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Simulating the genesis of Mauritian

Simulating the genesis of Mauritian This paper presents a computer simulation of the genesis of Mauritian Creole. The input consists of detailed demographic data and typological information on Mauritian as well as the languages which contributed to its birth. The simulation is deliberately a simplistic one – the idea is to have as few potentially controversial assumptions as possible built into the model, and add additional parameters only to the extent that its output differs from the real-world result. As it turns out, the model generates a language which is highly similar to Mauritian as it is spoken today, and thus, very little “tweaking” seems necessary. Most notably, the model produces the desired result without the postulation of targeted language acquisition, and while one cannot conclude that this was not a part of the creolisation process, our simulation suggests that it is not a necessary assumption. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Acta Linguistica Hafniensia: International Taylor & Francis

Simulating the genesis of Mauritian

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Simulating the genesis of Mauritian

Abstract

This paper presents a computer simulation of the genesis of Mauritian Creole. The input consists of detailed demographic data and typological information on Mauritian as well as the languages which contributed to its birth. The simulation is deliberately a simplistic one – the idea is to have as few potentially controversial assumptions as possible built into the model, and add additional parameters only to the extent that its output differs from the real-world result. As it turns out,...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2014 The Linguistic Circle of Copenhagen
ISSN
1949-0763
eISSN
0374-0463
DOI
10.1080/03740463.2013.900998
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This paper presents a computer simulation of the genesis of Mauritian Creole. The input consists of detailed demographic data and typological information on Mauritian as well as the languages which contributed to its birth. The simulation is deliberately a simplistic one – the idea is to have as few potentially controversial assumptions as possible built into the model, and add additional parameters only to the extent that its output differs from the real-world result. As it turns out, the model generates a language which is highly similar to Mauritian as it is spoken today, and thus, very little “tweaking” seems necessary. Most notably, the model produces the desired result without the postulation of targeted language acquisition, and while one cannot conclude that this was not a part of the creolisation process, our simulation suggests that it is not a necessary assumption.

Journal

Acta Linguistica Hafniensia: International – Taylor & Francis

Published: Nov 1, 2013

Keywords: creole; creolisation; pidginisation; computer simulation; Mauritius; Mauritian French Creole

References

  • Off Target?
  • Motivation in Creole Genesis
  • Investigating the Origin and Diffusion of Shared Features Among the Atlantic English Creoles
  • Productive Bimorphemic Structures and the Concept of Gradual Creolisation
  • Comparative Creole Typology and the Search for the Sources of Mauritian Creole Features
  • The Mauritian Creole Determiner System: A Historical Overview
  • Modelling the Evolution of Creoles
  • Sisters Under the Skin: A Case for Genetic Relationship between the Atlantic English-based Creoles
  • Exposure Dependent Creolization in Language Dynamics Equation
  • Evolution of Universal Grammar
  • Feature Selection and Genetic Relationships Among Atlantic Creoles
  • Toward a Socio-Genetic Solution: Examining Language Formation Processes through SWARM Modeling
  • Back to Nature or Nurture: Using Computer Models in Creole Genesis Research
  • Very Rapid Creolization in the Framework of the Restricted Motivation Hypothesis