Revisiting variation between sa and o in Sranan
-
Donald Winford
Abstract
Sranan employs two markers, sa and o, which both express some kind of futurity, but the precise nature of the difference between them has been difficult to pin down. Some researchers claim that sa and o are both primarily temporal in nature, but others treat sa as primarily modal, and o as primarily temporal, though they disagree on how far its meaning overlaps with that of o. This paper employs data from historical texts as well as examples and judgments elicited from five native speakers of Sranan in order to determine the precise nature of the differences in meaning and use between the two markers. I build on the insights of researchers like Voorhoeve and Seuren to demonstrate that sa really conveys a range of modal meanings that include futurity, strong expectation, and probability. This can be ascribed to the influence of Dutch zullen. On the other hand, o is primarily temporal in nature, expressing future tense. The analysis suggests that sa and o are not really in competition in contemporary Sranan.
Abstract
Sranan employs two markers, sa and o, which both express some kind of futurity, but the precise nature of the difference between them has been difficult to pin down. Some researchers claim that sa and o are both primarily temporal in nature, but others treat sa as primarily modal, and o as primarily temporal, though they disagree on how far its meaning overlaps with that of o. This paper employs data from historical texts as well as examples and judgments elicited from five native speakers of Sranan in order to determine the precise nature of the differences in meaning and use between the two markers. I build on the insights of researchers like Voorhoeve and Seuren to demonstrate that sa really conveys a range of modal meanings that include futurity, strong expectation, and probability. This can be ascribed to the influence of Dutch zullen. On the other hand, o is primarily temporal in nature, expressing future tense. The analysis suggests that sa and o are not really in competition in contemporary Sranan.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Variation and linguistic systems
- Revisiting variation between sa and o in Sranan 13
- Inherent variability and coexistent systems 39
- Putting individuals back in contact 57
- Relative markers in spoken Standard Jamaican English 79
-
Part II. Variation and identity
- “Flying at half-mast”? Voices, genres, and orthographies in Barbadian Creole* 107
- The creole continuum and individual agency 133
- Language attitudes and linguistic awareness in Jamaican English 163
-
Part III. Variation and the community
- The varilingual repertoire of Tobagonian speakers 191
- On the emergence of new language varieties 207
- ‘Creole’ and youth language in a British inner-city community 231
- Le Page’s theoretical and applied legacy in sociolinguistics and creole studies 251
- Name index 273
- Subject index 275
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Variation and linguistic systems
- Revisiting variation between sa and o in Sranan 13
- Inherent variability and coexistent systems 39
- Putting individuals back in contact 57
- Relative markers in spoken Standard Jamaican English 79
-
Part II. Variation and identity
- “Flying at half-mast”? Voices, genres, and orthographies in Barbadian Creole* 107
- The creole continuum and individual agency 133
- Language attitudes and linguistic awareness in Jamaican English 163
-
Part III. Variation and the community
- The varilingual repertoire of Tobagonian speakers 191
- On the emergence of new language varieties 207
- ‘Creole’ and youth language in a British inner-city community 231
- Le Page’s theoretical and applied legacy in sociolinguistics and creole studies 251
- Name index 273
- Subject index 275
