(off-list) Re: Creole languages (was Who is Eddy Peters?)

[Mark Odegard]

>From: Salikoko Mufwene

>Almost every linguist I know who does research on English <knows> or
><asumes>
>>that English is a creole. I am mystified by your comment.
>
>Not this one., and I can think of quite a few who would side with me.

We are partly arguing about the definition of a creole. The Britannica's is
a good start:
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/0/0,5716,28290+1+27846,00.html?query=creole

A creole is not a 'daughter language' in the sense Modern English is the
daughter of Middle English. A creole is an example of language replacement,
in this case, a hybrid based on a dominant language, plus elements from at
least one other language to create a new language, one that is more of a
step-daughter than a daughter of the dominant language. This does not
describe what French did to English post 1066.

Yes, all languages are 'new', just as all newborn babies are new, but all
babies have mothers.

And, yes. While every languages has its internal changes, most language
changes seem to be driven by stressful contact with another language.


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