Kinship semantics and linguistic archaeology: Digging for traces of contact in Suriname Robert Borges
What am I doing exactly? Diachronic investigation of kinship terms for languages in Suriname
What am I doing exactly? Diachronic investigation of kinship terms for languages in Suriname Why? To investigate the role of language contact in semantic change
Why kinship terms? Longstanding interest in kinship systems and terminology by linguists, anthropologists, missionaries and other researchers. Thus, there should be a good availability of both modern and historical data.
Why kinship terms? Semantics of kin terms are often relatively clear cut. A particular person either is or is not your brother.
Languages of Suriname Dutch Sranan Tongo Maroon Creoles -Saramaccan -Ndyuka -etc. Sarnami (Hindi) Kejia (Chinese) Javanese Arawak - Lokono Carib -Kari na -Wayana -Trio
Methodology: List kinship paradigms for each language of Suriname, and its historically related languages using scientific descriptions
Methodology: List kinship paradigms for each language of Suriname, and its historically related languages using scientific descriptions Check if particular terms are used for multiple relationships in the same generation
Ex. Sarnami: bhaaii = brother FaBrSo FaSiSo MoBrSo MoSiSo
Methodology: List kinship paradigms for each language of Suriname, and its historically related languages using scientific descriptions Check if particular terms are used for multiple relationships in the same generation Check if there are words used for multiple relationships across generations
Ex. Dutch: nicht = FaSiDa FaBrDa MoBrDa MoSiDa BrDa SiDa
Methodology: List kinship paradigms for each language of Suriname, and its historically related languages using scientific descriptions Check if particular terms are used for multiple relationships in the same generation Check if there are words used for multiple relationships across generations Check for loan words and how the loan words are integrated into the language system
Ex. Sarnami: swaagri = brother-in-law from ST swagri
Ex. Sarnami: swaagri = brother-in-law from ST swagri Exists along side older narrow terminology as a conflated cover term
WiBr - WiSiHu- HuSiHu- SiHu - Hindi saala saadhu nanadoii bahnoi Sarnami saar saa rhu nandoi bahanoi swaagri
Methodology: List kinship paradigms for each language of Suriname, and its historically related languages using scientific descriptions Check if particular terms are used for multiple relationships in the same generation Check if there are words used for multiple relationships across generations Check for loan words and how theloanwords are integrated into the language system Code semantic features
Methodology: List kinship paradigms for each language of Suriname, and its historically related languages using scientific descriptions Check if particular terms are used for multiple relationships in the same generation Check if there are words used for multiple relationships across generations Check for loan words and how theloanwords are integrated into the language system Code semantic features Cross language comparison
Dutch 1691
Dutch 1691ABN
Dutch 1691ABN Surinamese Dutch
Dutch 1691 neef = MoBrSo MoSiSo FaBrSo FaSiSo BrSo SiSo SoSo DaSo
neef = Dutch 1691 MoBrSo MoSiSo FaBrSo FaSiSo BrSo SiSo SoSo DaSo ABN MoBrSo MoSiSo FaBrSo FaSiSo BrSo SiSo kleinzoon New word, but no change in semantic coding
Dutch 1691 ABN Suriname neef = MoBrSo MoSiSo FaBrSo FaSiSo BrSo SiSo SoSo DaSo MoBrSo MoSiSo FaBrSo FaSiSo BrSo SiSo kleinzoon MoBrSo MoSiSo FaBrSo FaSiSo Broerskind Zusterskind? Semantic change: Alter dependent gender +1 parallel dependent
Hindi & Sarnami Hindi
Hindi & Sarnami Hindi Sarnami
Hindi & Sarnami Si FaBrDa FaoBrDa FaSiDa MoBrDa MoSiDa Hindi bahin caceriibahin tayeraabahin phupheriibahin mameriibahin maoseriibahin
Hindi & Sarnami Si FaBrDa FaoBrDa FaSiDa MoBrDa MoSiDa Hindi bahin caceriibahin tayeraabahin phupheriibahin mameriibahin maoseriibahin Sarnami bahin
Hindi & Sarnami Si FaBrDa FaoBrDa FaSiDa MoBrDa MoSiDa Hindi bahin caceriibahin tayeraabahin phupheriibahin mameriibahin maoseriibahin Sarnami bahin BrDa BrSo SiDa SiSo batiijii batiiyaa baañjii bhaañjaa
Hindi & Sarnami Si FaBrDa FaoBrDa FaSiDa MoBrDa MoSiDa Hindi bahin caceriibahin tayeraabahin phupheriibahin mameriibahin maoseriibahin Sarnami bahin BrDa BrSo SiDa SiSo batiijii batiiyaa baañjii bhaañjaa batiji bhaine bhaanja
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Creoles Sranan Tongo
Creoles Sranan Tongo Ndyuka
Hypothesis Contact induced semantic changes: Creole influence
Hypoythesis Contact induced semantic changes: Creole influence New relative age distinction in Sarnami and Surinamese Dutch 0generation parallel kin
Hypoythesis Contact induced semantic changes: Creole influence New relative age distinction in Sarnami and Surinamese Dutch 0generation parallel kin Loss of 0generation collateral distinction in Sarnami
Hypoythesis Contact induced semantic changes: Creole influence New relative age distinction in Sarnami and Surinamese Dutch 0generation parallel kin Loss of 0generation collateral distinction in Sarnami Loss of collateral -1generation alter distinction and addition of 0generation collateral dependency (neef broerskind) in Surinamese Dutch something strange happening to Sarnami
Language Contact Theory Loan words
Language Contact Theory Loan words Substrate influence
Language Contact Theory Semantic Changes in the L1 using native material based on the strategy of another language
Language Contact Theory Semantic Changes in the L1 using native material based on the strategy of another language Insertional copying from a secondary code copies of elements from a secondary code are taken over and inserted into a primary code (Johanson 2005:4) Secondary code competence is an important factor in this type of copying
Why are certain semantic categories adopted from other languages while others remain unchanged?
Why are certain semantic categories adopted from other languages while others remain unchanged? Are some semantic categories more or less likely to be influenced by language contact?
Thank you!
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