Amusing Language Names

[Richard W]

The term "Pigeon English" is a source of amusement. I do wonder if 'pigeon' as in "It's not my pigeon" comes from the Chinese-English pidgin.

I searched it on google and I only get this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_English

For which the headnote says, "For the language topic, see Pidgin English".

[Travis B.]

It should be noted that Mongolic does not have the racialist/degrading connotations of "Mongoloid"; all it means is belonging to the Mongolic language group or one of the peoples who speak such a language.

According to Wikipedia, the 1911 US census used the term 'Mongolic grand division' to refer to the Asian part of the Mongoloid division of humanity. One just can't rely on a consistent use of suffixes.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'racialist connotations' of 'Mongoloid' - is it just the division of humanity into involuntary groups that bothers you?

Obviously you are oblivious to the fact that terms referring to groupings of people often have histories and connotations, oftentimes negative. Shall we go back to calling black people "Negroes"? After all, it is just a division of humanity into involuntary groups.

[Vijay]

Yeah, "Mongoloid" is a pretty offensive term, and I don't think it's considered useful in prehistory, anthropology, or medicine these days, although it probably used to be.

[Travis B.]

Yeah, "Mongoloid" is a pretty offensive term, and I don't think it's considered useful in prehistory, anthropology, or medicine these days, although it probably used to be.

That was my second thought - I do not see the utility in lumping together all non-European, non-Middle Eastern, and non-South Asian Eurasians, Austronesians, and Amerindians together.

[Tropylium]

Ahom, Kanu Gera Ruma

[Pabappa]

The Pipil people are a tribe indigenous to western El Salvador. Their language can also be called Pipil.

[Xwtek]

The term "Pigeon English" is a source of amusement. I do wonder if 'pigeon' as in "It's not my pigeon" comes from the Chinese-English pidgin.

I searched it on google and I only get this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_English

For which the headnote says, "For the language topic, see Pidgin English".

... and there's no word "Pigeon English" there.

[Vijay]

People sometimes spell it "Pigeon English."

[Salmoneus]

The term "Pigeon English" is a source of amusement. I do wonder if 'pigeon' as in "It's not my pigeon" comes from the Chinese-English pidgin.

AFAIR, it probably has two origins. One is the word 'pigeon', meaning 'business', borrowed from pidgin. The other is the use of pigeons as messenger birds. The fact of the latter probably reinfored and perpetuated the word, once its former origin was forgotten.

A particular focus here is the term "pigeon hole", a receptacle for letters and suchlike. Pigeon holes probaly have three origins: "pigeon" meaning "business", "pigeon" meaning metonymously news and messages, and the physical analogy that a row of pigeon holes can be imagined to look like a row of pigeon coops. All three senses probably reinforced one another, and reinforced the idea of 'my pigeon' (because each pigeon hole would be assigned to a certain person.

So "not my pigeon" could variously imply "not my (chinese pidgin) business", or "not (arrived on) my pigeon", or "not (from/in/for) my pigeon hole".

[Vijay]

I didn't even know people said "not my pigeon."

[Qwynegold]

all i can add is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_language right now.

IIRC that language belongs to the Lolo-Burmese branch.

Nope, it's from the kooky chin branch.

EDIT: Also: Pataxó Hã-Ha-Hãe.

lol

[Raholeun]

Talking about pidgins, Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin had me frowning for a bit.

[Vijay]

Japanese Bamboo English and Korean Bamboo English are pretty funny, too. Also, Cinderella sounds WAY better in Korean Bamboo English (and I suppose also Japanese Bamboo English, but I don't have that story in that particular variety, so who knows. This is just the first paragraph).

THE STORY OF CINDERELLA-SAN

Taksan years ago, skoshi Cinderella-san lived in hootchie with sisters, poor little Cinderella-san ketchee no fun, hava-no social life. Always washee-washee, scrubee-scrubee, make chop-chop. One day Cinderella-san sisters ketchee post cardo from Seoul. Post cardo speakie so: one prince-san have big blowout, taksan kimchi, taksan beeru, play 'I Ain't Got No Yo Yo.' Cindy-san sisters taksan excited, make Cinderella-san police up clothes.

[bradrn]

Talking about pidgins, Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin had me frowning for a bit.

As an Australian, this name makes perfect sense to me. But I can definitely see how non-Australians could be confused by this.

(If anyone’s confused, here’s the explanation: Broome is an important town in NW Australia, known for its pearl industry, which I believe used to employ many migrants. The pidgin developed there.)

[Raholeun]

What also did not help is the word lugger in there, but I take it the pearl oysters are hauled out of the water with nets?

[Qwynegold]

IIRC that language belongs to the Lolo-Burmese branch.

Nope, it's from the kooky chin branch.

EDIT: Also: Pataxó Hã-Ha-Hãe.

lol

Oh, speaking of languages in that area, how could we forget about Karen? It has a special verb mood that indicates that you want to speak to the listener's manager.

[Birdlang]

There are languages called
Ho -
As - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_language
Matbat - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matbat_language
Mores - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mores_language also can be called Farmores
Kis - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kis_language
Mum - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mum_language
Day - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_language
Bum - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bum_language
Oi, also known as The - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oi_language
Car - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_language
Pal - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pal_language
Dem - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dem_language
Sonia - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_language
There are tons of Austronesian, Austroasiatic, Papuan, and African languages with funny names.

[TurkeySloth]

There are languages called
Ho -
As - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_language
Matbat - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matbat_language
Mores - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mores_language also can be called Farmores
Kis - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kis_language
Mum - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mum_language
Day - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_language
Bum - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bum_language
Oi, also known as The - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oi_language
Car - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_language
Pal - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pal_language
Dem - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dem_language
Sonia - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_language
There are tons of Austronesian, Austroasiatic, Papuan, and African languages with funny names.

I ain't gonna report these for deletion. But, I'm pretty sure Wikipedia has a rule that makes the vast majority of these illegal due to lack of information. Sonia, for example, just tells you where it is/was spoken and has two associated templates. And, thus, would be better only noted on the Papuan languages page.

[Vijay]

Idc I like those stubs about Papuan languages. <3

[Xwtek]

In Indonesian, a national language can be funny:

1. Bahasa Laos
   More: show

   Laos/Galangal language
2. Bahasa Thai
   More: show

   Shit language

I also remember a Christian gospel song getting misheard (actually by me as most people in Indonesia here views religion too seriously) as:

Ajarilah kami bahasa cintaCina-Mu.

More: show

(teach us Your lovechinese language)