Pijin

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A language of Solomon Islands

ISO 639-3
pis
Alternate Names
Neo-Solomonic, Solomons Pidgin
Population

24,400 (1999 SIL).

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Creole, English based, Pacific
Dialects

Basic vocabulary more similar to standard English [eng] than Tok Pisin [tpi] of Papua New Guinea is. Grammar shows Melanesian features. Pronunciation varies with local languages. Historically related to Tok Pisin and Bislama [bis] of Vanuatu. Intelligibility of Bislama [bis] quite high.

Language Use

Creolization in progress. 307,000 L2 users (1999 SIL).

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pijin
Writing
Latin script.