Pidgins and Creoles: An introduction: 15 (Creole Language Library) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9027252378 ISBN 13: 9789027252371

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1994

Synopsis

This introduction to the linguistic study of pidgin and creole languages is clearly designed as an introductory course book. It does not demand a high level of previous linguistic knowledge. Part I: General Aspects and Part II: Theories of Genesis constitute the core for presentation and discussion in the classroom, while Part III: Sketches of Individual Languages (such as Eskimo Pidgin, Haitian, Saramaccan, Shaba Swahili, Fa d'Ambu, Papiamentu, Sranan, Berbice Dutch) and Part IV: Grammatical Features (such as TMA particles and auxiliaries, noun phrases, reflexives, serial verbs, fronting) can form the basis for further exploration. A concluding chapter draws together the different strands of argumentation, and the annotated list provides the background information on several hundred pidgins, creoles and mixed languages.
Diversity rather than unity is taken to be the central theme, and for the first time in an introduction to pidgins and creoles, the Atlantic creoles receive the attention they deserve. Pidgins are not treated as necessarily an intermediate step on the way to creoles, but as linguistic entities in their own right with their own characteristics. In addition to pidgins, mixed languages are treated in a separate chapter.
Research on pidgin and creole languages during the past decade has yielded an abundance of uncovered material and new insights. This introduction, written jointly by the creolists of the University of Amsterdam, could not have been written without recourse to this new material.

About this title

Review

... this is undoubtedly the best book for use as a part of a university course on pidgin and creole languages that has yet appeared." Philip Baker, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 59:2 (1996). "The work is, without doubt, the definitive intoduction to pidgin and creole languages and linguistics. As a textbook, it would be ideal for an introductory or advanced undergraduate course in pidgin and creole languages. -- Dudley K. Nylander, Studies in Language 23.1

Synopsis

This volume of the "Creole Language Library" series examines the social and historical aspects of pidgin and Creole languages, such as Eskimo pidgin, Saramaccan and Papiamento. It looks at the theories of origin of these dialects and common grammatical features.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9027252378
• ISBN 13: 9789027252371
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 430
• Editor: Arends Jacques, Muysken Pieter, Smith Norval