Commentary

By The

Editorial

Staff.

Just When Is

It English?

THE importance Pidgin English has acquired in the post-war S-W Pacific—that is, the con troversy as to whether it should be rooted out entirely or given official approval—h a s surprised most Islands old-timers who, before the war, accepted it for its convenience and cared not whether it was the mark of the slave or not.

What has always puzzled this writer, however, is where to find the merit in the “straight English” which is spoken in most Pacific Islands where Pidgin is infra dig.

From New Zealand, up through Fiji and on to Polynesia, half of the stock jokes are based on the Islanders’ mangled rendering of English.

Even in Papua, the old-time re sident recoiled in horror at the Pidgin spoken across the border, and relied on Police Motu, although that itself was only a Pidgin version of the real thing. It is a guinea to a gooseberry that the number of post-war arrivals in Papua who have learned Motuan since their arrival could be counted on one’s two hands. These days they tell you that the natives under stand straight English.

Recently we overhead a young Port Moresby matron of our acquaintance speaking to her cook boy. It was a sort of a cross be tween Pidgin and baby-talk. “Do these boys speak Pidgin, then?” we asked. ‘Oh, no, English,” we were told: then seeing our look of disbelief added: “But the boys and I have a language of our own. We get on fine.”

They did, too. But it was not in “straight English.”

The war and the post-war in flux of new residents has spelled the doom of real Pidgin, too. Even before the war it was often said by old residents, who prided them selves on their ability to speak the language, that Pidgin was not what it was. Now most post-war arrivals make something up as they go along, and when they are not understood, tear their hair and shout.

If the post-war natives of Papi and New Guinea seem much mot sullen and stupid than their pr war fathers (and many of the do) it could be explained by tl fact that present-day Territoria take little trouble to learn how speak correctly to them.

The European who takes trout to learn the accepted languae Motuan or Pidgin, has the native immediate attention, and—\ would like to add—his respect.

Something About

Vietnam

As the surrender of part of IndJ China to the Reds has created threat to the future of the Soul Pacific, the South Pacific may lil to know more about Indo-China.

There are three States in Indt China—Vietnam, 23,000,000 peopll Cambodia, 3,700,000; and Lao 1.100.000. Each, to a degree, is sell governing, but France controls the foreign relations, their defences an of course, enjoys a monopoly ( their overseas trade. Self-govem ment is a recent development Th was a disunited group of quarre ling little States when France too over last century; and the Freno have introduced orderliness, an greatly developed the countrie resources.

Vietnam is a recent creation was formed by the French out ( three ancient provinces—Tonki:i Annam and Cochin China. Vie: nam is a long, narrow counfar paralleling the coastline of the at tual south-east corner of Asia. I] northern part, old Tonkin, include the Red River delta, and is part o the area surrendered to the Red: Some 13,000,000 out of the States 23.000. are in the surrender© area. Asa large section of tli people in the surrendered area ar French-trained, and Christian some millions now are trying to gc away from northern Vietnam, whio adjoins Communist China, befon the Reds take over; and the Frenci are trying to accommodate them i southern Vietnam.

West and south of Indo-Chim

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are Siam, Malaya and Burma; and the Chinese Reds have been very busy underground in all of them.

. And The Farce

Goes On

I The Australian Minister at the United Nations, Mr. W. D. Forsyth (formerly Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission) had his periodical brush with the Reds and the irresponsibles on July 15, when a report on the Trust Territory of New Guinea was before the UN Trusteeship Council. [ The Russians challenged the ad ministrative and legislative union wrought into being between Papua md New Guinea after World War [I: insisted that this was part of a nove under which Australia would mnex New Guinea; and declared ;hat conditions in the Territory vere exactly the same as when Australia took over from the Ger mans 35 years ago. [ Mr. Forsyth, very forcefully, [uoted facts and figures to disprove he Soviet charges, which he des iribed as “utter nonsense”: and a Russian motion against the ad ninistrative union was negatived by I votes to 3. It is noteworthy that he two nations which supported lussia were El Salvador and Syria, lyria is one of the effervescent new lations of the Middle East. El Salvador, presumably, is one of the ittle States of Central America.

It is to be regretted that the re ort that Australia is planning to nnex New Guinea is, as Mr. For yth said, “utter nonsense.” This bsurd situation, under which Sal adores and Syrias and Soviets can iterfere with Australia’s control ver this Territory, should have een terminated long ago. Austra an control over New Guinea is ital to the defence of the South acific against Asia, and she should ave supreme authority there. But whenever any move to end the ■rusteeship is made, the bureau rats and politicians of Canberra in away from the discussion; and le farce goes on.

In July PIM we reported the en igement of Miss Patricia Woods • Mr. David Boys, both recently ' Rarotonga. We stated in urectly that Mr. Boys as an ex abaulite. It was Miss Woods who as born there and lived with her irents at the Bainings for some jars.

Bishop Lehman, Vicar Apostolic • the Cook Islands, celebrated the )th anniversary of his ordination t the end of July. Born in Holland i 1887, he went to the Cooks in U 6 and was consecrated a Bishop : St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland, i 1948.