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.