Learning Melanesian Pidgin – Tok Pisin

This is a picture of my side of the family and boy oh boy is there a lot of grandkids!

We started a new training module called orientation.  In this module we are focusing on the living in the town of Madang before moving to a tribe.  Last week we focused on the trade language of Papua New Guinea:  Tok Pisin (Pidgin).  There are many words in Tok Pisin that sound similar, and many that are there own in sound and spelling.  Below are some simple phrases and words that you can try!

English word/phrase  –  Pidgin equivalent

Good morning  –  Monin

Good afternoon – Apinun

Good night – Gutnait

Father – Papa

Mother – Mama

Brother – Brata

Sister – Susa

Man – Man

Woman – Meri

Children – Pikinini

Yes – Yes

No – Nogat

Friend – Wantok

Money – Mani

Coconut – Kokonas

I do not know – Mi no save

Where are we going? – Yumi go we?

I walked to the store – Mi wokabaut i go long stua

Our strategy in learning Tok Pisin is to learn as much stateside as we can before we leave in 2014.  From phrases to individual words the more that we know before we go the faster CLA will be.  

Continue to pray for us, that we would be diligent.  There is much to do in preparation to leave, and there can always be the feeling of falling behind.