The Syntax of Mauritian Creole

Creole languages have in recent years become a valuable source of data for currenttheories of syntax and theories of child/adult language acquisition. However, grammars of these languages, particularly thosecouched within theoretical frameworks of one kind of another, are few and far between. This book contributes directly to creole linguistics by providing adetailed study of different aspects of the syntax of Mauritian creole withinthe theoretical framework of Principles and Parameters (Chomsky, 1981) andMinimalism (1995). It gives the reader a detailed account of the structureof this language and insight into the nature of creole languages, withimplications for current cartographic and minimalist thinking on the structureand derivation of phrases and clauses. It will appeal to researchers ofgrammar and syntax, language acquisition, contact linguistics andsociolinguistics.

1. Introduction \ 2. Overview of the grammar of Mauritian Creole \ 3. The structure of clauses \ 4. The structure of noun phrases \ 5. The syntax of tense, mood and aspect markers \ 6. The syntax of negation \ 7. Verb complementation and the structure of verb phrases \ 8. The structure of complementizer phrases \ Notes \ Bibliography \ Index