Just passing the time - ol lain i gat tok i stap

[John Burton]

Pidgineers

I have embarked on the risky business of translating my social impact
statement, which is very long and in English, into Tok Pisin so that
landowners will have one less complaint to make about it (on the other hand,
enabling them to read it may may them complain a lot more).

This leads into the tricky business of turning probabilistic statements into
a language not all that well equipped to handle shades of uncertainty. Here
are some efforts:
"...is rated as having a possible, but low vulnerability to legal challenge
..."
" ... i no givim spes tumas long arapela man i ken traim wokim nupela kot
..."

"This document examines ... the likely socio-economic effects it will have
in the immediate impact area."

(Not translated directly, but...)

"Arapela tok em i long kaikai bilong projekt na long kikbek bilongen"

"Stakeholder" = " ... i makim ol lain i gat tok i stap long sait bilong
projekt."

Just thought you'd be interested. (I'll get back onto the dictionary when I
get home next week.)

John Burton