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English in the Solomon Islands
Author(s) -
WATSONGEGEO KAREN ANN
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
world englishes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.6
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-971X
pISSN - 0883-2919
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-971x.1987.tb00174.x
Subject(s) - independence (probability theory) , whaling , national language , history , colonization , national history , ethnology , political science , geography , linguistics , archaeology , law , statistics , philosophy , mathematics , politics
The national language of most Pacific island nations today, English has a long history of development and use in the Pacific, from whaling and trading days to missionization, colonization, plantation labor, and then national independence. This paper traces the history of English and the development of English‐based Pijin in the Solomon Islands, whose language use history is similar to other Melanesian nations. The current role of English and Pijin in the Solomons and their mutual influences are then discussed.