Kristi language

Infobox Language
name = Kristi
nativename = "No Ling"
states = India
speakers = 750 [ [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=vkp Ethnologue] ]
familycolor = Creole
fam1 = Creole language
fam2 = Portuguese Creole
fam3 = Indo-Portuguese Creole
iso2=cpp |iso3=vkp

Kristi is the language of some 1,000 Christians in an isolated area around the village of Korlai in Raigad District of Maharashtra state, India. More commonly, the language is known as Korlai Creole Portuguese, Korlai Portuguese, or "No Ling" ("our language" in the language itself).

It is a creole language based on Portuguese.

Distribution and number of speakers

What is known about the history and the grammar of "No Ling" can be found in the 1996 book "The Genesis of a Language: Formation and Development of Korlai Portuguese" written by J. Clancy Clements. The village lies on the mouth of Kundalika River, across from the ruins of a large Portuguese fort, which is located in Revdanda. "No Ling" has certain similarities with Papiá Kristang, spoken in the Malaysian town of Malacca. Until the 20th century, Korlai, its Christian inhabitants, and its language were relatively isolated from the Marathi-speaking Hindus and Muslims surrounding them. Since 1986, there is a bridge across the Kunkalika river, because of which industry has now moved into the area.

Examples of "No Ling"

:Thanks a lot: "Muit'obrigad!" From Port. "Muito Obrigado":Me: "yo"; From Port. "eu":You (singular): "wo"; From Port. "tu":You (formal): "usé"; From Port. "você":He and She: "el"; From Port. "ele" (he) and "ela" (she):We: "no"; From Port. "nós":You (plural): "udzó"; From Port. "vocês":They: "eló"; from Port. "eles":Numerals: "ũ, doy, tre, kwat, sink, sey, set, oyt, nob, dey"; From Port. "um, dois, três, quatro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez":First, Second: "Primer, Sigun"; From Port. "Primeiro, Segundo":How are you?: "Use, kile te?":All are eating and drinking their fill: "tud gent cumen beben tem fart"; From Port. "toda a gente come e bebe com fartura"

Song of Korlai::"Maldita Maria Madulena,":"Maldita firmosa,":"Ai, contra ma ja foi a Madulena,":"Vastida de mata!"

Portuguese translation::"Maldita Maria Madalena,":"Maldita Formosa,":"Ai, contra minha vontade foi a Madalena,":"Vestida de mata!"

English translation::Cursed Maria Madalena,:Cursed Beautiful one,:Oh, against my will it was Madalena,:Dressed in leaves and branches!

References