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How has Pidgin impacted the history and culture of Hawaii?

Carleen Pratt

Pidgin, a creole language spoken in Hawaii, has greatly impacted the history and culture of the state. Pidgin emerged as a language of communication between sugar cane plantation laborers from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, and Native Hawaiian, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The pervasive use of Pidgin in Hawaii's plantation society positioned it as a language of the working class, which still holds true. Although it was originally frowned upon by people in power and associated with poor education, Pidgin gradually gained acceptance and is now widely understood and spoken by locals.

The use of Pidgin in Hawaii has shaped cultural practices, such as music and literature. Many popular Hawaiian songs and stories are written in or rely heavily on Pidgin, creating a unique blend of the Hawaiian language and Pidgin. Hawaii’s unique cultural identity has been greatly enriched by the use of Pidgin. Moreover, Pidgin has facilitated communication between ethnic groups and contributed to intercultural dialogues. It enables people from different backgrounds to communicate and gain a deeper understanding of each other's culture.

In education, Pidgin has been used as a medium of instruction in programs aimed at teaching children to read and write in English. This has been successful as children who have grown up speaking Pidgin as their first language performed better academically when Pidgin was used during the early stages of their academic journey.

In conclusion, the use of Pidgin in Hawaii has had far-reaching impacts on the state's history and culture. It has shaped the cultural landscape of Hawaii and created a unique blend of language, music, and literature. Pidgin enables communication between diverse ethnic groups and has contributed to community building and cultural understanding. Its use in education has also had a positive impact on students' academic performance. Hence, Pidgin is a significant and valuable linguistic asset to the state of Hawaii.