The Saramaccan lexicon: Verbs
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Peter Bakker
Abstract
In this paper the inventory of verbs of Saramaccan Creole is investigated. Saramaccan is a lexically mixed creole, with mostly English and Portuguese lexicon. Even though it has been shown earlier that the Portuguese elements were superimposed on a preexisting English frame (Smith 1987), more verbs are from Portuguese than from English. Furthermore, there are a number of doublets: Two (near) synonomous verbs from the languages have found their way into the language. In addition, significantly higher numbers of frequent verbs from English than from Portuguese have found their way into Saramaccan. An attempt is made to derive conclusions about the diachronic aspects of these findings. The tentative results confirm an intrusion of Portuguese elements into English.
Abstract
In this paper the inventory of verbs of Saramaccan Creole is investigated. Saramaccan is a lexically mixed creole, with mostly English and Portuguese lexicon. Even though it has been shown earlier that the Portuguese elements were superimposed on a preexisting English frame (Smith 1987), more verbs are from Portuguese than from English. Furthermore, there are a number of doublets: Two (near) synonomous verbs from the languages have found their way into the language. In addition, significantly higher numbers of frequent verbs from English than from Portuguese have found their way into Saramaccan. An attempt is made to derive conclusions about the diachronic aspects of these findings. The tentative results confirm an intrusion of Portuguese elements into English.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Maps ix
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Introductory words
- One more cup of coffee: On Gradual Creolization 3
- Jacques Arends' model of gradual creolization 13
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Part 1. Linguistic analysis
- Productive bimorphemic structures and the concept of gradual creolization 27
- Gradual vs. abrupt creolization and recent changes in Daman Creole Portuguese 55
- Gradual restructuring in Ecuadorian Quechua 77
- A note on the process of lexical diffusion in the development of creoles: The case of double-object verbs 101
- Change in the possessive system of French Caribbean Creole languages 113
- The origin and development of possibility in the creoles of Suriname 129
- The Saramaccan lexicon: Verbs 155
- Development of a creole lexicon 173
- Gradualism in the transfer of tone spread rules in Saramaccan 189
- In search of a submerged phonology: The case of early Cape Dutch Pidgin 219
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Part 2. Sociohistorical reconstruction
- Bilingualism and creolization in Solomon Islands 245
- Lingua Franca in West Africa? An evaluation of the sociohistorical and metalinguistic evidence 257
- The formation of the Portuguese-based Creoles: Gradual or abrupt? 279
- English-speaking in early Surinam? 305
- The demographic context of creolization in early English Jamaica, 1655-1700 327
- The founder principle and Anguilla's homestead society 349
- Demographic factors in the formation of French Guianese Creole 373
- Index 389
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Maps ix
-
Introductory words
- One more cup of coffee: On Gradual Creolization 3
- Jacques Arends' model of gradual creolization 13
-
Part 1. Linguistic analysis
- Productive bimorphemic structures and the concept of gradual creolization 27
- Gradual vs. abrupt creolization and recent changes in Daman Creole Portuguese 55
- Gradual restructuring in Ecuadorian Quechua 77
- A note on the process of lexical diffusion in the development of creoles: The case of double-object verbs 101
- Change in the possessive system of French Caribbean Creole languages 113
- The origin and development of possibility in the creoles of Suriname 129
- The Saramaccan lexicon: Verbs 155
- Development of a creole lexicon 173
- Gradualism in the transfer of tone spread rules in Saramaccan 189
- In search of a submerged phonology: The case of early Cape Dutch Pidgin 219
-
Part 2. Sociohistorical reconstruction
- Bilingualism and creolization in Solomon Islands 245
- Lingua Franca in West Africa? An evaluation of the sociohistorical and metalinguistic evidence 257
- The formation of the Portuguese-based Creoles: Gradual or abrupt? 279
- English-speaking in early Surinam? 305
- The demographic context of creolization in early English Jamaica, 1655-1700 327
- The founder principle and Anguilla's homestead society 349
- Demographic factors in the formation of French Guianese Creole 373
- Index 389
