Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookpossum
The "blackbirding"? Abduction of people from the islands to be slave labour in the sugar cane fields?
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You have it, Bookpossum. Yes, that dark event encouraged the development of Bislama, Tok Pisin, and other pidgin languages when people from different areas were pushed together and had a need for a mutually understandable language in an unfamiliar place.
A little on blackbirding:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbirding
I've more or less given the answer to Question 3 already, but to keep things proper: Tok Pisin is from Papua New Guinea, Bislama from Vanuatu.
I declare Bookpossum, Kumabjorn and Stitchawl to be jointly nambawan (say it aloud and the meaning in Bislama should be clear), so whichever of you would like to pose the next question, please go ahead.
Thanks for playing, everyone!