Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau Englisches Seminar Linguistic surface and deep level structures in Aboriginal English: a case study of New South Wales Aboriginal English Wissenschaftliche Arbeit im Fach Anglistik im Rahmen des Lehramtsstudienganges für Gymnasien vorgelegt von Andrea Moll Erklärung Ich erkläre, dass ich die Arbeit selbständig und nur mit den angegebenen Hilfsmitteln angefertigt habe und dass alle Stellen, die dem Wortlaut oder dem Sinne nach anderen Werken entnommen sind, durch Angabe der Quellen als Entlehnung kenntlich gemacht worden sind. Freiburg, den 23. April 2007 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 5 2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW............................. 7 2.1 VARIETIES OF ENGLISH ..................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 L ANGUAGE CONTACT .................................................................................................. 7 2.1.2 E DGAR W. S CHNEIDER ’S DYNAMIC MODEL OF NEW ENGLISHES .................... 13 2.1.3 D ISCOURSES ON ENGLISH AND LINGUISTIC ATTITUDES ..................................... 18 2.2 ABORIGINAL ENGLISH ...................................................................................... 22 2.2.1 T ERMINOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ..................................................................... 22 2.2.2.1 The loss of Australian Aboriginal Languages.............................................................. 23 2.2.2.2 The “birth” of a Pidgin ................................................................................................. 25 2.2.3 T HE PRESENT -DAY SITUATION ................................................................................. 29 2.3 STUDIES OF ABORIGINAL ENGLISH ......................................................... 32 3. METHODS AND DATA ................................................................................................... 36 3.1 THE DATA ................................................................................................................... 36 3.1.1 I NFORMANTS ............................................................................................................... 36 3.1.2 I NFORMAL SPEECH ..................................................................................................... 37 3.1.3 T RANSCRIPTION OF THE DATA ................................................................................ 39 3.2 METHODS ................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.1 S TRUCTURE -CENTRED DESCRIPTION ...................................................................... 40 3.2.1.1 The comparative approach ........................................................................................... 40 3.2.1.2 Communicative competence and linguistic variables .................................................. 42 3.2.2 E THNOGRAPHY OF COMMUNICATION ..................................................................... 44 4. DATA ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................ 47 4.1 STRUCTURE-CENTRED DESCRIPTION .................................................... 47 4.1.1 P HONOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 47 4.1.1.1 Segmental Phonology................................................................................................... 47 4.1.1.1.1. Diphthongs ............................................................................................................... 47 4.1.1.1.2 Front vowels.............................................................................................................. 55 4.1.1.1.3 Phonetic realisation of word-initial / h/ ..................................................................... 58 4.1.1.1.4 Final / INNNN/.................................................................................................................. 61 4.1.1.1.5 Consonant cluster reduction...................................................................................... 62 4.1.1.1.6 Miscellaneous............................................................................................................ 65 4.1.1.2 Non-segmental phonology ........................................................................................... 68 4.1.1.2.1 High rising tone......................................................................................................... 69 4.1.1.2.2 Vowel harmonisation as an aspect of discourse phonology...................................... 71 4.1.1.2.3 Speech rhythm: syllable-timing and the use of pauses ............................................. 73 4.1.1.3 Summary of the findings.............................................................................................. 76 3 4.1.2 LEXICON .................................................................................................................... 77 4.1.3 MORPHOSYNTAX ..................................................................................................... 80 4.1.3.1 The noun phrase ........................................................................................................ 81 4.1.3.1.1 Number................................................................................................................... 81 4.1.3.1.2 Pronouns................................................................................................................. 82 4.1.3.2 The verb phrase ......................................................................................................... 84 4.2 ETHNOGRAPHY OF COMMUNICATION ............................................... 86 4.2.1 G ENRE .......................................................................................................................... 86 4.2.2 S ITUATION ................................................................................................................... 89 4.2.2.1 Setting........................................................................................................................... 89 4.2.2.2 Scene ............................................................................................................................ 90 4.2.2.2.1 Place .......................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.2.2.2 Time .......................................................................................................................... 92 4.2.3 P ARTICIPANTS ............................................................................................................. 93 4.2.3.1 Adresser/Sender ........................................................................................................... 93 4.2.3.2 Addressee/Hearer ......................................................................................................... 95 4.2.4 E NDS ............................................................................................................................. 96 4.2.4.1 Intended Outcomes....................................................................................................... 96 4.2.4.2 Actual Outcomes .......................................................................................................... 97 4.2.5 A CT SEQUENCE ........................................................................................................... 98 4.2.5.1 Message Form .............................................................................................................. 98 4.2.5.2 Message Content ........................................................................................................ 112 4.2.6 K EY ............................................................................................................................. 116 4.2.7 I NSTRUMENTALITY .................................................................................................. 117 4.2.7.1 Channel....................................................................................................................... 117 4.2.7.2 Forms of Speech......................................................................................................... 117 4.2.8 N ORMS ........................................................................................................................ 117 4.2.8.1 Norms of Interpretation.............................................................................................. 117 4.2.8.2 Norms of Interaction .................................................................................................. 123 5. CONCLUSION................................................................................................................. 124 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 126 7. APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................I 7.1 EXCURSUS: ABORIGINAL LOANWORDS IN MAUSE ............................I 7.2 INDIGENOUS LOANWORDS IN ‘A BE’ .......................................................... V 7.3 EXAMPLES OF NARRATIVE ANALYSIS ................................................. VII 7.4 INSTANTIATION: