Early TP

[Don Niles]

We are collaborating with the Phonogramm-Archiv in Berlin regarding their
early recordings from PNG. Amongst them are found cylinders recorded by
Richard Thurnwald, 1906-9, which contain a number of songs in Tok Pisin.
While these are not the early recordings of Tok Pisin, they are the
earliest of songs in TP.

One title is as follows, apparently recorded in New Ireland:

186	"Doctor huna buy him long money"

Do anyone have any idea what "huna" means here? Is this common in TP from
this period? My colleague pointed out that "una" in Kuanua is 'you', but
I'm wondering whether there may be another interpretation appropriate here?

Peter Mühlhäusler suggested that "huna" may be a proper name, similar to
such forms as "doktal" for 'Dr Hahl'. Perhaps someone knows of a doctor in
the area at the time whose name could be transformed as "huna"?


Don Niles
Head
Institute of PNG Studies
P.O. Box 1432
Boroko 111
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

tel: [675] 325-4644
fax: [675] 325-0531
email: ipngs at global.net.pg