A defining moment in my life when I felt the power of language would have to be when I was nine years young. It was my first time moving to the mainland. I was so worried about starting my new school because I had attended the same school since preschool and I would have to start making new friends and trying to fit in all over again. What I failed to realize was that they would speak so differently. In Hawaii, I could never really be considered a "local island girl" because I didn't speak the way the locals do, but I did say a lot of the same things just without the accent. It's called pigeon english. My sister and I had the same problem when we came to the mainland. The first time she realized it was on a family vacation to Disneyland. She was eating at one of the many money-killer restaurants and was enjoying her meal, but like a normal little kid, she was very easily distracted. One of the waiters figured that maybe she had finished and walked over to pick up her plate. My sister was angry because she hadn't finished her Mickey Mouse cookie so she turned to the waiter and said, "I'm not pau!". The waiter kind of regarded what she said and nodded his head, but continued to take her plate. She grabbed it again and said, " No, I'm not pau yet." She was getting so frustrated because this man was not understanding her. My grandma finally saw the problem and stepped in, letting the man know that she was not done yet. This is when my sister finally understood.
I started understanding on my first day of school. I went around and made some friends, but I noticed that they all looked at me funny when I would use the word Pau for done or when I'd tell them to "try come" or when I'd try to tell them that they had a Pooka (hole) in their shirt. I had a few friends come up to me and ask what race I was and where I came from, so I told them that I was hapa haole and that I came from Oahu. They looked at me like I was crazy! That first day was rough and I couldn't understand why everyone thought the way I talked was funny. I went home upset and told my mom everything. She sat me down and explained that those words I had been so adapted to all of my life weren't even English! I was so surprised. I had been speaking different languages without even realizing it. Hawaii is filled with so many different races that the language they speak there has adapted to each one. Pigeon English is a mixture of broken English, Japanese, Philipino, Hawaiian, and some other languages. Even though I have to admit, I'm pretty darn "white-washed", as most would say, since I've lived here for a while I have a hard time breaking the habit of saying certain things that I've grown up around.
That is very interesting. it’s good to know that you are adapting to the improper English that is spoken in America. :) I know I had a very similar problem growing up, mainly when I was younger in like elementary school. I had learned how to speak Spanish before English so when I was learning English I would blend my words and languages together. So when I started going to school I had to learn to not speak "Spanglish" but English. I know that one main issue was with my family because when you are a young child parents tend to not correct you, even though it would help, when we say something wrong or as I did speak in two languages at once. But it just takes time to realize that there is room for both languages you just need to know when to use them. I’m still learning that one. There are times when I do it without thinking more with my family than anything else. And then with my family they at times speak the same way I do so it in a way encourages this problem. But in the end your language is who you are and that is more important than fitting in.
ReplyDeleteI can not even imagine how difficult it must have been for you to come to a new place without knowing anyone. I usually get worried enough in a college class trying to find someone that I could be friends with to work on assignments together, let alone coming to a new school at nine years old. I am a very social person and I have always gotten in trouble since I was young for talking but that’s because I had the same friends since first grade. It is so funny to realize words you have grown up with and think they are perfectly normal and everyone should know them. Then once you say them those people look at you with this your crazy and confusing look. I just ran into this problem the other day with my best friend. My aunt use to make me hot tea with milk in it when I was young so I would not cry over not being able to have soda with my older cousins. She called the tea “Mormon Tea” and she told me that it was a special kind of tea. Well I figured out it wasn’t special it was just a way to get me to shut up about the soda. LOL. Even though this wasn’t a real name for the tea I have always called it that and when my friend said her throat hurt I told her to make “Mormon Tea” and she looked at me like I was crazy. I really enjoyed your blog and learning those few words that you grew up with.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. I did not realize that there would be such a difference between the commonly used language in Hawaii than in the rest of the states. I actually have a family friend who was born and raised in Hawaii. She moved to California after she was married. With their two boys I have noticed a few words that they have used that are not used my all other other Americans. I think with this family their Japanese heritage also plays a large part in what words they commonly use.
ReplyDeleteVery good example. Look forward to reading more from you.
Thank you guys! I really appreciate the comments.
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