Da kine

Da kine (pronounced /də ˈkaɪn/) is an expression in Hawaiian Pidgin (Hawaii Creole English), probably derived from "that kind", that usually functions grammatically as a placeholder name (compare to English "whatsit" and "whatchamacallit"),^[1] but can also take the role of a verb, adjective, or adverb. Unlike other placeholder names in English, however, which usually refer specifically to a device ("gizmo" or "widget"), person ("so-and-so"), or place ("Anytown, USA"), "da kine" is general in usage and could refer to anything from a person to an abstract concept. It can be used to refer to something nonspecific, or given enough context (especially when used in conversation between native speakers of the dialect) to something very specific. As such, it appears to be unique among English dialects, at least in its centrality to everyday speech.

"Da kine" is probably the most identifying characteristic of spoken Hawaiian Pidgin, and certainly the most versatile.^[2] The humorous illustrated dictionary Pidgin to Da Max defines "da kine" as: "the keystone of pidgin. You can use it anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Very convenient."^[3] A surfing dictionary lists da kine as "the word you use when you don't use the word."^[4]

It also happens to be one of the most frustratingly difficult aspects of Pidgin for non-native speakers to understand. While reports that native speakers of Pidgin can be unforgiving of amateurs may be exaggerated, some Hawaiians get a certain pleasure from using the word to non-native speakers.

"Da kine" is used as shorthand when it is likely the listener will understand what is meant from context or a combination of context and body language. One definition (in mixed Pidgin) is: "Can have any kine connotation depends on how you say um and who you say um wit."^[5]

"Da kine" may be related to the word "kine", which is used variously as an intensifier, short for "kind of" in the sense of "type of", and for many other purposes (perhaps almost as much variety as "da kine"). However, it may not be entirely accurate to analyze it as a phrase consisting of "da" (the Pidgin definite article) and "kine", as "kine" by itself does not have the same meaning. One possible analysis is that "da" in "da kine" is a clitic, as phrases such as "da odda kine" (other kind) or "all kine" (all kinds) are commonly used.^[6]

The simplest explantion of its origin comes from the simple context of its use. "Da Kine" comes from "the kind" or "the thing" and is used as an extremely vague, yet simple explanation of an action or object when the a "thing's" specific name is unknown or cannot come to mind. (I talked on my 'da kine' = I talked on 'the thing you use to talk to people' = I talked on my 'phone') (I wen fo one da kine las night = I went for a 'the thing you do when you move your legs' last night = I went for a 'run' last night) A pidgin speaker who uses "da kine" for its true purpose (not local slang) will often repeat "da kine" several times and attempt to explain what it is to fully get the idea across.

Popular culture

While "da kine" appears in many contexts and refers to almost anything, it is also frequently associated with something good or genuine—"the best". For example, as a company name, and is widely used to describe superior marijuana.

"Da kine" appears in the titles of books, sometimes calling Hawaiian Pidgin itself "Da Kine Talk."^[7]

It is also the title of a song by Darrell Labrado on the album Shaka the Moon about the word and its usage.^[8]

DaKine is an outdoor apparel company specializing in sportswear and equipment for alternative sports founded in 1979.^[9]

Da Kine Smoke & Beverage Shop was a Commercial Drive, Vancouver cannabis coffee shop operated during the spring and summer of 2004. It was raided by police on September 10, then reopened for another month.^[10]

Da Kine Bail Bonds is a Honolulu, Hawaii-based bail bonds company owned by Duane "Dog" Chapman. Chapman is featured on the A&E Reality TV Series Dog the Bounty Hunter.^[11]

Da Kine Legal Services is a process serving company in Nipomo, CA

Dakine Decor is an online retailer and surf related home decor store located in Galveston Texas.

See also

• Pragmatics

References

1. ^ "Da Kine – Pidgin English Definition". e-Hawaii web site. November 27, 2009. http://www.e-hawaii.com/pidgin/da-kine. Retrieved December 3, 2010. 
2. ^ Allan A. Metcalf (2000). Pidgin How we talk: American regional English today. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 150. ISBN 9780618043620. http://books.google.com/books?id=SsMUCl5j8X4C&pg=PA150. 
3. ^ Ken Sakata; Pat Sasaki (1981). Pidgin to Da Max. Illustrated by Douglas Simonson and Pat Sasaki. Bess Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780935848410. http://books.google.com/books?id=A8mMqNHc5uAC&pg=PT28. 
4. ^ Trever Cralle (2001). The Surfin'ary: A Dictionary of Surfing Terms and Surfspeak (2nd ed.). Ten Speed Press. ISBN 9781580081931. http://books.google.com/books?id=otcdFFJSEaEC. 
5. ^ Lee A. Tonouchi (2005). Da Kine Dictionary: Da Hawai'i Community Pidgin Dictionary Projeck. Bess Press. p. 21. ISBN 9781573061360. http://books.google.com/books?id=BFiASi1JpisC. 
6. ^ Jeff Siegel (2003). Pidgin Grammar: An Introduction to the Creole Language of Hawaii. Bess Press. pp. 48–50. ISBN 9781573061360. http://books.google.com/books?id=3dp7zDpDnMgC. 
7. ^ Elizabeth Ball Carr (1972). Da kine talk. University Press of Hawaii. ISBN 9780824802097. http://books.google.com/books?id=eulZAAAAMAAJ. 
8. ^ "Da Kine- Darrell Labrado w/ lyrics". video. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7pXFe3lhqo. Retrieved December 3, 2010. 
9. ^ "DaKine". Company web site. http://www.dakine.com/. Retrieved December 3, 2010. 
10. ^ "Raid briefly shuts Vancouver pot cafe". CBC News. September 10, 2004. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/09/10/marijuana040910.html. Retrieved December 3, 2010. 
11. ^ "'Dog' Chapman hit with $2M in tax liens". Pacific Business News. February 13, 2009. http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/02/09/daily66.html. Retrieved February 12, 2010.