Bislama - The Pidgin English Language of Vanuatu

Languages in Vanuatu

Local languages:  

•    Actively spoken languages: 81

•    Declining languages: 17

•    31……………… languages: 8

•    Total: 106

Foreign languages:    

•    English is used in the 32……………… system

Bislama

•    It is spoken by 90% of the population today.

•    In the past this language was described as 33………………

History of Bislama

•    Around 1800 it was used as a common language on many ships.

•    After 1860 Vanuatu people worked in Australian 34………………

•    After 1950 people moved to the 35………………

Description of Bislama

General

•    Bislama should be called a 36………………' pidgin.

Vocabulary

•    Most words come from English.

•    Words such as "from" may have more 37……………… in Bislama.

•    Less than 10% of words are of 38……………… origin.

•    Pacific words describe the natural world and also local 39……………… 

Grammar

•    It is based on Vanuatu languages.

•    The word "long" acts as an important 40……………… in Bislama.