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Collecting recent work by John H. McWhorter on creole languages & their origins, this volume showcases many of his novel & controversial theories, including the claim that the differences between creoles & their source languages is much more than a matter of inflection.

Creolan languages --- Dialectology --- Creole dialects --- Linguistic change --- Grammar --- Lexicology --- Inflection --- Linguistic change. --- Grammar. --- Inflection. --- Lexicology. --- Change, Linguistic --- Language change --- Historical linguistics --- Language and languages --- Creole languages --- Creolized languages --- Languages, Mixed --- Pidgin languages --- Creole dialects - Grammar --- Creole dialects - Lexicology --- Creole dialects - Inflection

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Creoles have long been the subject of debate in linguistics, with many conflicting views, both on how they are formed, and what their political and linguistic status should be. Indeed, over the past twenty years, some creole specialists have argued that it has been wrong to think of creoles as anything but language blends in the same way that Yiddish is a blend of German and Hebrew and Slavic. Here, John H. McWhorter debunks the most widely accepted idea that creoles are created in the same way as 'children', taking characteristics from both 'parent' languages, and its underlying assumption that all historical and biological processes are the same. Instead, the facts support the original, and more interesting, argument that creoles are their own unique entity and are among the world's only genuinely new languages.

Creole dialects. --- Languages in contact. --- Creole dialects --- Languages in contact --- Creole languages --- Creolized languages --- Creolan languages --- Sociolinguistics --- Areal linguistics --- Languages, Mixed --- Pidgin languages

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"Japanese has a term that covers both green and blue. Russian has separate terms for dark and light blue. Does this mean that Russians perceive these colors differently from Japanese people? Does language control and limit the way we think, such that each language gives its speakers a different 'worldview?' This opinionated book addresses the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues that the language we speak shapes the way we perceive the world. Linguist John McWhorter argues that while this idea is mesmerizing, it is plainly wrong ... McWhorter shows not only how the idea of language as a lens fails but also why we want so badly to believe it: we're eager to celebrate diversity by acknowledging the intelligence of peoples who may not think like we do. Though well-intentioned, our belief in this idea poses an obstacle to a better understanding of human nature and even trivializes the people we seek to celebrate. The reality--that all humans think alike--provides another, better way for us to acknowledge the intelligence of all peoples."--Jacket.

Language and culture --- Sapir-Whorf hypothesis