A Grammar of Saramaccan Creole

Saramaccan has been central to various debates regarding the origin and nature of creole languages. Being the most removed of all English-based creoles from European language structure in terms of phonology, morphology and syntax, it has been seen as one of the most extreme instantiations of the creolization process. This is the first full-length description of Saramaccan. The grammar documents, in particular, a valence-sensitive system of indicating movement and direction via serial verb constructions, hitherto overlooked amidst the generalized phenomenon of serialization itself.

Auteur

John H. McWhorter, Columbia University, New York, USA; Jeff Good, University at Buffalo, New York, USA.

Texte du rabat

The series builds an extensive collection of high quality descriptions of languages around the world. Each volume offers a comprehensive grammatical description of a single language together with fully analyzed sample texts and, if appropriate, a word list and other relevant information which is available on the language in question. There are no restrictions as to language family or area, and although special attention is paid to hitherto undescribed languages, new and valuable treatments of better known languages are also included. No theoretical model is imposed on the authors; the only criterion is a high standard of scientific quality. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Birgit Sievert.

Résumé

"This is undoubtedly an very useful and easy to read grammar that provides researchers with a wealth of information on the language of the Saamaka people."
Bettina Migge in: Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages 34.1 (2019), 162-165