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Chapter 2. The nominal structures of Saramaccan, Fongbe and English with reference to Haitian Creole

  • Claire Lefebvre
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Functional Categories in Three Atlantic Creoles
This chapter is in the book Functional Categories in Three Atlantic Creoles

Abstract

This chapter proposes a comparison of the properties of the definite determiners of Saramaccan (with some reference to Haitian), with those of Fongbe and English. The definite determiners per se, the category Number, the demonstrative terms and the possessive phrases are discussed in turn. It is shown that, except for word order, the detailed properties of the definite determiners that participate in the nominal structure of Saramaccan parallel in a remarkable way those that participate in the nominal structure of Fongbe. Early Saramaccan data from Wietz (1805) are also presented showing that the synchronic properties of the definite determiners of Saramaccan were already established in the early creole.

Abstract

This chapter proposes a comparison of the properties of the definite determiners of Saramaccan (with some reference to Haitian), with those of Fongbe and English. The definite determiners per se, the category Number, the demonstrative terms and the possessive phrases are discussed in turn. It is shown that, except for word order, the detailed properties of the definite determiners that participate in the nominal structure of Saramaccan parallel in a remarkable way those that participate in the nominal structure of Fongbe. Early Saramaccan data from Wietz (1805) are also presented showing that the synchronic properties of the definite determiners of Saramaccan were already established in the early creole.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Preface xv
  4. List of abbreviations xvii
  5. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  6. Chapter 2. The nominal structures of Saramaccan, Fongbe and English with reference to Haitian Creole 17
  7. Chapter 3. Coordinating constructions in Fongbe with reference to Haitian Creole 69
  8. Chapter 4. The multifunctionality of Saramaccan táa 109
  9. Chapter 5. On the properties of Saramaccan fu 161
  10. Chapter 6. The multiple facets of Papiamentu ku 211
  11. Chapter 7. On the properties of Papiamentu pa 245
  12. Chapter 8. A new analysis of the Papiamentu clause structure 283
  13. Chapter 9. The properties of functional categories in the three creoles 317
  14. Chapter 10. Conclusion 345
  15. References 363
  16. Index of authors 381
  17. Index of subjects 385
https://doi.org/10.1075/cll.50.02ch2

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Preface xv
  4. List of abbreviations xvii
  5. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  6. Chapter 2. The nominal structures of Saramaccan, Fongbe and English with reference to Haitian Creole 17
  7. Chapter 3. Coordinating constructions in Fongbe with reference to Haitian Creole 69
  8. Chapter 4. The multifunctionality of Saramaccan táa 109
  9. Chapter 5. On the properties of Saramaccan fu 161
  10. Chapter 6. The multiple facets of Papiamentu ku 211
  11. Chapter 7. On the properties of Papiamentu pa 245
  12. Chapter 8. A new analysis of the Papiamentu clause structure 283
  13. Chapter 9. The properties of functional categories in the three creoles 317
  14. Chapter 10. Conclusion 345
  15. References 363
  16. Index of authors 381
  17. Index of subjects 385
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