Table of Contents

Part I. Questions, Theories, and Methods of Historical Sociolinguistics: 1. Introduction; 2. Maritime Polynesian Pidgin and Pidgin and Creole linguistics; 3. Ethnohistory of speaking as a historical-sociolinguistic methodology; Part II. Historical Attestations of Maritime Polynesian Pidgin (MPP): 4. Emergence, stabilization, and expansion; 5. Resilience against depidginization and relexification; 6. Survival in niches; Part III. Structure, Function, and History of Maritime Polynesian Pidgin: 7. Linguistic patterns; 8. History and social functions; 9. Conclusions: linguistic, sociohistorical, and theoretical implications.

Promotional Information

This volume presents a historical-sociolinguistic description and analysis of Maritime Polynesian Pidgin.

About the Author

Emanuel J. Drechsel is a senior faculty member of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, and has regularly taught courses in linguistic anthropology, ethnohistory, and related topics. He has long been interested in non-European pidgins, and is the author of a well-received case study entitled 'Mobilian Jargon' (1997) of greater Louisiana. His more recent research has focused on the eastern Pacific.

Reviews

'This study is of major importance, highlighting the key role of Hawaiian in shaping interethnic contact, and showing how Hawaiian and East Polynesian linguistic unity profoundly affected early European contact throughout the Pacific.' William H. Wilson, University of Hawai'i
'Drechsel has presented a painstakingly researched account of the language varieties that arose during early contacts between Europeans and Polynesians. His account fills a major gap in our knowledge of Pacific contact language, maritime Pidgins and their social and structural properties.' Peter Muhlhausler, Emeritus Professor of Linguistics, University of Adelaide
'... Drechsel's work has laid a solid foundation for further research ... This book is an exemplary study reflecting a pioneering spirit both by Drechsel and the islanders and mariners he quotes.' Peter Bakker, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages
'... serve[s] to provide a rich descriptive overview of the sociolinguistic dimensions and functions of MPP [Maritime Polynesian Pidgin] ... [This volume] serves as a preliminary foray into a profoundly different, potentially revelatory, and more robust sociolinguistic history of the early colonial Pacific.' Gavin Lamb, The Contemporary Pacific
'Drechsel's book makes a uniquely valuable contribution to contact linguistics ... I found Drechsel's treatment of MPP [Maritime Polynesian Pidgin] in this book and online an exemplary demonstration of scholarly transparency and a respectful invitation to the reader to weigh the evidence independently. I hope to see many more such exciting presentations of under-researched languages following in his footsteps.' David Douglas Robertson, LINGUIST List