The distribution of diagnostic features in English-lexified contact languages
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Andrei A. Avram
Abstract
Drawing on both historical and contemporary data, this paper presents the attestations in Vincentian of the diagnostic features of English-lexified contact languages proposed by Baker & Huber (2001). This is followed by a comparison of the distribution of these features in Vincentian and in the seven Atlantic English-lexified Pidgins and Creoles considered by Baker & Huber (2001), and the quantification of the affinities of Vincentian with Antiguan, Bajan and Kittitian. A number of selected diagnostic features recorded in Vincentian are discussed in terms of their origin, relevance to the split between Western and Eastern Caribbean Creoles, and world-wide distribution. Keywords: English-lexified Creoles; diagnostic features; origin; classification; Atlantic; Western vs Eastern Caribbean; world-wide
Abstract
Drawing on both historical and contemporary data, this paper presents the attestations in Vincentian of the diagnostic features of English-lexified contact languages proposed by Baker & Huber (2001). This is followed by a comparison of the distribution of these features in Vincentian and in the seven Atlantic English-lexified Pidgins and Creoles considered by Baker & Huber (2001), and the quantification of the affinities of Vincentian with Antiguan, Bajan and Kittitian. A number of selected diagnostic features recorded in Vincentian are discussed in terms of their origin, relevance to the split between Western and Eastern Caribbean Creoles, and world-wide distribution. Keywords: English-lexified Creoles; diagnostic features; origin; classification; Atlantic; Western vs Eastern Caribbean; world-wide
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction xi
- Sociohistorical and linguistic account of St Vincent and the Grenadines 1
- The fate of the local in light of the global 45
- Subject and object pronoun use in Bequia (St Vincent and the Grenadines) 67
- “A she gi me words; well me gi she back de change” 87
- The distribution of diagnostic features in English-lexified contact languages 113
- Creole reflexes of do 141
- Languages in St Vincent and the Grenadines 165
- Biographical notes on the contributors 181
- Subject, Language and Place Index 183
- Name Index 189
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction xi
- Sociohistorical and linguistic account of St Vincent and the Grenadines 1
- The fate of the local in light of the global 45
- Subject and object pronoun use in Bequia (St Vincent and the Grenadines) 67
- “A she gi me words; well me gi she back de change” 87
- The distribution of diagnostic features in English-lexified contact languages 113
- Creole reflexes of do 141
- Languages in St Vincent and the Grenadines 165
- Biographical notes on the contributors 181
- Subject, Language and Place Index 183
- Name Index 189
