| Kiautschou Pidgin German | |
| Region: | Kiautschou Bay Leased Territory |
| Speakers: | none |
| Familycolor: | Pidgin |
| Family: | German-based pidgin |
| Era: | Early 20th century |
| Iso3: | none |
| Glotto: | kiau1234 |
| Glottoname: | Kiautschou Pidgin German |
The Kiautschou German pidgin is a minor extinct pidgin spoken by German-educated Chinese in the Kiautschou Bay concession.
There are records of some sort of a German pidgin developing since 1898.[1] However, despite the high number of Germans within the concession, due to trade reasons, many preferred to use English instead. Thus, vigorous promotion of education of the German language commenced, and a slow transition from English to German began in the concession.
The German pidgin never fully developed on its own, instead branching off of the pre-existing English pidgin. Though not extensively recorded, it can be inferred many different local variations exist.
The following are samples of the pidgin:
| Kiautschou German pidgin | German | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creoles and pidgins: Ik sabe deutsch, Gobenol at gebene pamischu open Otel, kommen Sie, luksi, no hebe pisi man, no habe dima, bei an bei.[2] | German: Ich kann Deutsch, der Gouverneur hat mir Erlaubnis gegeben, ein Hotel zu eröffnen, kommen Sie, besehen Sie es; Ich habe noch keinen Gast, weil ich keine Zimmer habe, aber nach und nach. | I can speak German, the governor gave me permission to open a hotel, come see it; I have not yet a guest because I don't have rooms, but little by little. | |
| Creoles and pidgins: Deutschland master in schipp make make bumm bam fisst. | German: Die deutschen Meister (in ihren) Schiffe machen viel Lärm. | The German masters (in their) ships make a lot of noise. | |
| Creoles and pidgins: Esselenzy nich wollen nehl Schampin, chinaboi gehen flotti. | German: Exzellenz wollen keinen Champagner mehr, der chinesische Diener wird fortgehen. | Your Excellency doesn't want any more champagne, (thus) the Chinese servant will go away. | |
| Creoles and pidgins: Bei gestern abend schamte ich auf der Strasse gegenueber ihre Veranda nach Sie zu schauen da viele Leute mehr fuerchte ich sie mich verspoten. | German: Letzte Nacht habe ich mich geschämt, von der Straße gegenüber Ihrer Veranda nach Ihnen zu sehen, es waren viele Leute da und ich hatte Angst, sie würden mich verspotten. | Last night I was ashamed to watch you from the street opposite your veranda, there were many people and I was afraid they would ridicule me.[3] |