Creolization of Language and Culture

Robert Chaudenson

Creolization of Language and Culture is the first English edition of Robert Chaudenson's landmark text Des A(R)les, des hommes, des langues, which has also been fully revised.. With reference to the main varieties of creole French, Chaudenson argues against the traditional account of creole genesis for a more sophisticated paradigm which takes full account of the peculiar linguistic and social factors at play in colonial societies.This is an accessible book which makes an important contribution to the study of pidgin and creole language varieties, as well as to the development of contemporary European languages outside Europe. Key features include: Analysis of current debates on the development of creolesDiscussion of many aspects of human culture including music, medicine, cooking, magic and folkloreTranslation of all French sources from which Chaudenson quotes extensively

List of illustrations, Editor's foreword, Preface, 1 Creole people and languages, 2 Concepts and settings: the case of French creoles, 3 Theories of linguistic creolization, 4 Toward a theory of creolization: the sociohistorical and sociolinguistic approach, 5 Linguistic creolization, 6 Creolization of cultural systems, 7 Creole music, 8 Creole cuisine, 9 Creole folk medicine and magic, 10 Creole oral literature, 11 General conclusions, References, Index