Diagnostic features of English-lexified creoles: first attestations from Virgin Islands English creole

Abstract

This paper presents the earliest attestations in Virgin Islands English Creole of the diagnostic features of English-lexified contact languages proposed by Baker and Huber (2001). It compares the distribution of these features in Virgin Islands English Creole and in the seven Atlantic English-lexified pidgins and creoles considered by Baker and Huber (2001). Also included is a discussion of a number of selected features.

Keywords

• diagnostic features
• creoles
• Atlantic
• world-wide
• Caribbean