via Papua New Guinea
This country and its education system has been without dictionaries for many years. The only dictionary of Melanesian Pidgin to English and English to Melanesian Pidgin has been out of print since the 1970's. The Jacaranda Dictionary and Grammar of Melanesian Pidgin by F. Mihalic S.V.D. is often available over the Internet (try Amazon). The dictionary is a vital tool in the education process of training people to speak, read and write the Melanesian Pidgin language.
The PNG Gossip Newsletter also has a list of Tok Pisin to English words at the start of every edition. Here is a sample
Tok Pisin English hangre hungry hangre long dring thirsty hani honey kaikai food kaikai long moning breakfast kaikaim bite / eat jem jam karet carrot kari curry kastet custard kek cake kiau egg kindam crayfish kokonas coconut aisblok iceblock aiskrim ice-cream bret bread draibisket cracker
Thanks to the PNG Gossip Newsletter for permission to use their material.
Created 19 Jan 2005
Updated 10 Feb 2014