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Abstract

In the lingua francas of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, the places where people grow food are referred to using the word . Although gardening (horticulture) plays a significant role in food and nutrition security in Solomon Islands and other Pacific countries, there is evidence that local ‘insider’ meaning of is often not well understood by outsiders, especially in relation to its cultural and eco-social significance. The aim of this study is to explain the meanings of and related terms in Solomons Pijin () using simple and easy-to-translate words, and through these ‘cultural explainers’ to provide an accessible explanatory description of how these terms are understood by cultural insiders. The discussion demonstrates that all three garden types () are sources of food production but they also contribute importantly to sustaining culture and social networks. The paper aims to explain the eco-social networks of Solomon Island ‘gardens’ in a way that is accessible to outsiders, including funding bodies and agricultural researchers.

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/content/journals/10.1075/ijolc.00078.hil
2026-03-31
2026-04-21

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/content/journals/10.1075/ijolc.00078.hil
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: Solomons Pijin gaden ; eco-social networks ; Minimal English ; Natural Semantic Metalanguage (nsm) ; Melanesian gardens ; agricultural practices ; cultural explainers

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