Creole: A Cultural Group with a Rich History
Creole is a group of people who share a colonial Louisiana heritage and often speak a language derived from French or Spanish. They are a cultural group that has existed in Louisiana since the early 1700s, and today they include descendants of the original French settlers of the region.
The Origins and Evolution of the Term "Creole"
The term creole is a derivative of the Latin creare meaning "to beget." It was originally used to denote a slave brought from Africa, but it later became the term for any New World colonist regardless of race or ethnicity. This tradition continues in contemporary use as a term for the descendants of French and Spanish colonists and their descendants, including freed slaves.
Language Development through European Colonialism
In the context of European colonialism, creoles were created by combining the language systems of Europe with those of the enslaved peoples who came to the colonies. This led to a wide range of creole languages from the Caribbean, South America (The Guyanas), West Africa, Australia, and the Indian Ocean, to name just a few regions.
The Influence of Social Hierarchy and Language
Many of these creoles reflected the harsh environment in which they were developed. During colonialism, a strict hierarchy was established that ruled everything from skin color to language. The upper-class elites spoke a "proper" language, while the lower classes spoke a pidgin.
The Emergence of English-Based Creoles
When these people began to acquire English, they learned from the English-speaking indentured servants from Ireland who worked with them. As they became more educated, they began to speak a variety of different versions of the English language, which were called creoles because they were a mix of European and African languages.
The Similarities and Differences Among Creoles
Although there are a lot of differences among creoles, there are some similarities between them. Linguists have found that these similarities are often based on similarities in the substrate, or non-European, languages. These similarities can be found in the way that the definite articles in creole languages differ from the definite articles in their European counterparts.
Understanding Creole Genesis and Structure
Some linguists believe that creoles have inherited these similarities from their substrate languages, while others argue that the similarity between a creole and its ancestor is inherently lexical. These two theories are often in conflict, but they both offer a way to understand creole genesis and structure.
The Struggles and Resilience of Creoles
During the era of Spanish colonialism, Creoles were treated with discrimination and excluded from high office in church and state. They were also denied access to the wealth and resources of the empire. In fact, they were sometimes killed by their enslavers.
After independence, the Spanish crown was forced to grant a degree of autonomy to Creoles. The Creoles played a pivotal role in revolutions that led to the emancipation of many colonial people.
The Linguistic Evolution of Creole Languages
The earliest linguistic evidence for creole languages dates back to the late 17th century. During this period, a number of different African languages, including Malagasy and Sango, were used as a substrate in the development of creoles.
This is due to the fact that these African languages were forcibly suppressed in the colonies and that creoles grew from the remnants of these indigenous languages.
