Talking Story about Pidgin
Exploring the creole language of Hawai‘i
Talk Story about Pidgin
Check out Hawai‘i kine Pidgin
E, Howzit?
Welcome

This website was produced to encourage people to learn more about Pidgin, a language that is spoken by at least half a million people. Though many people living in Hawai‘i hear, see, and use Pidgin on a daily basis, there are many myths about this language. The most common misconception is that Pidgin is a form of English, and that it is ‘broken English.’ Historical records and scholarly research proves that Pidgin is actually a creole language and has much in common with many other similar creole languages around the world.

This site provides educators with ideas for teaching about Pidgin and using Pidgin as a resource for learning about history, multiculturalism, the law, and social change in Hawai‘i. The site also acts as a central place where ideas about Pidgin can be exchanged.

You can learn more about the history of Pidgin in Pidgin: The Voice of Hawai‘i, a documentary film produced in 2009 and directed by Marlene Booth. You can listen to examples of Pidgin in everyday life in a film titled Ha Kam Wi Tawk Pidgin Yet?, a short documentary film produced by Searider Productions. Both films are appropriate for high school and college level classes and offer rich points for discussion in the realms of literature, history, social identity, civil rights, multiculturalism, and multilingualism.

We wen make dis website fo get people excited fo learn mo about Pidgin, wan language daet get at leas’ half one million people can talk. Even though plenny people in Hawaii hea, see, an speak om everyday, get plenny myths about Pidgin. Da ting mos people get wrong iz dey tink Pidgin English, oa dey tink Pidgin ‘broken English.’ History book an research wen show dat Pidign really one creole language an get plenny stuffs same like odda kine creole language all ova da world.
Dis site fo give teachaz idea fo how teach about Pidgin an’ use Pidgin for learn about history, multi-culturalism, da law an’ socio change in Hawaii. Da site also act like one central place wea we can trade idea about Pidgin.
You can learn moa Pidgin history you watch Pidgin: The voice of Hawai‘i, one documentary Marlene Booth wen make. You can lissen some Pidgin y ou watch Ha Kam Wi Tawk Pidgin Yet?, one short documentary dat Searider Productions wen make. Both film okay fo high school or college kine class an get plenny for discuss about literature, history, socio identity, civil right, multiculturalism an multilingualism.