Lecture 2: 28 Oct 2009

Locating Caribbean Englishes : 

Language & culture in the Caribbean Wed 28th October, 2009 Locating Caribbean Englishes

Slide 2: 

Teamwork! Working in pairs, come up with a definition for the following terms: ENL - English as Native Language ESL – English as a Second Language EFL – English as a Foreign Language

Kachru’s (1985, 1992) “Three Circles” model : 

Kachru’s (1985, 1992) “Three Circles” model the most influential model of the spread of English Kachru divides World Englishes into three concentric circles: Inner Circle Outer Circle Expanding Circle earlier > recent

Why three circles? : 

Why three circles? What do the three circles represent? “the types of spread, the patterns of acquisition, and the functional allocation of English in diverse cultural contexts” Kachru’s views are quasi-political: superior status should NOT be assigned to ENL countries norms and standards should not be determined by Inner Circle countries English belongs to all those who use it

Slide 5: 

Part I Based on your understanding of the of linguistic landscape in the Caribbean, why is it challenging to fit English-creole speaking, postcolonial territories within Kachru’s framework? Language Trivia: TRUE or FALSE? Guyanese and Jamaican Creole have basilectal forms. Trinidadian Creole has basilectal forms. Regarding ethnicity, the population in Jamaican is largely heterogenous. In Trinidad, ethnic populations are homogenous.

The Dynamic Model of the Evolution of Postcolonial Englishes (Schneider 2003) : 

The Dynamic Model of the Evolution of Postcolonial Englishes (Schneider 2003) This model endeavours to: “describe the typical developmental process [of postcolonial Englishes]…emphasizing those aspects which are most widely shared and observable but also at times suggesting characteristic modifications”(p. 29) capture the diachronic trajectory of postcolonial Englishes over 5-stages: Phase 1: Foundation Phase: Exonormative stabilisation Phase 3: Nativisation Phase 4: Endonormative stabilisation Phase 5: Differentiation

The Dynamic Model of the Evolution of Postcolonial Englishes (cont’d) : 

The Dynamic Model of the Evolution of Postcolonial Englishes (cont’d) The model also takes into account: the “ethnographic ecology” of these former colonial territories Sociopolitical relationships Communicative relationships between parties involved in the colonisation process “strands” of communicative perspective STL strand = settler’s perspective IDG strand = experience and situation of the indigenous population

Why the metaphor of strands? : 

Why the metaphor of strands? Edgar Schneider U. Regensburg “Yet the essential point of my model of two intertwined “strand” is that both groups who share a piece of land increasingly share a common language experience and communication ethnography, and thus the forces of accommodation are effective in both directions and in both communities, and result in dialect convergence and increasingly large shared set of linguistic features & conventions. Ideally, the end result in the emergence of a single, overarching language community with a set of shared norms” (Schneider 2003, p. 32)

The Transatlantic Slave Trade or the Triangular Trade : 

The Transatlantic Slave Trade or the Triangular Trade A minor diversion to the Triangular Trade: 3 journeys: 1. The outward passage from Europe to Africa carrying manufactured goods. 2. The middle passage from Africa to the Americas or the Caribbean carrying African captives and other 'commodities’. 3. The homeward passage carrying sugar, tobacco, rum, rice, cotton and other goods back to Europe.

The Dynamic Model of the Evolution of Postcolonial Englishes (Schneider 2003) : 

The Dynamic Model of the Evolution of Postcolonial Englishes (Schneider 2003)

Slide 11: 

Part II In the literature, the varieties of English spoken in the Caribbean are often referred to as emerging varieties. What do you think this means? Where would you place Jamaica and Trinidad on Schneider’s postcolonial Englishes model? Give reasons for your answer.

Post-lecture plug ins (1 of 2) : 

Post-lecture plug ins (1 of 2) Here’s a summary of some issues that came up in class…plus a pic of Labov with the Atlas of North American English! Sociolinguistics (broad definition): the study of language use in relation to society Labovian sociolinguistics also called variationist sociolinguistics: Language involves “structured heterogeneity.” There is systematic variation in language which can be explained by patterns of social differentiation.

Post-lecture plug ins (2 of 2) : 

Post-lecture plug ins (2 of 2) Here you encounter a new term: lexifier. Here’s the quick and dirty definition: Lexifier: the language from which pidgins/creoles derive most of their vocabulary. In Caribbean English Creoles, the lexifier language is English. Creole continuum Model used to describe language sub-systems between the creole and the standard “There is no sharp cleavage between creole and standard... [but] a linguistic continuum, a continuous spectrum of speech varieties ranging from... ‘bush talk’ or ‘broken language’... to the educated standard [and showing an] extreme degree of variability” (DeCamp 1971) Jamaican, Guyanese, and Tobagonian Creole English Conservative creoles, i.e. they have basilectal, mesolectal, and acrolectal forms. Trinidadian and Barbadian Creole English Decreolising, i.e. creoles becomes more like the lexifier language; they only have mesolectal and acrolectal forms.

Some things I should know : 

Some things I should know Kachru’s Three Circles Model Inner circle Outer circle Expanding circle Schneider’s Postcolonial Englishes Model Foundation Exonormative stabilisation Nativisation Endonormative stabilisation Differentiation Strands of communicative perspective Creole continuum Basilect Mesolect Acrolect Lexifier language Transatlantic slave trade/ Triangular trade Sociolinguistics William Labov Variationist sociolinguistics

Lagniappe: Trini humour : 

Lagniappe: Trini humour

Announcements : 

Announcements No class next week; will send reading questions by Friday which we will discuss the next time we meet