Languages in Contact Flashcards
Tok Pisin Morph & Lex
Pronoun system includes 1stperson inclusive and 1stperson exclusive as well as dual and trial. e.g: Dual, 1st Inclusive: yumitupela(you and I)
Tok Pisin Syntax
Common ellipsis of the verb ‘to be’ as an auxiliary or as the copular verb
‘i‘ is a predicate marker
No determiners, Few conjunctions, Few prepositions
Quote: India -ve
“It is incomprehensible that the majority of people in India are being oppressed by the mere lack of knowledge of a language.” (English in India Notes)
Quote: India -ve
To give millions a knowledge of English is to enslave them… (Ghandi)
Hinglish: Syntax
Omitted pronouns ‘rained yesterday only
Articles often omitted (or inserted)’let’s go to city’
Hinglish: Morph/Lex
Substantial lexical borrowings*Indian languages –durzi‘tailor’
It can announce specific identities, create meaning, facilitate interpersonal relationship and foster solidarity
Singlish Features
Plurals often not marked on nouns
Frequent repetition of words for emphasis or intensity
Pragmatic Particles (Singlish)
Pragmatic particles(borrowed from Hokkienand other Chinese languages) ‘Her dress is too short lah’
Removal of subordinating conjunctions (Singlish)
Conditional clauses without a subordinating conjunction(e.g. if and when)a. You sit there, then where I sit? (if)
Elision of ‘to be’ (Singlish)
“She scared’. (is)
Singlish Quote: -ve
Standard English has so much economic power that many feel Singlish is sub-standard. (Singlish Notes)
Singlish Quote: +ve
“a means of conveying solidarity and rapport among Singaporeans” (Singapore Colloquial English)
Singlish Quote
“less-educated Singaporeans, hold decidedly anti-Singlish views…those who have had fewer opportunities…, yearn for the upward mobility that this prestige variety promises.”
AbE: Lex/Semantics
A lot of regional variation. For example: monatj W.A.
booliman Qld
gunji/gunjibal N.S.W.
AbE: Morph/Syntax
Plural is often marked lexically rather than an inflectional morpheme. lotsa
