Structure dataset 2: Sranan

This language is described more fully in survey chapter 2.

Sranan, also known as Sranan Tongo, Taki-Taki, and Suriname Creole English, is used as the lingua franca of Suriname, and is one of 20 languages spoken in that country, among which are six other creoles. Sranan is spoken both as a first language and a lingua franca throughout the country and in western French Guiana. It is currently the native language of about 126,000 Surinamese, and a second (or third) language for most of the rest of the population of about 400,000. It is also estimated that most of the 200,000 people of Surinamese descent who now live in the Netherlands also speak Sranan. The varieties used by speakers there as well as by Dutch-dominant Surinamese have been influenced to varying degrees by Dutch. The varieties used by groups of Asian descent as well as by Amerindians also appear to have been influenced by the respective ethnic languages, though little research has been done to investigate such influences. There is also a great deal of variation in the language according to social class and status. In general, two primary varieties can be identified. One is the more conservative variety learnt as a first language by members of the working classes in poorer neighborhoods in Paramaribo, as well as in former plantation areas such as the Para District, Coronie, etc. These speakers are for the most part Afro-Surinamese, and refer to their vernacular as “Nengre” (Black Talk). This is the default lect selected for APiCS. The other main variety of Sranan has been more heavily influenced by Dutch since it is mostly used as second language by Dutch-dominant speakers, and is referred to as Dutch-influenced.

Glossed text (69.8KB, application/pdf)
No. Feature Value lect Details Source
No. Feature Value lect Details Source

Consonants

Pulmonic Consonants
Place → Labial Coronal Dorsal Laryngeal
↓ Manner Bilabial Labio­dental Linguo­labial Dental Alveolar Palato-
alveolar
Retroflex Alveolo-
palatal
Palatal Velar Uvular Pharyngeal
/ Epiglottal
Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Stop p b t d k g
Sibilant affricate t͡ʃ d͡ʒ
Non-sibilant affricate
Sibilant fricative s ʃ
Non-sibilant fricative f x h
Approximant l j
Flap or tap ɾ
Trill
Lateral affricate
Lateral fricative
Lateral approximant
Lateral flap
Implosive

Vowels

Front Near-front Central Near-back Back Close Near-close Close-mid Mid Open-mid Near-open Open ihigh front unrounded vowel long high front unrounded vowel nasalized high front unrounded vowel uhigh back rounded vowel nasalized high back rounded vowel ehigher mid front unrounded vowel nasalized higher mid front unrounded vowel ohigher mid back rounded vowel long higher mid back rounded vowel nasalized higher mid back rounded vowel alow central unrounded vowel long low central unrounded vowel nasalized low central unrounded vowel
Vowels

Special segments

Other segments
 w  voiced labial-velar glide
 ai  diphthong falling from low central unrounded vowel to high front unrounded vowel
 ei  diphthong falling from higher mid front unrounded vowel to high front unrounded vowel
 oi  diphthong falling from higher mid back rounded vowel to high front unrounded vowel
 ui  diphthong going from high back rounded vowel to high front unrounded vowel
 au  diphthong falling from low central unrounded vowel to to high back rounded vowel
 ou  diphthong falling from higher mid back rounded vowel to high back rounded vowel

Legend

       Exists (as a major allophone)
       Exists only as a minor allophone
       Exists only in loanwords
No. Feature Value lect Details Source