The quest for non-European creoles
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Peter Bakker
Abstract
Kukama has been classified firstly, as a Tupi-Guarani language, secondly, as a language that has undergone massive contact-induced change, and thirdly, as a creole. These different positions are surveyed against definitions of mixed languages and creoles, and properties of Tupi-Guarani languages. We focus especially on its possible status as a creole language, as there is a need among creolists to expand the range of creoles with a broad set of lexifiers and substrates, especially after recent research has revealed a typological profile for creoles. With typological, historical and historical-comparative arguments, it is concluded that the original grammatical system of Kukama was strongly reduced, and subsequently innovated and expanded with mostly Tupi-Guarani roots, a process parallel to that gone through by accepted creoles. As is commonly the case in creoles, very little beyond the lexicon is inherited from its lexifier, a language close to Tupinamba. However, the Kukama language does not quite fit two proposals for creole prototypes, perhaps because the processes of loss and innovation took place in a much more remote past than for identified creoles. In this paper, it will be discussed whether Kukama is a language that defies classification within the current typology of contact languages, or whether it is deviant within current family classifications.
Abstract
Kukama has been classified firstly, as a Tupi-Guarani language, secondly, as a language that has undergone massive contact-induced change, and thirdly, as a creole. These different positions are surveyed against definitions of mixed languages and creoles, and properties of Tupi-Guarani languages. We focus especially on its possible status as a creole language, as there is a need among creolists to expand the range of creoles with a broad set of lexifiers and substrates, especially after recent research has revealed a typological profile for creoles. With typological, historical and historical-comparative arguments, it is concluded that the original grammatical system of Kukama was strongly reduced, and subsequently innovated and expanded with mostly Tupi-Guarani roots, a process parallel to that gone through by accepted creoles. As is commonly the case in creoles, very little beyond the lexicon is inherited from its lexifier, a language close to Tupinamba. However, the Kukama language does not quite fit two proposals for creole prototypes, perhaps because the processes of loss and innovation took place in a much more remote past than for identified creoles. In this paper, it will be discussed whether Kukama is a language that defies classification within the current typology of contact languages, or whether it is deviant within current family classifications.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction. Pieter C. Muysken 1
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Part 1. Creole languages and creole studies
- Moving into and out of Sranan 37
- Sociolinguistic characteristics of the English-lexifier contact languages of West Africa 61
- The quest for non-European creoles 85
- Are creoles a special type of language? 107
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Part 2. Linguistic areas
- Separating layers of information 161
- Areal diffusion of applicatives in the Amazon 179
- Transfer of Swahili ‘until’ in contact with East African languages 217
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Part 3. Mixed languages and language mixing
- Turkish-German code-switching patterns revisited 237
- Mixing and semantic transparency in the genesis of Yilan Japanese 261
- Pottefers Cant, Groenstraat Bargoens, and the development of “have” and “be” in the wider context of contact 283
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Part 4. Sociolinguististic aspects of language contact
- Sociolinguistic enregisterment through languagecultural practices 341
- Snow on the Danish Antilles? 365
- Subject index 389
- Author index 391
- Language index 397
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction. Pieter C. Muysken 1
-
Part 1. Creole languages and creole studies
- Moving into and out of Sranan 37
- Sociolinguistic characteristics of the English-lexifier contact languages of West Africa 61
- The quest for non-European creoles 85
- Are creoles a special type of language? 107
-
Part 2. Linguistic areas
- Separating layers of information 161
- Areal diffusion of applicatives in the Amazon 179
- Transfer of Swahili ‘until’ in contact with East African languages 217
-
Part 3. Mixed languages and language mixing
- Turkish-German code-switching patterns revisited 237
- Mixing and semantic transparency in the genesis of Yilan Japanese 261
- Pottefers Cant, Groenstraat Bargoens, and the development of “have” and “be” in the wider context of contact 283
-
Part 4. Sociolinguististic aspects of language contact
- Sociolinguistic enregisterment through languagecultural practices 341
- Snow on the Danish Antilles? 365
- Subject index 389
- Author index 391
- Language index 397
