Pidgin verbs
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Kees Versteegh
Abstract
Evidence from Arabic-based pidgins, such as Bongor Arabic, Juba Arabic, Pidgin Madame, and Gulf Pidgin Arabic, and from the Arabic-based creole Ki-Nubi, shows that in these varieties verbs often derive from Arabic imperatives. In some of the West European-based pidgins, verbs apparently derive from infinitives in the lexifier. The difference may be explained by the morphology of the verb in the lexifier. In the communicative context of early pidginization, commands are frequent. These are normally expressed by an imperative, but in some languages, the infinitive may function as a directive and thus serve as source for the pidgin verb. A similar explanation possibly applies to the finite use of infinitives in early child language.
Abstract
Evidence from Arabic-based pidgins, such as Bongor Arabic, Juba Arabic, Pidgin Madame, and Gulf Pidgin Arabic, and from the Arabic-based creole Ki-Nubi, shows that in these varieties verbs often derive from Arabic imperatives. In some of the West European-based pidgins, verbs apparently derive from infinitives in the lexifier. The difference may be explained by the morphology of the verb in the lexifier. In the communicative context of early pidginization, commands are frequent. These are normally expressed by an imperative, but in some languages, the infinitive may function as a directive and thus serve as source for the pidgin verb. A similar explanation possibly applies to the finite use of infinitives in early child language.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Ethnohistory of speaking 7
- The ‘language of Tobi’ as presented in Horace Holden’s Narrative 41
- Language variation in Gulf Pidgin Arabic 57
- How non-Indo-European is Fanakalo pidgin? 85
- Language change in a multiple contact setting 101
- Pidgin verbs 141
- Area index 171
- Language index 173
- Subject index 175
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Ethnohistory of speaking 7
- The ‘language of Tobi’ as presented in Horace Holden’s Narrative 41
- Language variation in Gulf Pidgin Arabic 57
- How non-Indo-European is Fanakalo pidgin? 85
- Language change in a multiple contact setting 101
- Pidgin verbs 141
- Area index 171
- Language index 173
- Subject index 175
