Superstrate, substrate, and linguistic universal influences in the development of the francophone creole vocalic systems

Rebecca Mercer, Purdue University

Abstract

The distinction between creole and non-creole languages continues to be a source for debate and discussion. Because the environment that sets the stage for creole development is so challenging to simulate, we must rely on what information can be gathered about the creoles of the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries. For the most part, we know the ingredients. There is a socially dominant people, there are socially subordinate peoples, and often there are indigenous peoples, each group with their own language or languages. This diversity of elements provides inspiration for the proposition of creole developmental hypotheses. As mentioned by Singler (1988), I would like to suggest the combination of three hypotheses as the basis for a model of creole genesis: it is the variable balance of superstratal, substratal, and linguistic universal influences that shapes the development of a creole. It is through the development of the vocalic system that I have chosen to discuss the development of the creole. I have chosen four Francophone creoles to examine: Haitian, French Guyanese, Reunion, and Louisiana creoles. To further clarify the conditions of development, I have given the Colonialist Era French vocalic system, as well as common African language vocalic systems. Finally, I have looked at each of the vocalic systems, the social contexts for each, and proposed the driving factors for the manner in which each vocalic system developed in the way that it did. This work expands upon the corpus of vocalic system analysis in creole development (Holm 2000), and defends the theories proposed by Singler (1988).

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Brown, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Linguistics

COinS