Pitkern language
Pitkern, also known as Pitcairn-Norfolk or Pitcairnese, is a linguistic cant based on an 18th-century mix of English and Tahitian. It is a primary language of the Pitcairn Islands, though it has more speakers on Norfolk Island. Although spoken on Pacific Ocean islands, it has been described as an Atlantic Creole, due to the lack of connections with the English creoles of the Pacific. There are about 50 speakers on Pitcairn Island, Britain's last remaining colony in the South Pacific.
History
Following the Mutiny on the Bounty on April 28, 1789, the British mutineers stopped at Tahiti and took 18 Polynesians, mostly women, to remote Pitcairn Island and settled there.Pitkern was influenced by the diverse English dialects and accents of the crew. Geographically, the mutineers were drawn from as far as the West Indies, with one mutineer being described as speaking a forerunner of a Caribbean patois. One was a Scot from the Isle of Lewis. At least one, the leader Fletcher Christian, was a well-educated man, which at the time made a major difference in speech. Both Geordie and West Country dialects have obvious links to some Pitkern phrases and words, such as whettles, meaning food, from victuals.
Relationship to Norf'k
is descended predominantly from the Pitkern spoken by settlers on Norfolk Island originally from the Pitcairn Islands. The relative ease of travel from English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand to Norfolk Island, particularly when compared with that of travel to the Pitcairn Islands, has meant that Norf'k has been exposed to much greater contact with English relative to Pitkern. The difficulties in accessing the Pitcairn population have meant that a serious comparison of the two languages for mutual intelligibility has proven difficult.Common phrases
Pronouns included aklen 'we/us', hami 'you and I' / 'you and us', and yoli 'you '.| Pitkern | English |
| Whata way ye? | How are you? |
| About ye gwen? | Where are you going? |
| You gwen whihi up suppa? | Are you going to cook supper? |
| I nor believe. | I don't think so. |
| Ye like-a sum whettles? | Would you like some food? |
| Do' mine. | It doesn't matter. I don't mind. |
| Wa sing yourley doing? | What are you doing? What are you up to? |
| I se gwen ah big shep. | I'm going to the ship. |
| Humuch shep corl ya? | How often do ships come here? |
| Cum yorley sulluns! | Come on all you kids! |
| I se gwen ah nahweh. | I'm going swimming. |
| Lebbe! | Let it be! |
| Gude | Good! |
Note: Pitkern spelling is not standardised.