The Creole language debate and the use of creoles in Australian schools

Statement of Responsibility: 
Harris, John and John R. Sandefur
Issue Date: 
1984
Is Part Of Series: 
The Aboriginal Child at School 12(1)
Extent: 
pages 8-29
Abstract: 
The English-based, Creoles, which are spoken by a very large number of Aboriginal Australians, are so named because it is obvious that a large proportion of their lexicon is derived from English. This fact alone, however, does not indicate that they are merely regional varieties of English. They are distinct languages. Together with other world Creoles, they are at the frontier of linguistic research and the subject of considerable controversy. One critical forum of debate centres on the validity of Creoles as languages of education. It is the intention of the authors that this paper should achieve two things. Firstly, it is intended to contribute constructively to that, debate. Secondly, it is intended to provide an overview of the present use of some Creole languages in Australian schools.
Publication Status: 
Published
Country: 
Australia
Content Language: 
Work Type: 
Nature of Work: 
Entry Number: 
6423