Gradual Creolization

Is creolization an abrupt or a gradual process? In this volume leading scholars provide both comparative and case studies that outline their working definitions and their views on the particular or average time depth, or key processes necessary for contact language formation, providing a state-of-the art assessment of the theory of gradual creolization. Authors scrutinize the roles of nativization, demography, initial settlement, language composition, koineization, adstrate presence, bilingualism, as well as a variety of structural features in pidgins, creoles and other contact languages world-wide. From Pacific to Atlantic, French-, English-, Dutch-, Portuguese- and other-lexified restructured varieties are covered. Syntactic, lexical, phonological, historical and socio-cultural studies are grouped into Part 1, Linguistic analysis, and Part 2, Social reconstruction. This volume provides the multi-faceted groundwork and expert discussion that will help formulate further a model of gradual creolization, as called for by the work of the late Jacques Arends.

Aida Vergne, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, in Sargosso 10(1): 128-133, 2009:
Linguists and scholars engaged with Pidgin and Creole genesis and language contact phenomena will find that this anthology offers a stimulating and comprehensive treatment of the key issues of these areas. Gradual Creolization celebrates Jacques Arends' substantial impact on the field and provides expert discussion that will help formulate further conclusions regarding the time-line of Creole formation within a historically realistic framework.