Many researchers have investigated the copula for possible links between African American Vernacular English (aave) and Atlantic Creoles, a connection that has served as the foundation of the Creolist Hypothesis in the on-going debate over the origins of aave. One variety that has been of particular interest in this debate is Gullah, which has been hypothetically linked to aave since some of the earliest statements of the Creolist Hypothesis. To date, however, very little research has been done on copula variability in Gullah itself. This study, therefore, provides an analysis of copula variability in present affirmative contexts in Gullah. Variation is found among full, contracted, and zero forms in 1st person singular, plural02nd person singular, and 3rd person singular environments. The analysis also reveals some parallels between Gullah and aave that offer support for the theory of an aave0creole connection.
Published in Language Variation and Change, Volume 15, Issue 1, 2003, pages 37-72.
Weldon, T.L. (2003). Copula variability in Gullah. Language Variation and Change, 15(1), 37-72.
Copyright © 2003 Cambridge University Press. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=LVC