Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Hi, I've just added a new book which is in Solomon Islands Pidgin with English translation:

Bikfala Faet : olketa Solomon Aelanda Rimembarem Wol Wo Tu / The Big Death : Solomon Islanders remember World War II

I think its primary language should be Solomon Pidgin, but that's not available from the drop-down menu, and nor are any of the other alternative names listed in Wikipedia: Pijin / Neo-Solomonic / Kanaka. Tok Pisin is on the list, which is apparently a related pidgin from Papua New Guinea, but, I gather, not the same.

I read the book in English and have no knowledge about South Pacific creoles and pidgins beyond what I've just found out from Wikipedia. So I'm not really sure what the best thing to do is. At the moment I have the primary language listed as 'English' but that seems like a bad solution.

Any advice?

Harry, I think there's two questions here:

One, the Solomon Islands Pidgin isn't in the language list. That's not something that librarians can change -- we can only choose among the listed languages, not add new ones -- so you'll need to post in the Feedback group to request a new language on that list.

Two, a book can only have one language listed. For books like this which are written in two languages, there's not a good way to indicate that using the language field.

For the immediate case of this book, I would suggest adding to the book's description a short mention of the languages it uses.

Thanks Cait, that's helpful… perhaps it's not worth adding Pijin to that long list just for this book. I've added a comment to make it clear that it's in both languages.

When I saw this inquiry, I thought it must be you, Harry.

I suppose it is a bit niche :-)

Indeed. I read Alvert Wendt (Ed.): Some Modern Poetry from Solomon Islands for the Solomons, but might pick up Bikfala Faet on the strength of your recommendation next time I'm ordering from Fiji.

I've been having problems ordering from Fiji: twice I tried ordering and got all the way through the process before getting an error message, so I assumed the order hadn't got through, especially since I didn't get a confirmation email. Then two parcels arrived for me a couple of days ago. So I have two copies of Life in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and I'm just hoping that I don't have any other surprises on the way (like another copy of Bikfala Faet to go with the one I found via abebooks.co.uk). And I've tried two different email addresses for the USP bookshop and got no response from either. Ho hum.

Not the end of the world, but a bit irritating. And at least I do now have books for Marshall Islands and Nauru, I guess.

EDIT: actually while I was typing this I got an email saying:

Please note that you have not provided a payment method for your order for the following books

"The Big Death"
"Pinnacles"

Kindly do so to effect shipment.

*headdesk* At least I have a working email address and can cancel that order.

That was my experience with them as well--it appeared that the mailbox was full or not functional, then I'd get a reply. I'm glad you won't up with a complete double order--the shipping alone makes me grumpy.

Yes. I've effectively got a whole $50 order I didn't need, of which a full $20 was shipping. Still, when I get too irritated, I imagine what it would have been like trying to do this *before* the internet and it puts it in perspective a bit.

Yes. And you may be able to sell them at a price that recoups your cost. A number of those USP books are very hard to find.