Pidgins and Creoles

by Ishtla Singh

Overview

Pidgins and creoles have always attracted a great deal of interest - academic and otherwise - but in recent decades they have become increasingly important as a field of linguistic inquiry. Placing pidgins and creoles in the wider setting of linguistic theory, this book bridges the gap between introductory material and primary material, revising students' knowledge of the field as well as acquainting them with key areas of debate in pidgin and creole studies. The author provides a carefully balanced introduction to theoretical aspects of creolistics as well as an even-handed discussion of influences on pidgins and creoles which is well illustrated with rare examples of longer texts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780340700952
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/28/2000
Series:	A Hodder Arnold Publication Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Part 1 Definitions
Introduction
What is a Creole?
Pidgins and Creoles in Linguistics
Part 2 Once long ago, not too long ago: Theories of Genesis
Introduction
The superstratal target
The substratal essence
The universalist dimension
Part 3 An' den de news spread across de lan': The Creole Continuum
Quibbles and queries
Part 4 Crick crack, monkey break 'e back for a piece of pommerac?: Language Planning
Introduction
Language planning: definitions and stages
Case study: Language planning in Trinidad.

Editorial Reviews

Singh's work is an excellent introduction to the field of pidgins and creoles.
Journal of Sociolinguistics

Singh's book is very readable.
The Carrier Pidgin

The book of Ishtla Singh is a surprise as one hears the voice of a Creole speaking scholar and discovers the presentation of known material from an entirely new point of view, that of the Creole speaker. I am sure that this book will encourage students to major in Pidgin and Creole studies.
Elena Perekhvalskaya Milkova, St. Petersburg Unive

Singh's book is an excellent introductory textbook written in a very readable style from a native speaker's perspective.
Year's Work in English Studies

From the Publisher