Bislama

Bislama
Region	Vanuatu
Native speakers	6,000 (2001) 200,000 L2 speakers
Language family	English Creole Pacific Bislama
Writing system	Latin
Official status
Official language in	Vanuatu
Language codes
ISO 639-1	bi
ISO 639-2	bis
ISO 639-3	bis
Linguasphere	52-ABB-ce

Bislama is one of the three national languages of Vanuatu. It is a new language, made during the last two or three hundred years by mixing English with some French and some local words. The way the words are put together is like people have talked in Vanuatu for a long time -- not like English or French words are put together.

Bislama is like this:

Stoa long haos - The store next to the house.

Buk blong mi - My book.

Bambae mi wantem bia - I will want beer.

Other websites

• Bislama languages resources, dictionary, translator, translaters, online training
• Bislama spelling dictionary for Microsoft Word
• Bislama Spelling Dictionary compiled by Daryl Moon (.pdf)
• Bislama language A guide to speaking Bislama; dictionaries English-Bislama and Bislama-English
• Bislama (Vanuatu) written by Terry Crowley Background (history, attitudes and use), vocabulary, sounds, grammar