Language and Society Flashcards

Question

Examples of Lexical Features in Creole

Answer 1

* Amerindian - eg cassava, iguana, maraca, Hewanalau, mabouya * European - standard vocabulary used in those languages * African - eg bakra, nyam, yam, makak, duppy, senseh, pickney, bondah * East Indian - eg dhal, sari, roti, marajhin, curry, dhoti, brahmin; * Chinese - eg chow mein, wonton, soy

Answer 2

Creoles share their vocabulary with the dominant European languages but in many instances: * Shared words have different parts of speech * Shared words have different meanings

Answer 3

Creole stink (adjective): It smelling stink Standard Englsih stink (verb or noun) : The room stinks

Answer 4

Ignorant Creole: ill-tempered English: lacking knowledge

Answer 5

**Nouns are unmarked for plural forms.** - Plural markers such as ‘s’ , ‘es’ or ‘ies’ or irregular plural forms are not used. English - Creole Mangoes are sweet - mango sweet Two feet - two foot

Answer 6

**Verbs are unmarked for past tense** * No past tense markers such as ‘ed’ or irregular forms are used * Instead the simple present tense form is used Example: i. I went there last night - Me go there last night

Answer 7

**Preverbal markers such as 'did' and 'had' are used as past tense markers** * Example: i. I called her - I did call she ii. I told her - I had tell her;

Answer 8

**Continuous marker such as ‘a’ or ‘does’ are used to show continuing or habitual action** * Example: * You have been begging me for a while now - Long time you a beg me * I study really hard - I does study real hard

Answer 9

**Absent copula (auxiliary verb).** * The auxiliary or linking verb, also known as a copula verb is usually absent in creole sentences. Examples: i. I am going - I goin; ii. She is not there - She not dere

Answer 10

**Double Negatives.** * Two negatives do not make a positive in creole. Examples: a. I am not going anywhere - I not going nowher, b. She doesn’t know anything - She doh know notin/nofin,

Answer 11

**. The apostrophe which is a possession marker is absent in creoles.** Examples: i. The girl’s book - Da girl book, ii. That is Omar’s cat - Omar cat dat dere

Answer 12

Examples: i. I am sick - Me sick, ii. This is for us -Dis is for we,

Answer 13

**Questions in creoles usually do not make use of interrogative words such as Are/Is, Do/Does.** **Instead, intonation is used to indicate that it is question.** Examples: i. Are you going to church? - You goin to church?; ii. Do you like cake? - You like cake?

Answer 14

**When the elements that are being highlighted is focused or transposed to the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.** Examples: i. I am tired - Tired I tired, ii. She is crying - Cry she crying, iii. I have fallen - Fall I fall iv. It is mine – Mine that there

Answer 15

**When words are repeated several times to show degree of intensity.** Examples: i. She is very sick - She sick, sick sick ii. I ran for a long time - I run, run, run, run, run iii. The man is extremely ugly - The fella ugly ugly ugly

Answer 16

**Also known as double marking in creoles, where concepts are repeated for emphasis and comprehension.** Examples: i. Reverse into the garage - Reverse back into the garage ii. The reason for saying this – The reason why I said that

Answer 17

**A word to word translation from one language to the next.** Examples: Nostrils – nose hole Sole – foot bottom give someone a look of anger, disapproval or envy- watch somebody cut-eye

Answer 18

When a bilingual or multilingual speaker is interacting with others within the same language situation, he or she may choose a code or language that he deems as appropriate for the participants and within that context.

Answer 19

* Purpose or function * Content of message * Participants or audience - age, gender, education level * Context or Situation * Society * Cultural norms * Social Status * Gender * Occupation

Answer 20

* **REGISTER refers to the code or language that a speaker or writer chooses to use in a particular situation, setting, or context.** * Language Registers range on a scale from most formal to least formal.

Answer 21

1. Frozen 2. Formal 3. Consultative 4. Casual 5. Intimate 6. Private

Answer 22

**Where the use of language is fixed and relatively static** * Features: Predominantly standard structures, foreign phrases (Latin) * Examples: national pledge, anthem, school creeds, the Lord's Prayer, Miranda rights, protocol lists

Answer 23

**This describes language used in official and ceremonial settings** * Features: Standard features (erudite and school maam structures), language used is often of a standard variety * Examples: Would everyone please proceed upstairs?, Please refrain from discourteous behaviour, As per our previous discussion

Answer 24

**Language used for the purpose of seeking assistance/language used in an exchange between two speakers** Features: predominantly standard structures (except in situations where speakers are closely related), non-verbal elements Examples: police officer interrogating a convict, mother dissuading a child from a bad decision, a graduate attending a job interview

Answer 25

**Language used between friends** Features: non-standard structures, non-verbal elements Examples: Where y’all goin’ tonight? Da man real hot! How is me, uh? Dat fete lit, boy! Garcon, lewwe get outta here!

Answer 26

**Language used between persons who share a close relationship or bond** Features: predominantly non-standard, non-verbal elements Examples: Come nuh! You awright, honey? Come talk to Manman. Hey there, chukulukes! What’s up babe!

Answer 27

**Language used in intra- personal communication such as self-talk, private thoughts, daydreams and fantasies** Features: predominantly non-standard structures, non-verbal elements. Examples: Mesye, me dat happen to dere? I feelin’ rel sick. Wam to me..AA!

Answer 28

When a speaker makes his choice and moves from one code or language to another to fit the situation

Answer 29

Opinions, ideas and prejudices that speakers have with respect to any particular language

Language and Society Flashcards

(53 cards)