Creole as a Type of Language - Essay Example

Non-compositional derivational morphology, inflection, and contrastive tone were lacking in Creole due to the way the language is acquired. Further studies show that they have some aspects of their source grammar, however.

Some Creoles retain features of their source languages more than others. The prototype hypothesis was a topic for contention.

Caribbean writer Kamau Brathwaite introduced the term creolization and since then, both Caribbean and non-Caribbean researchers have begun a quest for further studies. Rex Nettleford, Sidney Mintz, and Sally Price are some of the people who have made contributions. Creole has become a field of study in linguistics and the region as well.

The definition of creole varies. Its meaning can range from language type to cultural and racial identification. To arrive at a basic definition one has to examine the historical nature. Many writers have theorized the origin of the term creole. Some claim that it is connected to Spanish and or Portuguese language while others trace it back to Africa. There exists a common pattern, however, in creolization. Creole has also a racial and cultural connotation. In the nineteenth century, creole could mean a white person born outside of Europe in the colonies. It could also refer to a Jamaican, or also a person of mixed race. There were also negative attitudes towards Creoles. Some whites born in Europe believed the Creoles to be inferior. On the other hand, the Creole blacks thought themselves superior to the newly arrived Africans. The Creole population was soon to be identified by new culture and attitudes. Creoles were also identified by their adaptation to the new environment outside of Africa. Eventually creole became synonymous with nationalism.

Theorists disagree on the definition of Creole culture. Some theorists point to Voodoo and Rastafarian religions as elements of creolization while others parallel the afro Caribbean culture as a whole with creolization. To arrive at a compromise one has to examine certain principles. One of the main principles involves moving away from the search for the origin and focusing instead on the available features that will lead to better understanding.

The overwhelming interest in Creole and its origin has created new waves in contemporary research and studies in the Caribbean region. What has been revealed in the recent past shows that the suppression and the negative connotations in the past centuries have begun to give way to a new appreciation and understanding of a culture and way of life that has etched patterns in the socio-political landscape of the region. Read More