The Making of a Mixed Language: The case of Ma'a/Mbugu (Creole Language Library)

Mous, Dr. Maarten

ISBN 10: 1588114899 / ISBN 13: 9781588114891

Published by John Benjamins Publishing Compan, 2003

About this Item

Seller Inventory # mon0003329577

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Making of a Mixed Language: The case of Ma'a/Mbugu (Creole Language Library)
• Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Compan
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1588114899
• ISBN 13: 9781588114891
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The Mbugu (or Ma'á) language (Tanzania) is one of the few genuine mixed languages, reputedly combining Bantu grammar with Cushitic vocabulary. In fact the people speak two languages: one mixed and one closely related to the Bantu language Pare. This book is the first comprehensive description of these languages. It shows that these two languages share one grammar while their lexicon is parallel. In the distant past the people shifted from a Cushitic to a Bantu language and in the process rebuilt a language of their own that expresses their separate ethnic identity in a Bantu environment. This linguistic history is explained in the context of the intricate history of the people. The discussion of the processes that were involved in the formation of Ma'a/Mbugu is extremely relevant for both creole studies and for contact linguistics in general.