Development and Stages of Pidgins and Creoles towards Decreolization. A Phonological Analysis

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2011 , 20 Pages , Grade: 2,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

First, I will briefly portray the emergence of pidgin and creole languages and their development towards the post-creole continuum. I will examine the different types of pidgin-creole developments and the phenomenon of decreolizing - the approximation of the creole towards the lexifier by using the example of the Hawaiian Creole that I will also portray out of a socio-historical point of view. That creole is officially still called ‘Hawai’i Pidgin’ by its speakers, but I will avoid using that term in my paper.
Therefore, the term Hawai’i Creole English, short HCE, is more appropriate. Furthermore, I will deal with HCE’s phonology, especially with its difference to Standard English, in detail – due to the question whether HCE is decreolizing or not. As Norval S. H. Smith states, creole phonology is a “neglected field” and “younger languages” have the tendency to be not as much irregular as “elder language” tend to be.

Content

1. Introduction

2. Development and emergence of Pidgins and Creoles by using the example of Hawai’i Pidgin English
2.1 Emergence of Pidgin and Creole languages
2.2 A brief socio-historical overview of pidgin
2.3 Stages in the development of a pidgin towards a creole
2.4 Further Development: Decreolization

3. Grammatical Features of Hawai’i Pidgin English
3.1 Phonology of Hawai’i Pidgin English with textual proof
3.1.1 Vowels in Hawai’i Pidgin English
3.1.2 Consonants in Hawai’i Pidgin

4. Conclusion

5. Bibliography

• College: University of Rostock (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik)
• Course: Enriching English
• Grade: 2,3
• Author: Thomas Gantner (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 20
• Catalog Number: V300313
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656978657
• ISBN (Book): 9783656978664
• Language: English
• Tags: pidgin, creole, bible, contact, Hawaii, plantage, post-creole, Standard Englisch, influence, phonology, World English, stable, multiculturalism, communication, Jargon, interference, decreolization, Tok Pisin, Honululu, grammatical features, language bioprogram, innovation, vowel, consonant, syllable, rhythm, diphthong, basilect, mesolect