# Creole Languages and Caribbean Identities

- Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Department: Linguistics and Philosophy
- Teacher: Prof. Michel DeGraff
- Term: Spring 2017
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Subjects: Philosophy, Languages and linguistics
- Source: [MIT OpenCourseWare](https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only.)
- Syllabus: [at the source](https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/pages/syllabus/)
- Readings: [at the source](https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/pages/readings/)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Caribbean Creole languages result from language contact via colonization and the slave trade. In this course we explore the history of Creole languages from cognitive, historical and comparative perspectives. We evaluate popular theories about “Creole genesis” and the role of language acquisition. Then we explore the non-linguistic aspects of Creole formation, using sources from literature, religion and music. We also look into issues of Caribbean identities as we examine Creole speakers’ and others’ beliefs and attitudes toward their cultures. We also make comparisons with relevant aspects of African-American culture in the U.S.

## Lectures

1. [1. Do "Pidgins" exist? Do Creole languages come from Pidgins?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/9b971fe5806e), 10 min (Video)
2. [2. How much variation in space and in time through the history of Haitian Creole?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/896c918cc4ff), 4 min (Video)
3. [3. On "Kreyolofoni": Why do we still use the label "Creole" to refer to "Creole languages"?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/01e0c5e7bf88), 8 min (Video)
4. [4. Post-colonial discourses of power & identity; the making of socio-economic & cultural hierarchies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/b3835a66f660), 16 min (Video)
5. [5. Language and discourses of power in the making of “authentic” identities in post-colonial societies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/f8c96bcf4d9e), 15 min (Video)
6. [6. Language, culture, identity and "authenticity" in post-colonial communities](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/1a20be627197), 15 min (Video)
7. [7. Feedback to students who led class discussion](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/580bed78b7a8), 4 min (Video)
8. [8. Against Creole Exceptionalism, Part 1: Creole languages are perfectly normal languages](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/fa40b8b26004), 17 min (Video)
9. [9. Against Creole Exceptionalism, Part 2: Creole formation is normal language change](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/d3257144ba49), 10 min (Video)
10. [10. Against Creole Exceptionalism, Part 3: Creole formation is language acquisition plus social factors](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/d98e44dcd9da), 10 min (Video)
11. [11. "Birth certificates" of languages created via migration & population contact—Kreyòl, English…](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/76b5699e6359), 10 min (Video)
12. [12. A brief & partial history of anti-Creole myths at the core of imperialism—linguistic & otherwise](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/88671fd10f5a), 18 min (Video)
13. [Guest lecture (2022): Unmaking and remaking community (part 1)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/5ceebde9fc74) (Video)
14. [Guest lecture (2022): Unmaking and remaking community (part 2)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/mit/24-908-creole-languages-and-caribbean-identities-spring-2017/fbf33258219a) (Video)