Réunion Creole(language code rcf) is the French creole language of Réunion. Réunion Creole is considered a semi-creole by some scholars. It was not totally pidginize. The creole has no official orthography. The language is spoken by African and mixed race population, whites, and Indians. Réunion creole is different from Morisyen (Mauritian) and Seselwa (Seychelle) creole. The latter two are more similiar. The creole is also spoken in Comoros Islands and Madagascar. Three flavors of the language has been identified: Créole des Hautes, spoken in the highland mountainous region, mainly by poor whites, Créole des Bas developed during slavery and spoken by the African, mixed, and Indian population in the lowlands and coastal regions, urban creole which is very close to French. The urban flavor has phonemes, which is absent from the highland and lowland variety. Two morphological forms exist for verbs: the past and present. Réunion, initially was un-inhabited. The French, Malagasy, and east African slaves were the first to inhabit the island. In 1848, indentured Indian labor was imported. Sample Words Ti mère-Mother in law Ti père-Father in law Gramoune-An old person Di moune-Many people Careau-Laundry iron L'argent braguette-Family allowances Roder-To search for Coup de sec-Glass of rum Désordre-Noise Estomac-Chest Moque-Can Saisissement-Fainting Navé-There was Malbar-Non muslim Indian Z'arabe-Muslim Indian Grègue-Cofee machine Couverte-Blanket Bonbon la fesse-Suppository Mi aime a ou-I love you La di la fé-Gossips Moucater-to laugh at Mi ça va-I am going Mi di a ou-I am saying to you Guette a li-look at him Zordi-Today Batt' un carré- To go for a walk Zézer- Fiancee Koméla- Now Le coco- the head Related Article: Grenadian French Creole, Haitian Creole, Mauritian French Creole , Trinidadian French Creole, Seychelles French Creole , French Creoles of Afro-descendants Work Cited Creole:A Little English Creole Dictionary <http://jmregnier.free.fr/reueng/dicoeng.htm> retrieved 25-July-2012 Holm, John A. Pidgins and Creoles:Reference Survey. Cambridge University Press pp. 394-395. ISBN 0521359406, 9780521359405 Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/. |