Abstract
Abstract Baba Malay today is an endangered creole perceived to be a less flexible, easily identifiable language entity with static ascribed qualities. An investigation of resources from the late 1800s and early 1900s shows that such a characterization of early Baba Malay is not possible. Three novels and twenty letters demonstrate a wide range of variation, lexically and grammatically, emphasizing a wide creole continuum that plausibly existed in the heydays of the language. The wide range of variation can be understood to be detracting from, and aligning with the creole’s substrate and lexifier languages, or with the language that was gaining dominance during that time, English. The linguistic ideologies of early Baba Malay speakers and competing pressures in their group identities explain the considerable variation found.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
