Creole linguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Creole linguistics - Essay Example Further studies shows that they have some aspects of their source grammar, however. Caribbean writer Kamau Brathwaite introduced the term creolisation and since then, both Caribbean and non Caribbean researchers have begun a quest for further studies. Rex Nettleford, Sidney Mintz and Sally Price are some of the persons who have made contributions. Creole has become field of study in linguistics and in the region as well. The definition of creole varies. Its meaning can range from language type to cultural and racial identification. To arrive at a basic definition one has to examine the historical nature. Many writers have theorized the origin of the term creole. Some claim that it is connected to Spanish and or Portuguese language while others trace it back to Africa. There exists a common pattern, however, in creolisation. Creole has also a racial and cultural connotation. In the nineteenth century creole could mean a white person born outside of Europe in the colonies. It could also refer to a Jamaican, or also a person of mixed race. There were also negative attitudes towards creoles. Some whites born in Europe believed the creoles to be inferior. On the other hand the creole blacks thought themselves superior to the newly arrived Africans. The creole population was soon to be identified by new culture and attitudes. Creoles were also identified by their adaptation to the new environment outside of Africa. Eventually creole became synonymous with nationalism. Theorists disagree on the definition of creole culture. Some theorists point to Voodoo and Rastafarian religions as elements of creolisation while others parallel the afro Caribbean culture on a whole with creolisation. In order to arrive at a compromise one has to examine certain principles. One of the main principles involves moving away from the search for origin and focusing instead on the available