Page:Pidgin-English sing-song; or, Songs and stories in the China-English dialect (IA pidginenglishsin00lelaiala).pdf/14

 which have been modified to suit those of his own language. In this it corresponds exactly with the posh an' posh, or corrupt Rommany dialect spoken by English gipsies, in which Hindi-Persian words follow the English structure.

It is owing to the ease with which Chinese learn this dialect, and the willingness of foreigners to meet them half way in it, that in it, that it has spread to such an incredible extent, thereby leading the way towards making English the language of the Pacific. And as Chinese learn a Latin tongue more easily than pure English, it is probable that had it not been for the Pidgin jargon, a corrupt Portuguese would have formed the popular medium of communication between foreigners and natives in China. The number of Portuguese words which now exist in Pidgin-English seem to prove this. As it is, our language in this rude form has spread, and is spreading to such a remarkable extent as to suggest several important problems. The coolie who speaks Pidgin has half his apprehension as to getting on in a foreign country removed, and the anticipated immigration of "millions of the Mongolian race" is beginning to cause serious reflection in America. Therefore Mr Simpson looks forward to a time when it will be necessary to issue the Scriptures in Pidgin, and Captain