Kwery about "Kwila"

[Mesulam Aisoli]

"Kwila" is used widely in Tokpisin now, but I guess its root originated in
New Ireland where many of our languages appear to have the same root, north
western region of New Ireland "kwila" is pronounced exactly the same as
written, and south eastern New Ireland region of the province spelt "keula"
with perhaps "x" for "xeula" while on Lihir it is known as "Kiel"

mesu

> ----------
> From: 	Ross Clark (FOA DALSL)[SMTP:r.clark at auckland.ac.nz]
> Sent: 	Wednesday, 3 April 2002 4:26pm
> To: 	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: 	Kwery about "Kwila"
> 
> "Kwila" for the tree Intsia bijuga is attested in Tok Pisin as early as
> Murphy (1949, 3d edition, which is all I have). It is apparently from
> Tolai
> (Malcolm Ross). In recent years (since the 80s?) it has become the trade
> name for the timber of this species, at least in Australia & NZ. (My
> interest was sparked by driving to work every day past a timber yard
> advertising "kwila" for sale.) This looks like an emergent TP loanword in
> English. The earliest use in print in English that I have found dates from
> 1987. I'm guessing that the use of this word in English began with the
> development of an export trade in this timber from PNG. Can anybody fill
> in
> any dates and details of this?
> 
> Ross Clark
>