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Featured Dialects & Variations Entry

Pidgin is the most important lingua franca (common language) of Papua New Guinea. It is used as a second language by more than a million people. Pidgin is an independent language. About 65 to 70 percent of the words in Pidgin are derived from English. Another 25 to 30 percent of the words come from local languages, of which Tolai is the most important. About 5 percent of the words come from German. There are a few words from Malay and Portuguese. But many words have been modified or have… More »

THE DIALECTS & VARIATIONS LIBRARY

Dialect

Dialect is a variation of a language used by a particular group of speakers. All spoken languages... More >>

Idiom

Idiom, IHD ee uhm, is a phrase or expression whose total meaning differs from the meaning of the... More >>

Pidgin

Pidgin is the most important lingua franca (common language) of Papua New Guinea. It is used as a... More >>

Pidgin English

Pidgin, PIHJ uhn, English is one of several bridge or minimum dialects, based on English, used in... More >>

Rhyming slang

Rhyming slang is a form of code language commonly associated with cockneys in England. In most... More >>

Slang

Slang is the use of informal, nonstandard words and phrases in new or unusual ways. Slang exists... More >>

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