The Demonstrative System of Yilan Creole

Abstract

This paper describes the demonstrative system of a Japanese-lexifier creole, Yilan Creole, based on data collected from three generations of speakers in Tungyueh Village, Taiwan. The analysis indicates, first, that all Yilan Creole demonstrative forms are derived from Japanese. Unlike Japanese, however, Yilan Creole has two series of demonstratives, reflecting the influence of the substrate language, Atayal (Austronesian). Second, as in Japanese, Yilan Creole demonstratives can be divided into demonstrative pronouns, demonstrative adjectives, and demonstrative adverbials, but the meanings and functions of Yilan Creole’s demonstrative forms differ from those of Japanese due to influences from the substrate language, the adstrate language, and universals of language acquisition. Third, generational variation in the Yilan Creole demonstrative system reveals a dynamic process of linguistic change.