Pidgins and Creoles occur all over the world and they have been given more and more scholarly attention. Loreto Todd states that “references to their existence go back to the Middle Ages” . In a simplified way, Pidgins and Creoles are mixed languages which have been used when speakers of unlike languages were not able to communicate sufficiently, for instance traders coming from different countries.
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One example of an English-based Creole is Sranan Tongo which is used in the Republic of Suriname.
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The available paper shall deal with the geographical setting, the history and the sociocultural and sociolinguistic background of Sranan Tongo. Furthermore, it shall give a linguistic description including a text sample of the Creole. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Geographical Setting
3. Historical Facts
4. Sociocultural and Sociolinguistic Background
4.1 Population, Religion & Language Today
4.2 The Development of Sranan Tongo
5. Linguistic Description
5.1 Lexicon
5.2 Phonology
5.2.1 Consonants
5.2.2 Vowels
5.3 Grammar
5.3.1 Plurals
5.3.2 Pronoun System
5.3.3 Possession
5.3.4 The Copula
5.3.5 Tense and Aspect
6. Exemplification
7. Conclusion
8. References
Objectives and Scope
This paper examines the geographical, historical, and sociolinguistic context of Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole in Suriname, while providing a detailed linguistic description of its structure and development.
- Historical evolution of Sranan Tongo within the colonial context of Suriname.
- Sociolinguistic analysis of the language's status and usage among diverse ethnic groups.
- Phonological and grammatical characteristics of the creole.
- Lexical origins and influences from European and African languages.
- Analysis of oral narratives as practical examples of the language's structure.
Excerpt from the Book
6. Exemplification
Wan dansi ben de. Dagu no ben abi krosi fu go dansi.
Dan a leni wan bruku na Anansi.
Ma di den go dansi, a bruku ben pikin fu Dagu.
Te Dagu e dansi, a e bradi en futu.
A fosi tron Anansi kari en kon na wan sey, a taki,
‘Mati, luku bun, yu broko mi bruku.’
A libi en.
Di den e dansi baka, Dagu bradi en futu baka.
Anansi kari en baka, a taki,
‘Mati, luku bun, yu broko mi bruku.’
Ma di fu dri tron di Dagu bradi en futu baka, nomo
Anansi kisi a bruku, hari puru na Dagu skin.
Dati meki te tide Dagu e waka na soso skin.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the general nature of pidgins and creoles and sets the research scope regarding Sranan Tongo.
2. Geographical Setting: Outlines the physical location and demographics of Suriname as the home of the language.
3. Historical Facts: Describes the colonial history of Suriname and the emergence of slavery as the backdrop for language development.
4. Sociocultural and Sociolinguistic Background: Explores the ethnic diversity, religious landscape, and the development of Sranan Tongo as a lingua franca.
5. Linguistic Description: Provides an in-depth analysis of the lexicon, phonology, and grammar of Sranan Tongo.
6. Exemplification: Analyzes an oral narrative to demonstrate the practical application of the language's grammatical rules.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the linguistic significance of the language and its role in Surinamese cultural identity.
8. References: Lists the academic sources used in the paper.
Keywords
Sranan Tongo, Suriname, Creole, Linguistics, Pidgin, Phonology, Grammar, Lexicon, Colonialism, Language Development, Sociolinguistics, Maroons, Language Contact, Tense and Aspect, Oral Narrative
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive sociolinguistic and structural analysis of Sranan Tongo, exploring its historical development in Suriname and its linguistic features.
Which specific areas of the language are analyzed?
The analysis covers the lexicon (vocabulary origins), phonology (sound system), and grammatical structure, including pronouns, possession, and tense/aspect markers.
What is the central research objective?
The goal is to describe how Sranan Tongo emerged from a contact situation and evolved into a full creole language used by the majority of the Surinamese population.
Which linguistic methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes descriptive linguistic methods and relies on works by prominent scholars like Loreto Todd, Ingo Plag, and Mark Sebba to evaluate the creole's patterns.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the geographical and historical background, the sociolinguistic status of the language, and technical descriptions of its linguistic components.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Sranan Tongo, Creole, Suriname, linguistic description, phonology, grammar, and language contact.
How is the influence of other languages described?
The author describes Sranan Tongo as a result of interaction between English (as the superstrate) and various West African dialects (as the substrate), with later influences from Dutch and Portuguese.
What role does the oral narrative play in the analysis?
The narrative serves as a practical example to illustrate how grammatical markers like the tense marker 'ben' and the aspect marker 'e' function in natural speech.
What is the significance of the "annual rings" metaphor?
It illustrates the layered evolution of the lexicon, starting with a Portuguese core, followed by English and Dutch influence, and finally modern borrowings.
- Quote paper
- Ulrike Römer (Author), 2006, Sranan Tongo - An english-based creole in the republic of Suriname, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/79598
