Cross-linguistic influence in language creation: Assessing the role of the Gbe languages in the formation of the Creoles of Suriname

The seven related Creole languages spoken in Suriname – Sranan Tongo, Aluku or Boni, Kwinti, Ndyuka or Okanisi, Pamaka, Matawai, and Saamaka – are a unique test case for exploration into the role of language contact and substrate influence in the formation of the Surinamese Creoles, as well as the issues they raise for theories of contact-induced change and Creole formation in particular. Sociohistorical (e.g. Arends, 2002, Hogbergen, 1990a, Hogbergen, 1990b and Thoden van Velzen and Hoogbergen, 2011) and linguistic evidence suggest that they all had their origins in the early Creole that emerged on the plantations of Suriname in the late 17th to early 18th century, that is, roughly between 1660 and 1720. Modern Sranan is a direct continuation of this early contact language while the other Creoles, generally referred to as Maroon Creoles, split off from it as a result of their founders’ flight from the Surinamese plantations at different periods of time. Their common origin is reflected in the similarities they manifest at all levels of linguistic structure, from phonology to morphology, syntax, and lexical semantics (see Winford and Migge, 2004 and Smith and Haabo, 2004 for an overview). Most of these similarities can be attributed to a shared input from the West African substrate languages that were part of the primary input to the formation of these Creoles.First presented at a workshop entitled “A comparative Syntactic Approach to the Historical Development of the Creoles of Suriname”, Ohio State University, May 2010College of Humanities, Ohio State UniversityDepartment of Linguistics Targeted Investment Initiative Grant, Ohio State Universit

Language use at home and performance in English composition in multilingual Ghana

Ghana has witnessed a recurrent debate on the usefulness of indigenous Ghanaian languages in childhood education. It is assumed that using the mother tongue as a Medium of Instruction (MOI) during the early years improves children’s ability to acquire knowledge and other languages. Not everybody subscribes to this view though. There are those who feel that a solid start in English offers children a better chance of succeeding in school and in their careers. Presently, some parents who subscribe to the latter view have taken the extra step of stopping the use of indigenous Ghanaian languages at home. This paper presents the results of our investigation into whether the home language practices of Ghanaian students have any impact on their performance in English written argumentative discourse. The results are based on an analysis of an assigned essay of 92 students from one of Ghana’s best senior high schools. We then correlated their per¬formance with responses they gave to a questionnaire interrogating their background and language use at home. While some speak the native language at home, others grew up speaking exclusively English. We show that students who combine English and native Ghanaian languages at home performed better than those who used only English or only Ghanaian languages.Ghana hat erlebt wiederholt Debatten über den Vorteil des Gebrauchs einheimischer Ghanaischer Sprachen für die kindliche Früherziehung erlebt. Dabei wurde angenommen, dass der Gebrauch der Muttersprache als Unterrichtsmedium (Medium of Instruction = MOI) bei kleinen Kindern deren Lernfähigkeit allgemein und auch in Bezug auf den Erwerb anderer Sprachen fördert. Diese Ansicht ist jedoch nicht unangefochten. Es gibt auch Vertreter der Ansicht, dass ein solider Anfang in Englisch den Kindern bessere Chancen in ihrer schulischen und beruflichen Karriere bietet. Derzeit verzichten einige Eltern, die auf Früherziehung in Englisch setzen, auf den Gebrauch einheimischer ghanaischer Sprachen im häuslichen Umfeld. Dieser Artikel präsentiert die Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung darüber, ob und welche Auswirkungen der Gebrauch heimischer Sprachen darauf hat, wie gut die Schüler im schriftlichen Englisch argumentieren können. Die Ergebnisse basieren auf der Auswertung der Aufsätze von 92 Schülern aus Ghanas besten Sekundar¬schulen. Die Leistungen im Aufsatz wurden mit Angaben über das Sprachverhalten daheim korreliert. Einige der Schüler nutzen daheim die Muttersprachen, während andere rein englischsprachig aufwachsen. Es wird gezeigt, dass diejenigen Schüler, die daheim sowohl Englisch als auch ghanaische Sprachen benutzen, im Aufsatz besser abschnitten als diejenigen, die ausschließlich in Englisch oder in einheimischen sprachen kommunizieren

Celebrating 50 years of ACAL: Selected papers from the 50th Annual Conference on African Linguistics

The papers in this volume were presented at the 50th Annual Conference on African Linguistics held at the University of British Columbia in 2019. The contributions span a range of theoretical topics as well as topics in descriptive and applied linguistics. The papers reflect the typological and genetic diversity of languages in Africa and also represent the breadth of the ACAL community, with papers from both students and more senior scholars, based in North America and beyond. They thus provide a snapshot on current research in African linguistics, from multiple perspectives. To mark the 50th anniversary of the conference, the volume editors reminisce, in the introductory chapter, about their memorable ACALs

Celebrating 50 years of ACAL: Selected papers from the 50th Annual Conference on African Linguistics

The papers in this volume were presented at the 50th Annual Conference on African Linguistics held at the University of British Columbia in 2019. The contributions span a range of theoretical topics as well as topics in descriptive and applied linguistics. The papers reflect the typological and genetic diversity of languages in Africa and also represent the breadth of the ACAL community, with papers from both students and more senior scholars, based in North America and beyond. They thus provide a snapshot on current research in African linguistics, from multiple perspectives. To mark the 50th anniversary of the conference, the volume editors reminisce, in the introductory chapter, about their memorable ACALs

Celebrating 50 years of ACAL: Selected papers from the 50th Annual Conference on African Linguistics

The papers in this volume were presented at the 50th Annual Conference on African Linguistics held at the University of British Columbia in 2019. The contributions span a range of theoretical topics as well as topics in descriptive and applied linguistics. The papers reflect the typological and genetic diversity of languages in Africa and also represent the breadth of the ACAL community, with papers from both students and more senior scholars, based in North America and beyond. They thus provide a snapshot on current research in African linguistics, from multiple perspectives. To mark the 50th anniversary of the conference, the volume editors reminisce, in the introductory chapter, about their memorable ACALs