Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Papua New Guinea released Tamil Classic ‘Thirukkural’ in Tok Pisin.
- The release of the Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ in Tok Pisin signifies the commitment of both India and Papua New Guinea to cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Key points
- This initiative serves as a bridge, connecting the rich literary heritage of India with the people of Papua New Guinea.
- It offers an opportunity for the residents of this Pacific nation to explore and appreciate the profound wisdom and values enshrined in the Thirukkural.
- Tok Pisin is the lingua franca of the entire country of Papua New Guinea.
- It is, in fact, the most widely used language of the urban areas.
- Tok Pisin, originally a pidgin language, evolved into a Creole language.
- Pidgin languages are those that have been created when people who speak different languages need to communicate for specific reasons.
- These languages are formed during times when traders from Europe sailed to places like Africa, South America, and various islands in the Oceania.
- However, pidgins can develop anytime there is a need for communication between speakers of different languages. They are a mix of words from each language and have a simplified grammar.