133
Joss
This word is supposed to be derived from the Portuguese Deos. The Anglicised written form, Joss, appears in many sources, and Tong does not have a Chinese form.
Two sources dated 1672 quoted in Hobson Jobson are intriguing.
"But the Devil (whom the Chinese commonly called Joosje) is a mighty and powerful Prince of the World..", and
"In a four-cornered cabinet in their dwelling-rooms, they have, as it were, an altar, and therean an image. This they call Joss."
What is striking is that the latter is clearly describing a household ancestral altar for the worship of ancestors. Moreover, the former quotation, which gives the word used by Dutch writers, joosje, is the pronunciation of “ancestors" in the Wu dialects. There is a possibility, then, that Joss has a Chinese and not a Portuguese origin.
Maskee
This word basically means "whatever", “never mind” or “perhaps" in Pidgin. Tong gives it as maskee. Batalha lists a Patoa word, masqui, and says that in the meaning of "all right” the word is commonly used in Creole. She concludes that there is no basis for some assertions that the word is derived from the Cantonese m sai.
APPENDIX I
Selected Pidgin Dialogues Quoted in 19 C. Western Sources Bits of Old China. William C. Hunter. Kegan, Paul, Trench & Co. London 1855.
Page 5
Olo flen. My savee you last voyagee My savee you two, te-lee voyagee.
Page 6
Make look see
133
Joss
This word is supposed to be derived from the Portuguese Deos. The Anglicised written form, Joss, appears in many sources, and Tong does not have a Chinese form
Two sources dated 1672 quoted in Hobson Jobson are intriguing.
"But the Devil (whom the Chinese commonly called Joosje) is a mighty and powerful Prince of the World..", and
"In a four - cornered cabinet in their dwelling-rooms, they have, as it were, an altar, and therean an image. This they call Josın
JJ
What is striking is that the latter is clearly describing a household ancestral altar for the worship of you-sin' ancestors Moreover, the former quotation, which gives the word used by Dutch writers, joosje, is the pronunciation of “ancestors" in the Wu dialects There is a possibility, then, that Joss has a Chinese and not a Portuguese origin
Maskee
This word basically means "whatever”, “never mind” or “perhaps" in Pidgin. Tong gives it as mast-gr. Batalha lists a Patoa word, masqui, and says that in the meaning of "allright” the word is commonly used in Creole. She concludes that there is no basis for some assertions that the word is derived from the Cantonese m sai.
APPENDIXI
Selected Pidgin Dialogues Quoted in 19 C. Western Sources Bits of Old China. William C. Hunter. Kegan, Paul, Trench & Co. London 1855.
Page,
5 Olo flen. My savee you last voyagee My savee you two, te-lee
voyagee.
6 Make look see
:
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