The Appearance and Development of Haitian Creole
The Appearance and Development of Haitian Creole
As written in Jacques Arends’ “Pidgin and Creole: An Introduction,” Haitian Creole first originated from a pidgin. With time, this pidgin gradually developed into a creole, later on becoming the co-official language of Haiti. Haitian Creole may be recognized as one of the official languages, along with French, however there are negative associations linked with this creole. For instance, the stereotypical view of a speaker of Haitian Creole still remains as one who is black, poor, and uneducated.
Slowly however, things are changing; Haitian Creole is becoming more accepted and the knowledge of its existence is growing as its speakers spread across the world. What made this creole grow and thrive out of its own country, transported to other nations all across the world? This paper will study the unfolding of this creole as well as focus on the way it is spoken in the northeastern United States, since studies show that is where most speakers emigrate to, as stated by Zephir in her works. What will also be discussed is the changes the creole underwent, hand in hand with the various perspectives associated with the creole and the factors that lead to its successful spread.
Before even beginning the topic of Haitian Creole’s migration into the United States, it is important to learn more about the language itself. First a brief history on this creole is necessary- to know the origins of this language and the different social and economic factors surrounding it as time passed. As stated before by Arends, Haitian Creole first started from a pidgin between Haitian slaves in the 16th century. As the years progressed, the pidgin was modified, changed, and soon developed into the creole used today. It was spread across Haiti by various media such as television and newspapers until finally in 1987 its official status became verified in the Haitian constitution
(St. Fort). One would think that Haitian
As written in Jacques Arends’ “Pidgin and Creole: An Introduction,” Haitian Creole first originated from a pidgin. With time, this pidgin gradually developed into a creole, later on becoming the co-official language of Haiti. Haitian Creole may be recognized as one of the official languages, along with French, however there are negative associations linked with this creole. For instance, the stereotypical view of a speaker of Haitian Creole still remains as one who is black, poor, and uneducated.
Slowly however, things are changing; Haitian Creole is becoming more accepted and the knowledge of its existence is growing as its speakers spread across the world. What made this creole grow and thrive out of its own country, transported to other nations all across the world? This paper will study the unfolding of this creole as well as focus on the way it is spoken in the northeastern United States, since studies show that is where most speakers emigrate to, as stated by Zephir in her works. What will also be discussed is the changes the creole underwent, hand in hand with the various perspectives associated with the creole and the factors that lead to its successful spread.
Before even beginning the topic of Haitian Creole’s migration into the United States, it is important to learn more about the language itself. First a brief history on this creole is necessary- to know the origins of this language and the different social and economic factors surrounding it as time passed. As stated before by Arends, Haitian Creole first started from a pidgin between Haitian slaves in the 16th century. As the years progressed, the pidgin was modified, changed, and soon developed into the creole used today. It was spread across Haiti by various media such as television and newspapers until finally in 1987 its official status became verified in the Haitian constitution
(St. Fort). One would think that Haitian
References: • Arends, J. Pidgins and creoles, an introduction. Amsterdam/Philadelphia, 1995. Print. • Buxton, C.A., et al. “The Role of Language in Academic and Social Transition of Haitian Children and Their Parents to Urban U.S. Schools.” Bilingual Research Journal. 2007-8. Print. • Joseph, C. M. B... “Haitian Creole in NY.” The Multilingual Apple: Languages in New York City. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 2002. Print. • Muhlhausler, Peter. Pidgin and creole linguistics. Oxford: Blackwell, 1986. Print. • Stephanie. Personal Interview. July 2012. • Fort, H... “What is Haitian Creole?”AHAD. AHAD, 2004. December 2, 2011. Web. • Zephir, F.. “Juggling with Two Cultures: Transnationalism and Hybridity as Cultural Outcomes of Immigration for Haitians in the United States.” Bicultural, Self Identity and Societal Transformation. UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2008. Print. • The New Americans: The Haitian Americans. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2004. Print.