Bislama (Vanuatu Pidgin) Bislama is a form of Melanesian Pidgin,
with a vocabulary based on simplified English but a Melanesian
sound and grammar. It originally evolved on plantations where
Melanesian labourers from different areas with no common
language were brought into contact with one another. Bislama is
the national language of Vanuatu, and is related to the pidgin
langauges spoken in Papua New Guniea (Tok Pisin) and the
neighbouring Solomon Islands. Bislama is spoken alongside native
langauges by the majority of rural ni-Vanuatu, and is often the
first language of young people in towns. Virtually all adult men
in Vanuatu are fluent in the language, as are many women and
children. I recommend that anyone who is thinking of learning
Bislama - which should be anyone who is planning to spend time
in Vanuatu - invests in a copy of Bislama: An introduction to
the national language of Vanuatu by Darrell Tryon. A short guide
to speaking Bislama is available on this web site to get you
started. For a thorough d