[Mihalic] se

[C.A.Volker]

Re the online query under se: Se is characteristic of speakers from only
some areas: for example, New Ireland. It a reported speech marker. More
details on who uses it?

In New Ireland it is used where people on the Mainland would use “olsem”
as a conjunction (Mi ting se… / Em i tok se…). “Olsem” is used
adverbally in New Ireland (Mi tu mi ting olsem / Yu no ken tok olsem).

I was once in a meeting of people from different areas working on an English
to Tok Pisin translation when the issue of se / olsem came up. The
compromise that was made was to use “olsem” for indirect quotations (Em i
tok olsem em laik senisim dispela lo), but “se” for direct quotes (Em bin
tok se, “Mi laik senisim lo”), but of course, that is not a distinction
that I think anyone actually makes in real speech.

Craig Volker
--------------------------------------------
Dr. C A Volker
Professor of Languages
Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University
岐阜聖徳学園大学外国語学部
教授クレイグ・フォルカー
Tel.: (JAPAN +81) (0)90-3565-3003
volker at nalik.org
www.volker.ro
Skype:gifuken