Bislama

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bislama

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the language classification?English-based creole language
2. What is the geographic distribution?Primarily spoken in Vanuatu, with significant use in Port Vila and Luganville
3. What is Bislama and where does it come from?Bislama is a language from Vanuatu that mixes English words with island grammar. It grew from traders, missionaries, and local Melanesian people meeting and talking together.
4. Why is Bislama the national language of Vanuatu?It unites people across the islands and is used in everyday conversation. It is also the language of the national anthem, showing its importance.

Creole Language: A language that develops from a pidgin and becomes the native language of a community.
Lexicon: The vocabulary of a language.
Morphosyntax: The study of the relationship between morphology (word formation) and syntax (sentence structure).
Lingua Franca: A language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different.