Dutch-based creole languages
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article, in its entirety, does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
A Dutch creole is a creole language that has been substantially influenced by the Dutch language.
Most Dutch-based creoles originated in Dutch colonies in the Americas and Southeast Asia, after the 17th century expansion of Dutch maritime power. Almost all of them have died out:
Some important Dutch creoles are the following:
- Berbice (extinct): in Guyana
- Skepi (almost extinct): in Guyana
- Negerhollands (extinct): in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Petjo: in Indonesia
- Javindo: in Indonesia
- Ceylon Dutch in Sri Lanka
- Afrikaans in South Africa and Namibia (arguably not a creole)
- Mohawk Dutch(extinct): in the United States
- Jersey Dutch, "Negro Dutch" (extinct): in the United States
- Albany Dutch: in the United States
Dutch has also made a significant contribution to other creoles:
- Papiamento: based mostly on Portuguese and Spanish, spoken in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.
- Saramaccan: based mostly on English, Portuguese and African languages, spoken in Suriname
- Sranan Tongo: based mostly on English, spoken in Suriname
Despite its name, Pennsylvania Dutch is not descended from Dutch, but is a variety of West Central German.
Afrikaans arguably possesses some features of creole languages, especially in its simplified grammar relative to Dutch. However, since Afrikaans is not descended from a pidgin tongue but rather represents the natural linguistic evolution of the Afrikaner people in South Africa, it is not considered a creole.
