[Mihalic] Malo

[Ross Clark (ARTS DALSL)]

"malo/maro" is one of the more common Polynesian words that turn up in
19th century narratives of travel and exploration. I could probably
round up a large collection of examples if necessary.
Although the original consonant is reconstructed as *l, it has an "r" in
languages like Tahitian, so both forms occur. I'd say "yes" to question
(3), probably coming into TP from Tolai and/or Samoan, and earlier into
Pacific pidgin from Tahitian and/or Hawaiian.
 
Ross Clark

	-----Original Message-----
	From: mihalic-bounces at anu.edu.au
[mailto:mihalic-bounces at anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of John Burton
	Sent: Friday, 25 February 2005 12:31 p.m.
	To: Mihalic at anu.edu.au
	Cc: apawley at coombs.anu.edu.au; Malcolm.Ross at anu.edu.au
	Subject: [Mihalic] Malo
	
	
	Browsing the Shipping Gazette, as one does, I picked up the
following usage of 'maro' which we see in Tok Pisin as 'malo' (also
'mal' which was Mhialic's entry with the attribution 'Gaz.', and I
presume 'maro' in some places).
	

		Four of the women came alongside, and if they were a
sample, they may be considered rather good looking, having a very fine
expression, black eyes shaded by a beautiful long dark lash, features
regular, figure good, rather inclined to be stout, they appeared
naturally graceful and sage in their manner; their dress consisted of a
piece of native cloth round the waist; the men wore the maro - the usual
dress among nearly all the Polynesian Islands, it is made of several
tiers of dried grass, about eighteen inches long, strung together, and
fastened round their waist. 

		T. Beckford Simpson, Nautical Surveys - Pleasant Island,
Shipping Gazette and General Sydney Trade List, Vol 1 (12) 8 June 1844,
p.85 [Simpson's visit to Nauru of 1 February 1843] 

	
	The questions I have are: (1) is 'maro' or 'malo' also known in
Pijin or Bislama? (2) is there other evidence to attribute it to Pacific
Pidgin English as it may have been in 1843? (3) is the word so common in
Austronesian languages that the balance of probability is that it
entered Tok Pisin locally and independently?
	 
	John Burton
	 
	
	Dr John Burton
	Research Fellow
	Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program
	Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
	Australian National University
	ACT 0200 Australia
	 
	john.burton at anu.edu.au
	 
	

	 

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