The Middle English creole hypothesis is the concept that the English language is a creole, which is typically a language that developed from a pidgin. The vast differences between Old English and Middle English have led some historical linguists to claim that the language underwent creolisation at around the 11th century, during the Norman conquest of England.
Only an estimated 26% of English words are of Germanic origin. However, these include the core vocabulary and most commonly used words in the language.
The theory was first proposed in 1977 by C. Bailey and K. Maroldt and has found both supporters and detractors in the academic world.[1] Different versions of the hypothesis refer to creolisation by contact between Old English and Norman French, between Old English and Old Norse or even interaction between Common Brittonic and English, however evidence supporting the influence of the Celtic languages on English is hampered by a lack of written sources.[2][3]
The argument in favour of the Middle English creole hypothesis comes from the extreme reduction in inflected forms from Old to Middle English. The declension of nouns was radically simplified and analogised. The verb system also lost many old patterns of conjugation. Many strong verbs were reanalysed as weak verbs. The subjunctivemood became much less distinct. Syntax was also simplified somewhat, with word order becoming more rigid. Those grammatical simplifications resemble those observed in pidgins, creoles and other contact languages, which arise when speakers of different languages need to communicate. Such contact languages usually lack the inflections of either parent language or drastically simplify them.
Rebuttal
The Middle English creole hypothesis has been rejected by multiple researchers. A thorough rebuttal was presented by Sarah Thomason and Terrence Kaufman.[4] They consider the case for creolization with Old Norse or a French dialect but conclude that in both cases the observed influences can be best explained through moderate borrowing. They specifically note that claimed influences on morphology and syntax are the long-term outcomes of internal processes which began in English before the relevant period, and that the heaviest period of borrowing for French vocabulary occurred after that language ceased to be spoken by most elites. They also note that a number of innovations in English during this period are also seen in other Germanic languages, suggesting that wider historical-linguistic trends were influencing the language.
Another key argument against the creole hypothesis is that English retains a high number (283) of irregular verbs, just like other Germanic languages, a linguistic trait that is usually the first to disappear in creoles and pidgins.[5]
p. 19, A History of the English Language, Hogg & Denison, 2006
p. 128, The History of English, Singh, 2005
^Görlach, M., "Middle English – a creole?", in Linguistics Across Historical and Geographical Boundaries, Part 1, de Gruyter 1986, pp. 329ff.
^Ryan, Brandy (2005). "Middle English as Creole". homes.chass.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
^Thomason, Sarah Grey; Kaufman, Terrence (1988). Language Contact, Creolization, and Genetic Linguistics. California University Press.
^Tomori, S. H. Olu (1977). The Morphology And Syntax Of Present Day English: An Introduction. London: Heinemann Educational. ISBN0435928945. OCLC 4043056.
Bibliography
Curzan, Anne (2003) Gender Shifts in the History of English (section 2.6 The gender shift and the Middle English creole question)
Dalton-Puffer, Christiane (1995) "Middle English is a Creole and its Opposite: on the value of plausible speculation" in Jacek Fisiak (ed), Linguistic Change Under Contact Conditions
Görlach, Manfred (1986) Middle English: a creole? in Dieter Kastovsky, et al. (eds), Linguistics Across Historical and Geographical Boundaries
Thomason, Sarah Grey & Kaufman, Terrence (1988) Language Contact, Creolization, and Genetic Linguistics
External links
Brandy Ryan, "Middle English as Creole: “Still trying not to refer to you lot as ‘bloody colonials’”", University of Toronto, 2005
January 13, 2023
middle, english, creole, hypothesis, concept, that, english, language, creole, which, typically, language, that, developed, from, pidgin, vast, differences, between, english, middle, english, have, some, historical, linguists, claim, that, language, underwent,. The Middle English creole hypothesis is the concept that the English language is a creole which is typically a language that developed from a pidgin The vast differences between Old English and Middle English have led some historical linguists to claim that the language underwent creolisation at around the 11th century during the Norman conquest of England Contents 1 History 2 Rebuttal 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory Edit Only an estimated 26 of English words are of Germanic origin However these include the core vocabulary and most commonly used words in the language The theory was first proposed in 1977 by C Bailey and K Maroldt and has found both supporters and detractors in the academic world 1 Different versions of the hypothesis refer to creolisation by contact between Old English and Norman French between Old English and Old Norse or even interaction between Common Brittonic and English however evidence supporting the influence of the Celtic languages on English is hampered by a lack of written sources 2 3 The argument in favour of the Middle English creole hypothesis comes from the extreme reduction in inflected forms from Old to Middle English The declension of nouns was radically simplified and analogised The verb system also lost many old patterns of conjugation Many strong verbs were reanalysed as weak verbs The subjunctive mood became much less distinct Syntax was also simplified somewhat with word order becoming more rigid Those grammatical simplifications resemble those observed in pidgins creoles and other contact languages which arise when speakers of different languages need to communicate Such contact languages usually lack the inflections of either parent language or drastically simplify them Rebuttal EditThe Middle English creole hypothesis has been rejected by multiple researchers A thorough rebuttal was presented by Sarah Thomason and Terrence Kaufman 4 They consider the case for creolization with Old Norse or a French dialect but conclude that in both cases the observed influences can be best explained through moderate borrowing They specifically note that claimed influences on morphology and syntax are the long term outcomes of internal processes which began in English before the relevant period and that the heaviest period of borrowing for French vocabulary occurred after that language ceased to be spoken by most elites They also note that a number of innovations in English during this period are also seen in other Germanic languages suggesting that wider historical linguistic trends were influencing the language Another key argument against the creole hypothesis is that English retains a high number 283 of irregular verbs just like other Germanic languages a linguistic trait that is usually the first to disappear in creoles and pidgins 5 See also EditEnglish based creole languages History of English Influence of French on English Language convergence Type of linguistic changeReferences Edit This judgement is found in these books p 19 A History of the English Language Hogg amp Denison 2006 p 128 The History of English Singh 2005 Gorlach M Middle English a creole in Linguistics Across Historical and Geographical Boundaries Part 1 de Gruyter 1986 pp 329ff Ryan Brandy 2005 Middle English as Creole homes chass utoronto ca Retrieved 2019 01 18 Thomason Sarah Grey Kaufman Terrence 1988 Language Contact Creolization and Genetic Linguistics California University Press Tomori S H Olu 1977 The Morphology And Syntax Of Present Day English An Introduction London Heinemann Educational ISBN 0435928945 OCLC 4043056 Bibliography EditCurzan Anne 2003 Gender Shifts in the History of English section 2 6 The gender shift and the Middle English creole question Dalton Puffer Christiane 1995 Middle English is a Creole and its Opposite on the value of plausible speculation in Jacek Fisiak ed Linguistic Change Under Contact Conditions Gorlach Manfred 1986 Middle English a creole in Dieter Kastovsky et al eds Linguistics Across Historical and Geographical Boundaries Thomason Sarah Grey amp Kaufman Terrence 1988 Language Contact Creolization and Genetic LinguisticsExternal links EditBrandy Ryan Middle English as Creole Still trying not to refer to you lot as bloody colonials University of Toronto 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Middle English creole hypothesis amp oldid 1109568430, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
