Decreolization
Encyclopedia
Decreolization is a hypothetical phenomenon whereby over time a creole language
reconverges with one of the standard languages from which it originally derived. First proposed by Keith Whinnom at the 1968 Mona conference, the concept has come under fire in recent years from such linguists as Bickerton
and Rickford
since at its inception it sought to overturn long-held elements of the theory of creole continua
.
may undergo when in contact with one of its parent languages, particularly if the parent language is ascribed a prestige
value. To put it another way, in decreolization, the influence of the superstrate language dismantles influences from substrate languages
.
If one views pidgin
ization as a process of simplification, reduction
, and admixture from substrate languages
, and creolization as the expansion of the language to combat reduction, then decreolization attacks both simplification and admixture.
As languages remain in contact over time, they inevitably influence one another. Typically, the language with higher prestige (most often the lingua franca
) will exert a much greater influence on the lower prestige language (the creole
). This leads to the reintroduction of complexities, irregularities and redundancies into the creole from the source language. Elements of other sources begin to disappear as there is less and less linguistic territory for them to cover. It is theorized that eventually the creole will resemble the source language to such a degree that it can then be called a dialect
of that language rather than a separate language at all.
Another name for a near-fully decreolized language is a “vestigial post-creole.”
and Standard English
, shows evidence of decreolization. Jamaican Creole is much more akin to standard English than most other English-based creole languages
. Also, the creole is recognized by Jamaicans as “bad English,” the more standard varieties being more common in educated and urban settings, so there is conscious effort made to alter the speech of poorer, rural folk towards the English norm
. The conclusion of this is that Jamaican exists in a post-creole speech continuum
in which the less prestigious varieties are undergoing decreolization.
consider it to be a prime example of decreolization. According to this viewpoint, AAVE developed from a pidginized form of English with African influences used to communicate between slaves. This then developed into a creole language
which, over hundreds of years of contact with standard varieties of American English
, has undergone decreolization to the point that it is now simply a low prestige dialect of English. Proponents of this viewpoint label AAVE a vestigial post-creole.
This view is not without controversy, as there are many other studies indicating that structures found within AAVE are also present in isolated British Isles populations, suggesting that AAVE and other varieties of American English simply retained different aspects of a larger linguistic pool over time.
and Cape Verde
in Africa, to Macau
and Daman
in Asia. The Asian creoles existed in continua with forms of Portuguese and underwent a process of decreolization when these places were still overseas provinces of Portugal. In Africa, decreolization occurred in more recent times.
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
reconverges with one of the standard languages from which it originally derived. First proposed by Keith Whinnom at the 1968 Mona conference, the concept has come under fire in recent years from such linguists as Bickerton
Derek Bickerton
Derek Bickerton is a linguist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Based on his work in creole languages in Guyana and Hawaii, he has proposed that the features of creole languages provide powerful insights into the development of language both by individuals and as a...
and Rickford
John R. Rickford
John Russell Rickford is an American academic and author. His book Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English, which he wrote together with his son, Russell J. Rickford, won the American Book Award in 2000. Rickford is the J.E...
since at its inception it sought to overturn long-held elements of the theory of creole continua
Post-creole speech continuum
The Post-creole continuum or simply creole continuum refers to a situation wherein a creole language consists of a spectrum of varieties between those most and least similar to the superstrate language...
.
Overview
Decreolization is a process of homogenization a creole languageCreole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
may undergo when in contact with one of its parent languages, particularly if the parent language is ascribed a prestige
Prestige dialect
In sociolinguistics, prestige describes the level of respect accorded to a language or dialect as compared to that of other languages or dialects in a speech community. The concept of prestige in sociolinguistics is closely related to that of prestige or class within a society...
value. To put it another way, in decreolization, the influence of the superstrate language dismantles influences from substrate languages
Substratum
In linguistics, a stratum or strate is a language that influences, or is influenced by another through contact. A substratum is a language which has lower power or prestige than another, while a superstratum is the language that has higher power or prestige. Both substratum and superstratum...
.
If one views pidgin
Pidgin
A pidgin , or pidgin language, is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the...
ization as a process of simplification, reduction
Relaxed pronunciation
Relaxed pronunciation is a phenomenon that happens when the syllables of common words are slurred together...
, and admixture from substrate languages
Substratum
In linguistics, a stratum or strate is a language that influences, or is influenced by another through contact. A substratum is a language which has lower power or prestige than another, while a superstratum is the language that has higher power or prestige. Both substratum and superstratum...
, and creolization as the expansion of the language to combat reduction, then decreolization attacks both simplification and admixture.
As languages remain in contact over time, they inevitably influence one another. Typically, the language with higher prestige (most often the lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
) will exert a much greater influence on the lower prestige language (the creole
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
). This leads to the reintroduction of complexities, irregularities and redundancies into the creole from the source language. Elements of other sources begin to disappear as there is less and less linguistic territory for them to cover. It is theorized that eventually the creole will resemble the source language to such a degree that it can then be called a dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of that language rather than a separate language at all.
Another name for a near-fully decreolized language is a “vestigial post-creole.”
Jamaican Creole
Jamaican Creole, which exists in continuum with Jamaican EnglishJamaican English
Jamaican English or Jamaican Standard English is a dialect of English spoken in Jamaica. It melds parts of both American English and British English dialects, along with many aspects of Irish intonation...
and Standard English
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
, shows evidence of decreolization. Jamaican Creole is much more akin to standard English than most other English-based creole languages
English-based creole languages
An English-based creole language is a creole language that was significantly influenced by the English language...
. Also, the creole is recognized by Jamaicans as “bad English,” the more standard varieties being more common in educated and urban settings, so there is conscious effort made to alter the speech of poorer, rural folk towards the English norm
Norm (sociology)
Social norms are the accepted behaviors within a society or group. This sociological and social psychological term has been defined as "the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. These rules may be explicit or implicit...
. The conclusion of this is that Jamaican exists in a post-creole speech continuum
Post-creole speech continuum
The Post-creole continuum or simply creole continuum refers to a situation wherein a creole language consists of a spectrum of varieties between those most and least similar to the superstrate language...
in which the less prestigious varieties are undergoing decreolization.
AAVE
Many who study the formation of African American Vernacular English (AAVE)African American Vernacular English
African American Vernacular English —also called African American English; less precisely Black English, Black Vernacular, Black English Vernacular , or Black Vernacular English —is an African American variety of American English...
consider it to be a prime example of decreolization. According to this viewpoint, AAVE developed from a pidginized form of English with African influences used to communicate between slaves. This then developed into a creole language
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
which, over hundreds of years of contact with standard varieties of American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
, has undergone decreolization to the point that it is now simply a low prestige dialect of English. Proponents of this viewpoint label AAVE a vestigial post-creole.
This view is not without controversy, as there are many other studies indicating that structures found within AAVE are also present in isolated British Isles populations, suggesting that AAVE and other varieties of American English simply retained different aspects of a larger linguistic pool over time.
Portuguese creoles
Decreolization processes occurred in creoles ranging from São Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
and Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
in Africa, to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and Daman
Daman
Daman may refer to:Places:*Daman, Daman and Diu, a city in India*Daman District, India*Daman and Diu, a former Portuguese colony in India*Daman District, Afghanistan*Daman, Afghanistan, a village*Daman, Nepal, a villagePeople:...
in Asia. The Asian creoles existed in continua with forms of Portuguese and underwent a process of decreolization when these places were still overseas provinces of Portugal. In Africa, decreolization occurred in more recent times.