Research Article
Lexical Choice and Syntactic Structure of Solomon Islands Pijin
Shuhang Tang*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
212-218
Received:
7 October 2025
Accepted:
19 October 2025
Published:
7 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijll.20251306.11
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Abstract: Solomon Islands is not an English-speaking country but a Pijin-speaking one. The Pijin spoken in this country belongs to Melanesia Pijin circle within which there are the other Pijins spoken in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. By means of literature reading and qualitative study, Solomon Islands Pijin (SIP) turns out to be from the colonial historical culture, cross-linguistic contact environment, necessary demand for temporary communication and cognitive economy principle. Based on British English, SIP demonstrates a common effort of a smooth communicative demand and diverse dialects. Generally, lexical choice and syntactic structure conform to the basic rules of British English to be more concise, fragmented and straightforward, which is easy to memorize, understand and use. Specifically, the lexicon is primarily made certain transformation on the basis of the phonetics, morphology, and semantics of English lexicon, together with suffixation and special function words. The syntax is mostly based on the local dialects in the aspects of the word order, double subject, specific degree modifier, infinitive structure, “moa” and “nomoa”, and replacement of the original modal verbs. With the development of SIP, the different written forms are employed to convey the message more concisely and effectively. SIP is a lingua franca rooted in local social and historical culture that Solomon Islanders live by being a symbol of language identity for Solomon Islands.
Abstract: Solomon Islands is not an English-speaking country but a Pijin-speaking one. The Pijin spoken in this country belongs to Melanesia Pijin circle within which there are the other Pijins spoken in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. By means of literature reading and qualitative study, Solomon Islands Pijin (SIP) turns out to be from the colonial historical...
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Research Article
Associative -a as a Productive Affix in Names Formation in Runyambo
Lea Mpobela*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
219-227
Received:
3 October 2025
Accepted:
22 October 2025
Published:
28 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijll.20251306.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: This paper presents the names formed through associative -a in Runyambo. The formation of nouns in Bantu languages employ several strategies including the use of associative -a which differ in productivity in different languages. The paper looks at this process as a productive one especially in forming personal and place names in Runyambo. The paper is descriptive in nature with qualitative data presented through listing and morphological parsing. The names were collected from five native speakers; What’s app groups where lists of names (especially of people) are listed during different contributions; extraction from written materials and through elicitation techniques in the natural environment where the language is spoken. It was found that associative -a is very productive in the formation of names in Runyambo. It is used to associate an entity being named with the environment and its meaning. Being a dependent morpheme, it attaches to noun class agreement affixes to agree with the nouns it associates. In names, the associative -a ‘of’ occurs as a prefix as in class 9/10 nya- in a personal name Nyangoma ‘of drum’. The other forms include ka- class 12, cha- class 7, bhya- class 8, rwa- class 11, etc. Among which when used in personal names nya- is feminine, rwa, bhya and cha are masculine and ka is diminutive. Despite having morphological features, names in Runyanyo are meaningful and reflect the culture of the speakers.
Abstract: This paper presents the names formed through associative -a in Runyambo. The formation of nouns in Bantu languages employ several strategies including the use of associative -a which differ in productivity in different languages. The paper looks at this process as a productive one especially in forming personal and place names in Runyambo. The pape...
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