Contact and language convergence

Abstract

This chapter presents the two major senses of language convergence. In the first sense, a language system becomes in part more like another language system as a result of contact-induced change. In the second sense, a language system is gradually absorbed into another language system to the extent that a new language evolves which contains essential features of both. The chapter explores the commoner form of language convergence, with examples from languages which have undergone interesting instances of convergence in various parts of their structures. Many languages which have been listed together with pidgins or creoles, for example, may be better classified as being languages of other kinds. For example, Europe has hosted a number of Para-Romani varieties. These combine quantities of Romani lexicon (including some function words) with a structurally regularized version of the morphosyntax of the local language.</p