The Syntax of Mauritian Creole

Creole languages have in recent years become a valuable source of data for current theories of syntax and theories of child/adult language acquisition. However, grammars of these languages, particularly those couched within theoretical frameworks of one kind of another, are few and far between. This book contributes directly to creole linguistics by providing a detailed study of different aspects of the syntax of Mauritian creole within the theoretical framework of Principles and Parameters (Chomsky, 1981) and Minimalism (1995). It gives the reader a detailed account of the structure of this language and insight into the nature of creole languages, with implications for current cartographic and minimalist thinking on the structure and derivation of phrases and clauses. It will appeal to researchers of grammar and syntax, language acquisition, contact linguistics and sociolinguistics.

Anand Syea

1. Introduction 2. Overview of the grammar of Mauritian Creole 3. The structure of clauses 4. The structure of noun phrases 5. The syntax of tense, mood and aspect markers 6. The syntax of negation 7. Verb complementation and the structure of verb phrases 8. The structure of complementizer phrases Notes Bibliography Index