1942 - Adventure Kokoda

As it was in 1942 . . .

The booklet on Pidgin English by E.C.N. Helton as used in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea in 1942 was developed to assist our soldiers to understand the local culture and language. The booklet, which is reproduced below, provides a fascinating snapshot of reality in 1942.

Trigger warning:

Some extracts from common phrases in use throughout Australia and our mandated territories in Papua and New Guinea 1942 may offend some born since political correctness was introduced into our culture by the millennials of Generation Snowflake.

PREFACE

With that restless feeling that all soldiers experience after returning from Active Service, after the Great War the author turned his footsteops towards New Guinea in search of new adventure and as the result of twenty odd years experience this book has been compiled.

The search for gold led him to all parts of New Guinea involving a close study of the natives, their customs and their language.

Even after the various skirmishes the Authro has had with them, he has been able to return to the disaffected area and make friends with them. This was mainly through being able to talk to them.

The natives are inclined to treat with scorn a white man who cannot talk to them, their idea being that white men taught them this language and here are white men who cannot speak it.

This book is presented in the hope that it will be the means of saving many valuable lives and lightening the burden of the soldier, in his valiant efforts to regain our country for us.

The Author

Origin of Pidgin English

New Guinea Pidgin English originated in a peculiar way. The Germans who originally occupied New Guinea, endeavoured to teach the natives to speak German as it was impossible to learn the numerous native dialects.

The natives could not master the guttural sounds and the Germans who knew very little English, taught them the various English names of the articles they were using.

As new implements, etc., were used, it was natural, that to explain quickly what was required, to liken it to something that they already knew the name of, for instance, one of the first things the natives knew the name of was an axe (AXIS) and so an adze became an axe to straighten timber (AKES BELONG STRAIGHT IM DEWAI).

To differentiate between the various types of vehicles the name of the animal that drew them was added such as (CARRIAGE HORSE, CARRIAGE DONKEY, CARRIAGE BULL-A-MA-KAU).

Take the last word (BULL-A-MA-KAU). The first cattle to be brought to New Guinea were a bull and a cow and as the Germans in New Guinea always referred to them as such, the name for cattle became BULL-A-MAKAU with the sex added such as MAN or MARY.

When you are stuck for a pidgin word to describe anything, think of what it is used for and use the word SOMETHING for its name and state of its use. For instance, a stud is used to fasten your collar, therefore, a request to a native to BRING IM SOMETHING BELONG PASS IM NECK (collar) would have the effect of a native producing a stud.

The instances given here apply throughout the language and if this is kept in mind, the reader will be able to carry on a conversation with the natives in a very short time.

FORWARD

It is an axciom of war, that an invader who can speak the language of the country invaded has the battle half won.

The natives of New Guinea, who in the main will be found friendly, are very vindictive and will vent their wrath on any white man who rouses their enmity. Therefore, study the “DON’T’S” contained in this book. It is of great importance that the natives should remain friendly.

Remember, the natives speak very quickly, and should the natives conversation not be understood, tell him to speak slowly, by using the following phrase:

ENGLISH	PIDGIN
You are speaking to quickly. I cannot understand you.	Me no ha rim good, you talk easy.

Having regard to difference of pronunciation of some members of the Forces, the strict phonetic spelling of the Pidgin has not been adhered to, as it is considered more simple to understand in the form presented.

NATIVE SOUNDING OF LETTERS
W	as	V
C	as	K
S	as	T (New Britain)
P	as	B
J	as	Y
P	as	P
VOWEL SIGNS
A	as	A
E	as	I
I	as	E
O	as	O
U	as	OO

PHASES WITH REFERENCE TO TIME
The Present	Now
A little later	Behind
Yesterday	Astidi
Tomorrow	Tomorrow
Day after tomorrow	Arp tomorrow more
Day before tomorrow	Astidi before
A week ago	One pella week e loose pinish
A month ago	One pella moon e loose
Month	Moon
Year	Christmas
Monday	One day
Tuesday	Two day
Wednesday	Three day
Thursday	Four day
Friday	Five day
Saturday	Saturdi
Sunday	Sunday
Holiday	Sunday or time belong lim Limvur

COUNTING
One	One
Two	Two
Three	Three
Four	Four
Five	Five
Six	Six
Sevent	Seven
Eight	Eight
Nine	Nine
Ten	Ten
Eleven	One pella ten one
Twelve	One pella ten two etc up to twenty
Twenty	Two pella ten etc. up to 100
One Hundred	Ten pella ten

TIME OF DAY
Before daylight	No too light yet
Daylight	Too light
Thence clock times to mid-day
Mid-day	Bello
One p.m.	Bello Back
Thence clock times to sun-down
Sun-down	Sun e go down
Midnight	Big night

DON’T DO THESE THINGS

Lean Up Against a Coconut Palm. Look up first. A dry nut might be ready to fall and would seriously injure you if it should hit you.

Interfere with Native Women. They might be found willing parties but will spread the news of the affair so as to around the jealously of their husbands. This would mean death or hindrance to the next white man passing that way.

Interfere With Village Pigs. This would be nearly as bad as interfering with the women.

Drink Stagnant Water. This would lead to an attack of dysentery.

Drink Water from a Native Bamboo Container. The inside of these are filthy and usually contain particles of femented food. Have your own container filled from running water.

Forget to Take Quinine. Take the daily prophylactic dose of five grains and disregard anything you are told to the contrary. Sometimes small quantities are found in the native villages in charge of a Dr. Boy.

Walk with the Slightest Irritation in Your Boot. Stop and take it out.

Forget to Inspect Your Legs and Feet Each Night. The slightest abrasion or cut can develop into a tropical ulcer within twenty-four hours. Pay great attention to this and treat any cut at once.

Try to Walk Too Far in One Day. No advantage is gained and you will find that the carriers will desert you during the night if you do so.

Try to Travel at Night. The progress you would make would not be commensurate with the risk of injury.

Be the First to Walk Across a Stream Near the Coast. The natives see crocodiles very quickly. Have one of the natives walk in front of you.

Try to Swim a Flooded River. Wait. The rivers rise and fall very quickly.

Fraternise too Much With the Natives. They quickly become contemptuous of a person doing this.

Pay More than a Reasonable Price for Anything. The highest price a native receives becomes the minimum. The next man coming that way might not have the wherewithal.

Fail to Pay the Agreed Price. This would cause the natives to refuse to sell to the next person.

Allow the Natives to Get Too Far Ahead When Walking. There might be a catch in it. Keep your carriers all together.

Forget to Count the Number of Natives You Start With. You might have to pay twice as many as necessary and on the other hand, some might have gone ahead to give information.

Tell the Natives Where There Are Other White Men. They love gossip. Let them tell you.

Allow the Natives to Speak in Their Own Language. Make them speak pidgin. They might be arranging something to your disadvantage.

Throw Away Any Article of Accroutment. Unwanted goods can be used for the purchase of food.

Forget That the Natives Can Tell Lies. Try to make sure they are telling the truth before moving on.

Allow the Natives to Come and Greet You With Spears in Hand. They will put them down if told to do so.

Lead the Party an Any Stage. The tracks are narrow and should anything start it will give you a chance to get away.

Allow Your Carriers to Wander About in a Strange Village. They are born thieves and will probably steal something to cause you trouble with the local kanakas.

Lose this Book. It might save your life.

FOODS OBTAINABLE IN LOCAL VILLAGES
Sweet Potato	Kau-Kau
Yams	Yam
Mami (type of yam)	Mami
Tapioca	Tapiok
Taro	Taro
Sago	Sak-sak

FRUITS
Bananas	Banana mau
Bananas (cooking)	Banana
Pineapple	Pineap
Paw Paw	Paw Paw
Lemons	Muli
Oranges (on Mission stations only)	Muli belong Sydney

GAME
Wild pig	Wile pig
Pidgeon	Balus
Gaura pigeon	Guria
Wild fowl	Poul belong bush
Wild fowl eggs	Kio belong poul belong bush
Domestic fowl eggs	Kio
Duck	Parto
Cassowary	Muruk
Domestic fowls are found in all villages

TYPE OF CONVERSATION THAT WOULD BE USED ON ENCOUNTERING A NATIVE IN THE BUSH
English	Pidgin	Native Replies	Interpretation
Good day friend	Good day priend	Yes, good day Masta	Yes, it is a good day
Are there any Japanese in this vicinity?	Man belong Japan e savvy come long arp ere?	Yes, before e come No got	They have been here No
Where is your village?	Place belong you e stop where?	Close to Long Way lik lik	Near here A fair distance away
Take me to your village	Bring im me long place belong you	Arright you come No can	You follow me I won’t show you
Where is your rest house	Ouse kiap e stop where?	E stop on top	At the top of the village
Will you give me some food?	You can give im me some pella kai kai?	Behind me sing out im all-a-mary	The females will bring it
I want food that is cooked	Me like im kai-kai e ton	No got kai-kai Arright mary e cook now	I will not sell you any The females are cooking
I want to sleep here	Me like sleep ere	More better you go Sorry Masta Maskee more better you go	It would be safer to sleep elsewhere I am sorry It is better that you should go
I am very tired	Me tired too much	Arright you come	Follow me
I want you to hide me	You hite im me	Me Praid Me no can talk Masta	I won’t tell
Don’t tell anybody I am here	You no can tell im out im me	E no can talk	They won’t say anything
Don’t talk	Pass im mouse!
Tell the other Kanakas not to talk	Talk im all-a-boy e no can talk
I want a drink of water	Me like drink water
I want to drink coconut milk	Me like drink kulai
Is this water from a stream?	This pela water e savvy run?
Do you drink it?	You pela e savvy drink?
Where are the head men?	Tul-tul no Luluai e stop where?
Don’t send a message on the drums	You no can pight im garamat
Stop those drums	Finish lon pight im garamut
Don’t do that	You no can make im all-s-same	Arright Masta	Very well
If you look after me the Government will look after you	Yo pela look out im me behid Govt. im pay im you	Me pela e elp in you	We will look after you
If you don’t help me the white men will shoot up the village	Spose you no elp im me behind all-a-masta e come shoot nabout long you pela	Me pella can elp im you	We wll look after you
What is your name?	Call im name belong you?	(write it down)
I want you to keep watch while I sleep	Sme pella Kanaka e watch long night	E can	We will
If you hear anything waken me quickly	Suppose you ear im something no good get up im me quick	Arright Masta	We will
Where is the road out of this village?	Me like look im road belong go?	(Always inspect the exits in case of emergency
Do not converse in you own language – speak pidgin	You pella no can talk place talk pidgin tasal

PHRASES WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO AIRCRAFT

I am a member of an aircrew	Me captain long balus
My plane has crashed	Balus belong me e bugger up
The propeller is broken	Screw belong im e bugger up
The tyre is punctured	Gumi belong im e got ole
I am going to repair it	Behind me work im
I want to clear the ground to enable me to take off	Me like you pela e clean im ground by me get up im balus	Arright Masta you mark im	Show us the area to be cleared
A white man has been injured	One pella Masta e bugger up	Masta e stop where	Show us where he is
Make a stretcher to carry him	You pella work im bed belong carry im	Me pella can work im	We will
Has the doctor boy got any medicine?	Dokta boy e got medicine?	You like im what name	What sort do you want
Have you got a canoe?	E got kanu	E got	We have
Will you take me in it?	You can bring im me?
Take me to another village	You bring im me long other pella place behind you come back	You like where?	Where to do you want to go?
Camoflage my aeroplane	Cover im up balus belong me long all a lik-lik hand belong dewai	E can	We will

General Phrases in Connection with Travel

English	Pidgin	Native Replies	Interpretation
When the Japs came here which way did they go?	Time man belong Japan e come, eg long what name road?	E go long arp	They went that way
Can you see their tracks?	You look imleg belong im long road	Im ere Masta No got	Here are the tracks There are no tracks
Are these Japanese or white mans tracks?	Im leg belong Japan no Masta?	I tink	I do not know
Are there any white men in this vicinity?	Masta e stop where?	E stop No got Masta	There are white men here There are no white men
Bring me to another village	Bring im me long other pella place	Arright you come	Follow me
I don’t want to go on a known road	Me no like go long road mark	Im road mark Im road belong kanaka	This is a surveyed track This is a native track
Will you take me in your canoe?	Me like you bring im me long canoe belong you>	E can	I will
I want to travel at night	Me like go long night me no like go long sun	No got Arright	No Yes
Go ahead and see if you can see anything suspicious	One pella boy e go first now watch	Me go	I will go
If you see anything suspicious call out	Spose you look im something no good sing our quick	Arright	I will
I want to go through the bush instead of the road	Me pella broke im bush me no like go long road	Arright Place pass too much	I will The bush is too dense
Has this river got crocodiles in it?	This pella water he got puk-puk?	I tink No got	Probably No
Are the natives in this village friendly or insolent?	Kanaka long tis pella place e aright no he big head?	Big head too much	Insolent
Do you know where there are other white men?	All-a-masta e stop where now?	All he go pinish Some pella e stop	They have all gone There are some here
Bring me to them	Arright you bring im me	Place long way too much Arright	It is too far I will
I will pay you well when you find the white men	Behind me pella come up me can pay im you good	Me like im money now Arright	I want payment now Alright
Are we coming near the village?	Place e stop close to now?	Close to Long way lik lik	Near A fair distance
I am lost	Me long-long long road	You come	I will show you

Why Trek with Adventure Kokoda

Our primary goal is to lead you safely across the Kokoda Trail and ensure you have an unforgettable wartime historical and cultural experience.

Charlie has led 101 expeditions across the Kokoda Trail over the past 32 years.

He previously served in the Australian Army for 21 years. During this time he saw active service in Vietnam; was assigned to the joint Australian, New Zealand and British (ANZUK) Force in Singapore/ Malaysia from 1970-72, and as an exchange instructor in Airborne Logistics with the United States Army from 1977-78. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College.

Why choose Adventure Kokoda?