EVENT: Linguistics Seminar Series 2019

It is conventionally thought that one of the distinguishing characteristics of a mixed language is that this type of language is derived from a combination of only two source languages. Other distinguishing features include the ways in which the source language components are distributed in the mixed language, showing significant amounts of lexicon and grammar from each source. The Australian mixed language, Light Warlpiri, shows clear evidence of contributions from three languages – Warlpiri, Kriol and English – in different areas of the grammar, thereby questioning the assumption of only two source languages. Drawing on work on the verbal auxiliary system, the reciprocal and reflexive systems and the realisation of fricatives in Light Warlpiri, I will show how each of the source languages contributes. I conclude that although Light Warlpiri is a mixed language, it combines material from three sources, in different parts of the grammar. This may drive us to revisit the definition of a mixed language, looking more at how source language material is distributed, rather than at the number of sources.

Short bio

Carmel O’Shannessy is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics at the Australian National University. Her research is in language contact and acquisition, including the emergence of Light Warlpiri, a new Australian mixed language, and children’s development of Light Warlpiri and Warlpiri. She has been involved with languages and education in remote Indigenous communities in Australia since 1996, in the areas of bilingual education and her current research.