Social entrenchment influences the amount of areal borrowing in contact languages

Aims and objectives: Social factors in language contact are not well understood. This study seeks to establish explain the role of social entrenchment evolution languages. It also aims contribute a broader perspective on areality that can account for linguistic outcomes involving all languages present multilingual ecologies, including Methodology: The copula system was singled out detailed analysis. A corpus primary data three African English-lexifier languages, Pichi, Cameroon Pidgin, Ghanaian their ancestor Krio, adstrates (Bube, Mokpe, Akan) European superstrates (Spanish, English) investigated compared. Data analysis: Relevant features were selected dissimilarity matrix. quantitative analysis done with SplitsTree4. resulting distance matrix phylogenetic network signals genealogical transmission areal diffusion interpreted background. Findings/conclusions: systems carry signal Krio as an from spoken respective ecologies. amount borrowing increases order Pichi < Pidgin reflective depth each variety left right. Originality: Previous studies do describe Africa Caribbean at similar level granularity mostly focus emergence during creolization. attempts subsequent differentiation links it differences Significance/implications: Areal lead significant departures genealogically inherited structures within short time if is shallow. Conversely, even wider communication remain remarkably stable deep.