Da Kine Dictionary

by Lee A. Tonouchi

Because Pidgin, like other languages, is constantly evolving, "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" asked people in Hawai'i and beyond to contribute their favorite Pidgin words, with definitions, sentences and origins. The result is this illustrated collection, which also reveals where (and when) contributors "wen grad."

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Lee A. Tonouchi (born circa 1972) is a Hawaii born writer and editor, who calls himself "Da Pidgin Guerilla" because of his strong advocacy of the Hawaiian Pidgin language.

Tonouchi graduated from Aiea High School in 1990. He promotes the idea that the Creole language known as Hawaiian Pidgin is an appropriate language for both creative and academic writing.[1] He was inspired by the works of Eric Chock in the journal Bamboo Ridge.[2] All of his writing, including his Master's Thesis, is in Pidgin. He was an instructor of English at Kapiolani Community College in 2007.[3] He also taught at Hawaii Pacific University during 2005,[4] and later.[5] His works often address family relationship in a humorous way.[6]

(from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ton...)

Reviews

[Jbussen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less than 20 years old. (2005 v 2023) Barely. I borrowed it just for nostalgia. Today, sadly, a lot of this is just gone. That Hawaii is dead. We have been "haolefied". Enough of it is still relevant enough so that when a visitor comes in, this will be a fun read.

[Tiare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book to read I loved the photos throughout that make fun.

[Yoonmee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both hilarious and helpful, the Da Kine Dictionary will help anyone new to Hawaii or just interested in local culture gain a broader understanding of pidgin. No, you won't get fluent in pidgin just from reading this brief dictionary, but it's still fun to read. I would pick it up and randomly turn to a page to peruse some new vocabulary. My favorite part about this book is that the definitions are all written in pidgin with sample sentences created by locals. What a great way to introduce pidgin to people, to record history and a culture, and to include the locals (the ones who speak pdigin) in the creation of the dicitonary! My only complaint is that the book doesn't differentiate between common pidgin words and more uncommon ones. The photographs in the book are really stereotypical, but are meant to poke fun with good humor.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho, dis book so funny, had tot was going DIE laugh. Fo realz. I already wen incorporate all kine new kine pidgin vocabularies into my daily lexicon, like for zample: I ask my keeds, "Eh, you need 5-4-4?" Dat means I asking dem if dey like go batchroom. Because, Go - Shi - Shi! HOOOOOOO!!!!!! (You folks geffum? Chrai count da helu in Japananee. Bumbye you geffum.)
But forealz. Dis book represent one serious scholarly kine undertaking. Dis guy, Tonouchi, he know what he stay doing-- get sources and da kine citations for every single chibi word in dis book. Wid da high school da source had go to, and when dey had graduate. Dat, in itself, right deah-- dat one high-quality ezample of de inherit advantage of emic (as oppose to haole kine edic) meta-evaluations of cultural kine norms and behaviors.