Chinese Pidgin English

CPI

threatened

Alternate Names: Melanesian-Chinese Mixed Pidgin English

Genealogy:

Pidgin
English based
Pacific

Demographics: Several thousand speakers, spoken by most in Nauru (Wurm 2007).

Language Use: Beginning to be superseded by English [eng]. Commercial use, mainly in Chinese-run trade stores and restaurants.

Nation of Origin: Nauru

Other Comments: Mixture of Melanesian and a Chinese type of pidgin English. In spite of low social status, it remains a viable everyday language in Nauru.