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Mann, Charles C. – 1993
An analysis of the polysemic nature of prepositions in pidgins and creoles (PCs) looks at the analytic nature of PCs and the pervasive variability in their grammars, and then focuses on usage of the preposition "fo" in Anglo-Nigerian Pidgin (ANP), likely borrowed from the English "for." It is argued that while this is not the…
Descriptors: African Languages, Creoles, English, Foreign Countries
Ferguson, Charles A. – 1968
For the linguist interested in typology and language universals, this paper suggests the usefulness of a taxonomy of copula and copula-like constructions in the world's languages and the elaboration of hypotheses of synchronic variation and diachronic change in this part of language. For the linguist interested in child language development, the…
Descriptors: Child Language, Classification, Creoles, Grammar
Le Page, R. B. – 1988
A discussion on the nature of language argues the following: (1) the concept of a closed and finite rule system is inadequate for the description of natural languages; (2) as a consequence, the writing of variable rules to modify such rule systems so as to accommodate the properties of natural language is inappropriate; (3) the concept of such…
Descriptors: Creoles, Descriptive Linguistics, Foreign Countries, French
Flick, William C.; Gilbert, Glenn G. – 1976
This paper examines the differences between second language learning and pidginization to better understand the mechanisms involved in each process. Current research suggests similarities between the two. Both are characterized by reduction and simplification. Grammatical transformations tend to be eliminated, along with inflectional markers of…
Descriptors: Determiners (Languages), Form Classes (Languages), Grammar, Language Patterns
Bajao, Elpie; Thomas, Dicks – 1991
The workbook is designed for teaching Melanesian Pidgin English (Tokpisin) sentence structure to Peace Corps volunteers. It addresses sentence structures that are common to most languages, and uses listening, speaking, translation, and other grammar drills and exercises to reinforce learning. The approach used assumes that a native speaker is…
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Grammar, Language Patterns, Language Usage
Joseph, Brian D., Ed.; Zwicky, Arnold M., Ed. – 1990
Papers from the conference on the occurrence of verbal constituents in series in certain languages, particularly pidgins and creoles, include the following: "What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Serial Verbs?" (Arnold M. Zwicky); "Serial Verb Constructions" (Pieter Seuren); "On the Definition and Distribution of…
Descriptors: Arabic, Chinese, Creoles, Definitions
Melby, Alan K., Ed. – 1997
Fifty-nine papers on language research and linguistic theory from the annual forum address these topics: correctness in language; aspects of neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics; historical linguistics and language evolution; linguistic philosophy; aspects of syntax; aspects of discourse analysis; lexicon and semantics; language contact and…
Descriptors: Alphabets, Alzheimers Disease, Contrastive Linguistics, Diachronic Linguistics
Emmorey, Karen, Ed.; Reilly, Judy S., Ed. – 1995
A collection of papers addresses a variety of issues regarding the nature and structure of sign language, gesture, and gesture systems. Articles include: "Theoretical Issues Relating Language, Gesture, and Space: An Overview" (Karen Emmorey, Judy S. Reilly); "Real, Surrogate, and Token Space: Grammatical Consequences in ASL American…
Descriptors: American Sign Language, Body Language, Brain Hemisphere Functions, Comparative Analysis
Drouin, Patrick, Ed.; And Others – 1993
Papers from a 1993 conference on linguistics, all in French, include essays on the following: Yoruba morphophonology; literary Arabic morphophonology; grammatical cohesion in Burushaski; phonological and lexical variation in French Canadian dialects, including Acadian; insults in Madrid Spanish; discourse analysis; maintenance of meaning in…
Descriptors: African Languages, American Indians, Arabic, Berber Languages