Tracing the origin of modality in the creoles of Suriname

Abstract

The present paper attempts to shed light on the origin of creole TMA systems by investigating the emergence of two subsystems of modality in the creoles of Suriname. The investigation is based on a comparative linguistic analysis of modality in three maroon creoles and six Gbe varieties, and on a preliminary investigation of early historical documents (Goury 2003). The aim is to determine the role of the Gbe languages in the formation of these creol es and to show how input from both European and African sources, aided by universal principles of contact - induced change and language - internal change, shaped the grammar of these creoles. The paper suggests that many aspects of the creole modality system h ave their source in Gbe languages. At the same time, it is clear that they are in no way exact (or in some cases even close) replicas of the Gbe modality systems.