Trivia

[John Burton]

List people

When we have more people on the list, we may want to discuss concepts &
directions etc, but I though I might kick off with some trivia while we're
waiting.
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Today being the US elections brings US matters to mind (the USA is of course
the 'Upper Sepik Area').

Michael Quinion (World Wide Words) recently discussed the US use of the word
'picaninny':

>The extreme reaction to the well-meaning
>but misguided attempt by the Oakland School Board to define
>African-American English Vernacular as a distinct language called
>Ebonics further indicates the sensitivity of language issues in the
>US, especially when they cross or affect racial boundaries.

>Such sensitivities lead to the creation of stories that help people
>define what they are - for example the firm belief among some
>African-Americans that 'picnic' derived from 'picaninny' as a term
>among slave owners for a lynching party. That story is false, but
>to those who believe it, the word is loaded, a racial insult every
>time it is used; to those who don't, it's neutral and the emotional
>response to it incomprehensible.

I sent a quick 'Hands off pikinini!' note (he said don't worry, 'pikinini'
is safe). But where does it comes from? In the monumental Wurm & Muhlhausler
eds. 'Handbook of Tok Pisin', it isn't at all clear that the supposed
Portuguese origin has any basis. Tru, o gatno? (Sorry, backwards pidgin
there).
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What other foreign places and things are there in PNG?

Perhaps someone can help with 'papa kela', a bald chicken (it has no
feathers above its neck) introduced recently from West Papua. (Yes, I know
about the other, rude meaning, but we'll leave that for now.) Who introduced
it? Did it come across on the Vanimo side or the Merauke side? Does it have
a breed name?
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Oops! Perhaps I should be writing in Tok Pisin right now. Well, nogut mi
giaman.

John Burton