creole
Let an agent explain creole languages and their formation, relay classification by lexifier and region from linguistic sources, present theories of creole genesis with attribution, and distinguish creoles from pidgins and dialects, without prejudice.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain creole languages and their formation, relay classification by lexifier and region from linguistic sources, present theories of creole genesis with attribution, and distinguish creoles from pidgins and dialects, without prejudice.
A stable natural language that developed from a pidgin or contact variety and became the native language of a community, typically with vocabulary from a lexifier such as English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Arabic or Japanese and grammar shaped by contact, including English-based creoles such as Jamaican Patois and Tok Pisin, French-based creoles such as Haitian Creole and Louisiana Creole, Portuguese-based creoles such as Kristang and the Indo-Portuguese creoles of Kerala, and Melanesian Pidgin varieties; creoles are full languages, and their origins are debated in linguistics.
What it is for: Not applicable; a class of languages.
It can be explain formation and status; relay classification; present genesis theories; distinguish from pidgins.
Distinguishing features
Nativised contact language
Lexifier plus contact grammar
Full linguistic status
Debated origins
What it looks like
Not a visible object; spoken and written languages.
Physical character
creole languages: about 100 count - estimates vary
Haitian Creole speakers: about 12 million
How it is recognised
Native language developed from language contact
English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Arabic and Japanese based creoles; Melanesian Pidgin
Pidgins lack native speakers; mixed languages and dialects differ; creole also names peoples and cuisines
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
develops from - through nativisation
is studied in - within linguistics
In practice
Families and kinds
English-based creoles such as Jamaican Patois, Tok Pisin, Bislama and Krio
French-based creoles such as Haitian, Mauritian and Louisiana Creole
Portuguese-based creoles such as Kristang, Cape Verdean and Indo-Portuguese creoles such as Cannanore
Spanish-based creoles such as Chavacano and Palenquero
Dutch, Arabic and Japanese-based creoles
Melanesian Pidgin varieties
Standards and regulation
Official language status in countries such as Haiti, Seychelles, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu
Orthography standards for individual creoles
ISO 639 language codes
Failure modes and hazards
Treating creoles as broken forms of their lexifiers
Presenting genesis theories as settled
Confusing creole languages with creole peoples
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.creole
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a creole is.
Linguistics.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a creole language, and how does it differ from a pidgin, a dialect and a mixed language? definition
- Is the question about creole languages, creole peoples or creole cuisine? boundary
Classification
Classification.
Classification
Classification.
- How are creoles classified by lexifier and region, from Kristang to Melanesian Pidgin? definition
- Which entry fits the specific creole? action
Origins Origins.
Attribution.
Genesis
Genesis theories.
Genesis
Genesis.
- What theories of creole genesis exist, from substrate and superstrate to bioprogram and gradualist views, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
History
Historical contexts.
History
History.
- How did slavery, trade and colonisation shape creole formation, as historians describe? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Status Status and use.
Regulation.
Official
Official status.
Official
Official.
- Which creoles have official status, and how are they used in education and media? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Attitudes
Attitudes.
Attitudes
Attitudes.
- How have attitudes to creoles changed, and what stigma persists, with attribution? provenance
- Which entry fits language attitudes? action
Context Structure and culture.
Context.
Structure
Structure.
Structure
Structure.
- What grammatical features do creoles share, and what does that show about language? provenance
- Which entry fits creole grammar? action
Culture
Culture.
Culture
Culture.
- How do creoles feature in literature, music and identity? provenance
- Which entry fits creole literature? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should Haitian Creole and Tok Pisin be separate primary entries?
- How should linguistic databases be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming languages and groupings; should they be split off?