Episode 23 Creole Languages

Dr John McWhorter (2019)

Film Review

Creole languages are pidgin languages people fabricate when forced to accommodate to foreign speakers once they develop a full grammar, written language and native speakers who speak it as a first language

English Creoles

• Tok Pisin (from English word “business”) – developed in Papua New Guinea in the 19th century when indigenous speakers were forced to interact with Australian newcomers. It began as pidgin language of a few hundred words and ultimately blossomed into a full language. It contains element of Portuguese and a grammar similar to that of Polynesian languages. Used by numerous indigenous Papuan groups, indigenous Australians in northern Australia and Torres Strait islanders.
• West African Pidgin – spoken in Ghana and Nigeria.
• Hawaiian Pidgin
• Jamaican Patois – a English Creole slaves speaking different African languages used to communicate with each another.

French Creoles

• Haitian Creole
• Mauritius Creole
• Louisiana Creole

Spanish Creoles

• Bernard – Creole of Canarian Spanish spoken by the descendants of immigrant Canary Islanders who settled in St. Bernard Parish Louisiana during the late 18th century.
• Curaçao Creole – spoken in Caribbean Island of Curaçcao

Portuguese Creole

• Cape Verdean – spoken on the island of Cape Verde to the west of Senegal.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/6120000/6120046