Full Description
Pidgins and creoles have always attracted a great deal of interest - academic and otherwise - but in recent decades they have become increasingly important as a field of linguistic inquiry. Placing pidgins and creoles in the wider setting of linguistic theory, this book bridges the gap between introductory material and primary material, revising students' knowledge of the field as well as acquainting them with key areas of debate in pidgin and creole studies. The author provides a carefully balanced introduction to theoretical aspects of creolistics as well as an even-handed discussion of influences on pidgins and creoles which is well illustrated with rare examples of longer texts.
Contents
Part 1 Definitions
Introduction
What is a Creole?
Pidgins and Creoles in Linguistics
Part 2 Once long ago, not too long ago: Theories of Genesis
Introduction
The superstratal target
The substratal essence
The universalist dimension
Part 3 An' den de news spread across de lan': The Creole Continuum
Quibbles and queries
Part 4 Crick crack, monkey break 'e back for a piece of pommerac?: Language Planning
Introduction
Language planning: definitions and stages
Case study: Language planning in Trinidad.
