Fo Teach Pidgin o Not Fo Teach Pidgin — Das Da Question

[ellisonz]

By Alia Wong 03/07/2013

“Dear Teacha,” the letter reads. “Wedda yo one native Pidgin speaka or one curious teacha of Pidgin speakaz, dis teacha’z guide, da website an all da adda stuff dat goes with it was put tugedda fo you.”

So begins the preface to a packet of Pidgin education materials put together by a linguistics professor and other University of Hawaii at Manoa faculty. The materials — Pidgin grammar quizzes, critical reading exercises and the like — are meant to be used by Hawaii teachers who want to teach the language in their middle and high school classrooms.

The fact that the resource even exists reflects the growing notion that Pidgin is a distinct and valid language that Hawaii schools should welcome. The packet outlines how the materials, which were published in 2010, can help teachers meet state Department of Education standards.

“As you look over dese resources, I like fo yo to tink about Pidgin as one elegant language,” the letter, written by a UH College of Education professor, continues. “Not in da high maka-maka kind sense, but in da scientific or mathematical sense. Da economy of words. Da efficiency in expression.”

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/03/07/18498-fo-teach-pidgin-o-not-fo-teach-pidgin-das-da-question/

[DollarBillHines]

1. Well, as long as they stay on the Islands

Won't work too well on the Mainland.

Kinda like the Cajuns. You can talk all that patois all you want at home, but it won't go down well in Dallas.

I spent some jail time in Hawaii with a bunch of crazy guys who spoke dat shit. By the time I got out, I had become completely conversant. And they had adopted my "y'all".

[ellisonz]

5. I can't imagine how horrid that must have been.

Like, eh! pass me da poi, y'all.

Why were you in jail in Hawaii?

[salimbag]

2. try watch da video

wen you stay in da kine, you talk da kine. just like any creole language, it's all about location. here in hawaii, pidgin is a comfort language, and immediately identifies you as one of "us". we can adjust to standard english when needed, but a joke in pidgin is totol krak up. aloha nui loa

[ellisonz]

4. Welcome to DU!

Aloha.

[salimbag]

6. mahalo

i guess the real topic of this is the question of teaching pidgin. maybe for linguistic academics, but regular folks would have much more fun just learning from the locals. i've been reading on du for quite awhile, but figured my 2 cents would fit best in the hawaii group. FBI (from big island), but i lived on oahu a couple times. hilo no ka oi !!! aloha nui loa

[libodem]

3. I tried to read some Uncle Remus

To the grandkids the other day. Could not pronounce most of the words or understand what they meant. I loved it as a kid.

[mahina]

7. Pidgin is going nowhere, but teaching it in school is ridiculous.

I grew up with it, so did my dad and uncles, and it's the best for certain situations.

There's no better way to say some things, and humor breaks through so many barriers.

But my son had to sit through a semester of English 100 at UH taught by a malihini who taught it in pidgin, writing and all.

No joke.

He got an F.

An F in English 100, for a kid who grew up reading like a fiend and is a really good writer, because he couldn't write in pidgin. Did he complain to the admin? No he did not, because he is a good local boy.

Teaching pidgin in school is bull. shit.