The Making of Vernacular Singapore English: System, Transfer, and Filter (Cambridge Approaches to Language Contact)

Singapore English is a focal point across the many subfields of linguistics, as its semantic, syntactic and phonetic/phonological qualities tell us a great deal about what happens when very different types of language come together. Sociolinguists are also interested in the relative status of Singapore English compared to other languages in the country. This book charts the history of Singapore English and explores the linguistic, historical and social factors that have influenced the variety as it is spoken today. It identifies novel grammatical features of the language, discusses their structure and function, and traces their origins to the local languages of Singapore. It places grammatical system and usage at the core of the analysis, and shows that introspective and corpus data are complementary. This study will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working on language contact, world varieties of English, historical linguistics and sociolinguistics. Singapore English Is A Focal Point Across The Many Subfields Of Linguistics, As Its Semantic, Syntactic And Phonetic/phonological Qualities Tell Us A Great Deal About What Happens When Very Different Types Of Language Come Together. Sociolinguists Are Also Interested In The Relative Status Of Singapore English Compared To Other Languages In The Country. This Book Charts The History Of Singapore English And Explores The Linguistic, Historical And Social Factors That Have Influenced The Variety As It Is Spoken Today. It Identifies Novel Grammatical Features Of The Language, Discusses Their Structure And Function, And Traces Their Origins To The Local Languages Of Singapore. It Places Grammatical System And Usage At The Core Of Analysis, And Shows That Introspective And Corpus Data Are Complementary. This Study Will Be Of Interest To Scholars And Advanced Students Working On Language Contact, World Varieties Of English, Historical Linguistics And Sociolinguistics-- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Ecology Of Singapore English -- 3. Grammatical System And Substratum Transfer -- 4. Topic Prominence, Empty Categories, And The Bare Conditional -- 5. Substratum, Lexifier, And Typological Universals -- 6. Frequency, Usage, And The Circumscriptive Role Of The Lexifier -- 7. Convergence-to-substratum -- 8. Epilogue. Zhiming Bao. Includes Bibliographical Refereces (pages 194-210) And Index. "Singapore English is a focal point across the many subfields of linguistics, as its semantic, syntactic and phonetic/phonological qualities tell us a great deal about what happens when very different types of language come together. Sociolinguists are also interested in the relative status of Singapore English compared to other languages in the country. This book charts the history of Singapore English and explores the linguistic, historical and social factors that have influenced the variety as it is spoken today. It identifies novel grammatical features of the language, discusses their structure and function, and traces their origins to the local languages of Singapore. It places grammatical system and usage at the core of analysis, and shows that introspective and corpus data are complementary. This study will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working on language contact, world varieties of English, historical linguistics and sociolinguistics"-- Provided by publisher Contents (v) 6 Tables (viii) 9 Series editor's foreword (xi) 11 Acknowledgements (xiii) 13 Abbreviations (xv) 15 1. Introduction (1) 17 2. The ecology of Singapore English (15) 31 3. Grammatical system and substratum transfer (37) 53 4. Topic prominence, empty categories, and the bare conditional (67) 83 5. Substratum, lexifier, and typological universals (102) 118 6. Frequency, usage, and the circumscriptive role of the lexifier (130) 146 7. Convergence-to-substratum (163) 179 8. Epilogue (187) 203 References (194) 210 Index (211) 227