Trivia

[Thomas H. Slone]

At 5:23 PM +1100 11/8/00, John Burton wrote:
>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.
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>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).


Since pikinini is found in pidgin languages world-wide, not just in 
the Pacific, it's probably has an old origin.  Portuguese is probably 
correct (pequeno) but via the pidgin Lingua Franca used in the 
Medieval Crusades.
-- 
--
Thomas H. Slone
Carcinogenic Potency Project
University of California at Berkeley,
and E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
tom at potency.berkeley.edu