Re: CHAT: various infotaining natlang tidbits

Lars Henrik skrev:
>No, I just think someone has been passing bad Tok Pisin in the streets
>of Copenhagen. (Pickaninny is a _US_ 'slave' word.)
Actually, the terms I posted are the older Tok Pisin forms used during
the days of the Cargo Cults. The term "Miks masta bilong Jesus Christ"
certainly reflects Cargo Cult understanding, doesn't it? There were a
lot terms like that equally (if not more) hilarious -- a pity I don't
remember them.

"Pickaninny" is apparently a word that has been incorporated in all
the European-based creoles of the world in some form or other. Same
with "savvy" apparently. These originated perhaps from a Portuguese
based jargon spoken on sailing ships in the old days with a
multinational crew. I.e. "pickaniny" from "pequenho" and "savvy" from
"saber" (I think).

-kristian- 8)