This study focuses on the cognitive processes involved in creole genesis - relexification, reanalysis and direct levelling - processes which the author demonstrates play a significant role in language genesis and change in general. Dr Lefebvre argues that the creators of pidgins/creoles use the parametric values of their native languages in establishing those of the language that they are creating and the semantic principles of their own grammar in concatenating morphemes and words in the new language. This theory is documented on the basis of a uniquely detailed comparison of Haitian creole with its contributing French and West African languages. Summarizing more than twenty years of funded research, the author examines the input of adult, as opposed to child, speakers and resolves the problems in the three main approaches, universalist, superstratist and substratist, which have been central to the recent debate on creole development.

An examination of creole genesis, showing how mechanisms from source languages show themselves in creole.
Reviews
"...[this book] is a model of careful argumentation, including clear description of the methods and assumptions involved in the underlying research...the book is admittedly written for those with special interest in pidgin and creole languages..." Linguistics



Book Information
ISBN 9780521025386
Author Claire Lefebvre
Format Paperback
Page Count 480
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 705g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 154mm * 26mm