PIDGIN ENGLISH.
“Pidgin-English” is a singular form of speech which the Chinese language assumes when the natives are first attempting to use English. Pidgin means business. You are made by it to think of the dialect which we fall into in talking to infants. If any one can explain why infants are supposed to understand us better when we make our words terminate in ee or y, he may proceed and explain the natural philosophy of Pidgin-English. In talking to a Chinaman you find yourself, as it were, addressing an infantile capacity, imitating his own Pidgin way of speaking, even in talking to an adult. I will give one or two specimens of pidgin-English, which I found in print. The first is Norval’s Narrative, taken, as the reader hardly needs to be informed, from the Rev. Dr. Home’s tragedy of “Douglass.”
NORVAL’S NARRATIVE.
My name is Norval. On the Grampian hills
My father feeds his flock, a frugal swain,
Whose constant cares were to increase his store
And keep his only son, myself, at home.
For I had heard of battles, and I longed
To follow to the field some warlike lord.
And Heaven soon granted what my sire denied.
This moon which rose last night, round as my shield,
Had not yet filled her horns, when by her light
A band of fierce barbarians from the hills
Rushed like a torrent down upon the vale
Sweeping our flocks and herds. The shepherds fled
For safety and for succor. I alone
With bended bow and quiver full of arrows
Hovered about the enemy, and marked
The road he took, then hasted to my friends,
Whom, with a troop of fifty chosen men,
I met advancing. The pursuit I led
Till we o’ertook the spoil-encumbered foe.
We fought and conquered. Ere a sword was drawn,
An arrow from my bow had pierced their chief,
Who wore that day the arms which now I wear.
Returning home in triumph, I disdained
The shepherd’s slothful life; and having heard
That our good king had summoned his bold peers
To lead their warriors to the Carron side,
I left my father’s house, and took with me
A chosen servant to conduct my steps,
Yon trembling coward, who forsook his master.
Journeying with this intent, I passed these towers,
And, Heaven-directed, came this day to do
The happy deed that gilds my humble name.
PIDGIN-ENGLISH OF NORVAL’S NARRATIVE.
My name belong[8] Norval. Topside that Grampian hillee
My father makee pay[9] chow chow[10] he sheep.
He smallee heartee man; too muchee take care that dolla, gallo.
So fashion he wanchee keep my;[11] counta one piecie chilo,[12] stop he own side.
My no wanchee. Wanchee go long that largee mandoli.[13]
Little teem,[14] Joss pay my what thing my father no likee pay.[15]
That moon last nightee get up loune, alla same my hat;
No go up full, no got square; that plenty piecie man,[16]
That lobbel man[17] too muchee qui-si,[18] alla same that tiger,
Chop chop come down that hillee, catchee that sheep long that cow,
That man custom take care, too muchee quick lun way.
My one piecie owne spie eye,[19] see that ladlone man what side he walkee.
Hi-yah! No good chancie findee he catchee my flen.[20]
Too piecie loon choon lun catchee that lobbel man;[21] he
No can walkee welly quick; he pocket too much full up.
So fashion knockee he largee.[22] He head man no got shottee far[23]
My knockee he head. Hi-yah! My number one stlong[24] man.
Catchee he jacket, long he trousa, galo.[25] You like look see?
My go puttee on just now. My go home, largie heart just now.
My no likee take care that sheep. So fashion my hear you go fightee this side,[26]
My takee one servant, come you country, come helpie you,
He heart all same cow; too muchee fear; lun away;
Masquie![27] Joss take care pay my come your house.[28]
* * * * *
The following is a better specimen, there being fewer liberties in the rendering:—
EXCELSIOR.
The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!
His brow was sad; his eye beneath
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath;
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue.
Excelsior!
In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a groan,
Excelsior!
“Try not the pass!” the old man said;
“Dark lowers the tempest overhead;
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!”
And loud that clarion voice replied,
Excelsior!
“Oh, stay!” the maiden said, “and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!”
A tear stood in his bright blue eye;
But still he answered, with a sigh,
Excelsior!
“Beware the pine-tree’s withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!”
This was the peasant’s last Good-night;
A voice replied, far up the height,
Excelsior!
At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
A voice cried through the startled air,
Excelsior!
A traveller, by the faithful hound,
Half buried in the snow was found,
Still grasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!
There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay;
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell like a falling star,
Excelsior!
TOPSIDE GALAH.
That nightee teem[29] he come chop chop,[30]
One young man walkee, no can stop.
Colo masquie,[31] icee masquie,
He got flag chop b’long welly culio see[32]
Topside Galah.
Hee too muchee solly;[33] one piecie[34] eye
Lookee sharp so fashion, alla same mi;[35]
He talkee largee, talkee stlong,[36]
Too muchee culio,[37] alla same gong.
Topside Galah.
Inside any housee he can see light;
Any piecie loom[38] got fire all light?
He look see plenty ice more high,
Inside he mouf he plenty cly;[39]
Topside Galah.
“No can walkee!” ole man speakee he;[40]
“Bimeby lain[41] come; no can see;
Hab got water, welly wide!”
Masquie! mi[42] must go topside;
Topside Galah.
“Man-man!”[43] one galo[44] talkee he;
“What for you go topside? look see.”
“Nother teem,” he makee plenty cly.[45]
Masquie; alla teem he walkee plenty high.[46]
Topside Galah.
“Take care that spilum tlee,[47] young man!
Take care that icee!” he no man man;[48]
That coolie chin chin[49] he good night;
He talkee, “Mi can go all light.”
Topside Galah.
Joss pidgin[50] man chop chop begin,[51]
Morning teem that Joss chin chin;[52]
No see any man; he plenty fear,
Cause some man talkee,[53] he can hear.
Topside Galah.
Young man makee die;[54] one largee dog see;
Too muchee bobbery findee he,[55]
Hand too muchee colo;[56] inside can stop,
Alla same piecee flag, got culio chop,[57,][58]
Topside Galah.