Mi toktok Bislama

In Vanuatu, most people speak to us in either English or Pidgin. Vanuatu has 105 local languages, as well as English, French, and Bislama. Bislama is a form of Pidgin language which enables people from different areas of the country with different dialects to converse with each other. On the surface, it seems to be a fairly simple language that even Jordan and I can understand, well, at least when reading some signs.

Do you know what the following signs are saying?

Staff room

Sign held up at the Microfinance Tradefair

Sign in a tourist area

To ask What's your name? in Pidgin, you would say Wanem nem blong yu? The response My name is Judy would be Nem blong mi Judy (i.e. The name that belongs to me is Judy). And of course, don't forget Mi wantem bia (I want beer).

It's nice to be able to converse in foreign countries!