speakers have. The farther the atmosphere from Hawaii’s, the stronger the dialect is when it is spoken. Pidgin provides a means for tightening the community. Speaking Da Kine means to be able to relax, talk story, and loosen the ties. Islanders use it to "bond and belong" when they kick back with friends or ohana, which means "family, or just like family" (Simonson 1991:43).
When locals leave the islands or work in an environment that requires constant use of good English, for some, it is a strain not to hear and speak the familiar words, terms, and slangs. For some, it is even harder to not have someone else around who can understand them when they speak Da Kine. It’s no wonder that when confronted by a fellow islander or Kama’aina (resident), he or she is quick to revert back to Pidgin.
The people of Hawaii, especially teenagers now, see Pidgin as another cultural plus of Hawaii. People brought up with the Pidgin English from Hawaii around them, seem to be have much more culture. They are able to communicate with others better than a person who just speaks one, even two, languages. Many times young people get a kick out of speaking Hawaiian Pidgin in different environments, like on the mainland, where not just anyone can understand them; To them it becomes a secret code- a totally different language.
In a way, Hawaii benefited that no one was able to squelch the use of Pidgin English in the Islands. This language tells the story of Hawaii’s diverse background. It reminds both speakers and listeners of his or her roots in Hawaiian History; that Hawaii could not be what it is today if it weren’t for it’s many different ethnic groups. Whenever there is a word or reference to one’s nationality, he or she automatically feels connected and that he or she is an essential part of Hawaii. Because of the variety of ethnic contributions to this language, speakers are able to associate themselves with miscellaneous groups and not feel as if he or she were intruding. No one can get mad at one who speaks pidgin or someone who pokes fun at an ethnic denomination because his or her own ethnicity is there too (Reinecke 1938: 213). So it’s all said in good fun.
Da Kine is a language that holds Hawaii together. Without it, Hawaii would just be another place where different racial groups were forced to live together because of circumstances. Hawaii would be a place where each race would feel as if they were different from the other. It may seem far-fetched, but Pidgin ties all these cultures together. No one is different because, to put it simply, everyone is the same. Everyone speaks the same language, everyone eats the same "local" food (Hawaiian-American-Japanese-Chinese, etc...dishes), but most importantly, everyone understands everyone else. You don’t have to be from the Philippines to understand Filipino, you don’t have to be Portuguese to enjoy their company and, you don’t have to be Japanese to be a part of an O-Bon Dance (a festival remembering and honoring the dead-wishing them safe journeys in the after life). With Pidgin, Hawaii becomes one big community.
Pidgin English seems to be quite stable and there is no big fear that it might be lost. However, it is a shame to know that this dialect could have been destroyed. How can one be ashamed of this rich multicultural language? I would not know words of my own birthplace’s language (Hawaiian), I would not know the beliefs of my own nationality (Filipino and Japanese), and I also would not know the unique lifestyles of those around me if it weren’t for Pidgin. Da Kine opened doors to different ways of life because this common language penetrated communication boundaries between all of the ethnic groups. Taking away Pidgin English might have meant the ability for its speakers to move upward in life like how Shigeo Yoshida said. But to me, taking away this language would be robbing of islanders of so much knowledge and insight, values and understanding - and most of all, the ability to get along and live with others in harmony. I am thankful that it is still around.
Today, Pidgin is becoming more widely accepted as an essential part of the Island culture. It is used in Language Arts and literary works such as in public speeches, creative writing, and poetry. It can be heard spoken by politicians, public figures, and local celebrities. And even though English is the official language, Pidgin has gained the official sanction of the House of Representatives (Explore Dakine). Pidgin is unique. It is a language by itself and no matter what ethnic group is speaking it, "Da Kine" will always say "Hawaii."