tok pisin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal or academic when referring to linguistics or geography.
Quick answer
What does “tok pisin” mean?
An English-based creole language spoken primarily in Papua New Guinea.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An English-based creole language spoken primarily in Papua New Guinea.
It evolved from a pidgin language and is now one of the official languages of Papua New Guinea, used in government, media, and daily communication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Neutral reference to the language in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, primarily used in contexts related to linguistics or Papua New Guinea.
Grammar
How to Use “tok pisin” in a Sentence
[Proper noun] refers to the language spoken in Papua New Guinea.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tok pisin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- In English, one does not 'tok pisin' as a verb; instead, say 'speak Tok Pisin'.
American English
- You cannot 'tok pisin' in American English; use 'use Tok Pisin' or 'speak Tok Pisin'.
adverb
British English
- Tok Pisin does not function as an adverb; instead, use phrases like 'in Tok Pisin'.
American English
- No adverb form exists; for instance, 'communicate in Tok Pisin' is correct.
adjective
British English
- There is no adjective form; for example, 'Tok Pisin vocabulary' uses it as a noun modifier.
American English
- Tok Pisin is not used as an adjective; phrases like 'Tok Pisin grammar' treat it as a noun.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in trade or business contexts involving Papua New Guinea.
Academic
Common in linguistic studies, anthropology, and Pacific research.
Everyday
Very rare; used only by those familiar with Papua New Guinea or linguistics.
Technical
Used in linguistic terminology to describe creole languages.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tok pisin”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tok pisin”
- Misspelling as 'Tok Pidian' or 'Talk Pisin'.
- Confusing it with Tokelauan or other Pacific languages.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Tok Pisin means 'talk pidgin' and refers to the pidgin language that evolved into a creole.
Primarily in Papua New Guinea, where it is one of the official languages.
No, Tok Pisin is a distinct language with its own grammar and vocabulary, though it is based on English.
Approximately 4 million people speak Tok Pisin, mainly in Papua New Guinea.
An English-based creole language spoken primarily in Papua New Guinea.
Tok pisin is usually formal or academic when referring to linguistics or geography. in register.
Tok pisin: in British English it is pronounced /tɒk ˈpɪsɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /tɑk ˈpɪsɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'talk' and 'pidgin' combined to form Tok Pisin, a language for talking in pidgin.
Conceptual Metaphor
Language as a bridge for communication in diverse communities.
Practice
Quiz
What is Tok Pisin?