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Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon

  • Päivi Juvonen
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Language Complexity
This chapter is in the book Language Complexity

Abstract

I examine the ways the minimal lexicon of a pidgin language, Chinook Jargon, gains maximal efficiency when put into use in a contemporary fictional text. The paper first describes the lexicon used from a structural point of view. It then examines the use of multifunctional lexical items in comparison to English. The results of these studies show, that 1) there is no bound morphology (neither derivational nor inflectional) in the variety studied and, 2) there is much more multifunctionality in the pidgin text than in the English texts. Finally, it is argued that the results show that the lexicon studied can indeed be described as simple and efficient.

Abstract

I examine the ways the minimal lexicon of a pidgin language, Chinook Jargon, gains maximal efficiency when put into use in a contemporary fictional text. The paper first describes the lexicon used from a structural point of view. It then examines the use of multifunctional lexical items in comparison to English. The results of these studies show, that 1) there is no bound morphology (neither derivational nor inflectional) in the variety studied and, 2) there is much more multifunctionality in the pidgin text than in the English texts. Finally, it is argued that the results show that the lexicon studied can indeed be described as simple and efficient.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction: The problem of language complexity vii
  4. I. Typology and theory
  5. Complexity in linguistic theory, language learning and language change 3
  6. Grammatical complexity in cross-linguistic perspective 23
  7. Complexity trade-offs between the subsystems of language 43
  8. Complexity trade-offs in core argument marking 67
  9. Assessing linguistic complexity 89
  10. How complex are isolating languages? 109
  11. Complexity in isolating languages: Lexical elaboration versus grammatical economy 133
  12. Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination 153
  13. II. Contact and change
  14. Why does a language undress? Strange cases in Indonesia 167
  15. Morphological complexity as a parameter of linguistic typology: Hungarian as a contact language 191
  16. Language complexity and interlinguistic difficulty 217
  17. Complexity in nominal plural allomorphy: A contrastive survey of ten Germanic languages 243
  18. III. Creoles and pidgins
  19. The simplicity of creoles in a cross-linguistic perspective 265
  20. Complexity in numeral systems with an investigation into pidgins and creoles 287
  21. Explaining Kabuverdianu nominal plural formation 305
  22. Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon 321
  23. Index of languages 341
  24. Index of authors 345
  25. Index of subjects 349
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.94.20juv

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction: The problem of language complexity vii
  4. I. Typology and theory
  5. Complexity in linguistic theory, language learning and language change 3
  6. Grammatical complexity in cross-linguistic perspective 23
  7. Complexity trade-offs between the subsystems of language 43
  8. Complexity trade-offs in core argument marking 67
  9. Assessing linguistic complexity 89
  10. How complex are isolating languages? 109
  11. Complexity in isolating languages: Lexical elaboration versus grammatical economy 133
  12. Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination 153
  13. II. Contact and change
  14. Why does a language undress? Strange cases in Indonesia 167
  15. Morphological complexity as a parameter of linguistic typology: Hungarian as a contact language 191
  16. Language complexity and interlinguistic difficulty 217
  17. Complexity in nominal plural allomorphy: A contrastive survey of ten Germanic languages 243
  18. III. Creoles and pidgins
  19. The simplicity of creoles in a cross-linguistic perspective 265
  20. Complexity in numeral systems with an investigation into pidgins and creoles 287
  21. Explaining Kabuverdianu nominal plural formation 305
  22. Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon 321
  23. Index of languages 341
  24. Index of authors 345
  25. Index of subjects 349
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