Qualitative and quantitative analysis of grammatical features elicited among the Gbe language varieties of West Africa

Abstract

This paper describes a synchronic analysis of grammatical features elicited among the Gbe language varieties of West Africa, conducted to explore how the investigated varieties might be treated as clusters and to establish priorities for further sociolinguistic research. For some of the investigated varieties, the current synchronic typological analysis yields a classification within the Gbe language continuum that differs from the findings of more recent sociolinguistic surveys conducted among some of the Gbe communities as well as from the findings of Capo's (1991) and Stewart's (1994) diachronic genetic analyses. The paper discusses how the results of these different approaches compare to each other, how the identified disparities should be weighted, and what conclusions can be drawn from these findings.Rather than setting these approaches in opposition to each other, this paper proposes a multifaceted approach to linguistic data interpretation. The paper exemplifies how the results obtained through the synchronic typological analysis may be used to inform more in-depth sociolinguistic research by comparing its results to the findings of diachronic genetic studies and Rapid Appraisal sociolinguistic surveys. This approach would in turn directly influence language program development decisions as to the extensibility of already existing literature.

A Synchronic Lexical Study of Gbe Language Varieties: The Effects of Different Similarity Judgment Criteria

“…(Regarding the question of whether -for the elicited Gbe word lists -the application of a synchronic approach by means of the inspection method yields comparable results to the findings of a diachronic study, conducted by Capo (1986), see Kluge (2000)). …”

Towards a model of language contact and change in the English-lexifier creoles of Africa and the Caribbean

“…This will serve as a baseline for the analysis of causatives in the African and Caribbean AECs in Sections 4.3 and 4.4. The Gbe languages form a continuum of related but diverse lects spoken in Ghana, Togo, and Benin (Capo 1993;Kluge 2006). They are considered the most significant substrates of various Caribbean creoles, including Sranan (e.g., Migge 2003;Winford and Migge 2007) and Haitian Creole (Sylvain 1936).…”

French Guianese Creole

“…The Africans were from "Guinée" (an, C14/1, 188), which referred to lands on the Bight of Benin, where many languages were spoken in a small area, and where multilingualism was the norm and still is. Most of those languages belong to the Gbe family of the Kwa languages and include the closely-related Ewe, Fon and Gun (Capo 1983;Kluge 2006). They will be referred to hereafter as Ewe.…”

“…This fact makes fgc an excellent candidate for testing substratal influence. In the following section we examine in detail a claim based on the near total dominance in the slave population of speakers of Gbe languages: that a comparison of the tma systems of fgc and mac will show that fgc shows greater parallels with Ewe (such as described in Ameka 2012;Avolonto 1992;Dzablu-Kumah 2006;Duthie 1984Duthie , 1993Essegbey 2005;Huttar, Essegbey and Ameka 2007;Huttar, Aboh and Ameka 2013;Kluge 2006;Lafage 1985;Lefebvre 1990;Pasch 1995;Westermann 1961).…”