Datapoint Bahamian Creole/Expression of nominal plural meaning

The plural suffix is variable in Bahamian Creole English (cf. Feature 22 "Occurrence of nominal plural markers"). It need not be expressed overtly at all and tends to be absent when a quantifying expression is present, but becomes more frequent as one moves toward the acrolect. The plural word them variably combines with the -s suffix. Stem change occurs as in English but is even more marginal (men, women).

Values

Plural suffix Frequency: 55.6%

Example 12-43:
That when the Duke first come here, and he gone over to talk with R- President Roosevelt to see that he get to 'cruit some of the boys from here to go over there to work the Work Food Administration.
[...]
[...]
some
some
of
of
the
art
boy-s
boy-pl
from
from
here
here
[...]
[...]
[...] some of the boys from here [...].
Confidence:
Very certain

Plural word following the noun Frequency: 33.3%

Example 12-40:
Miss - the boys - them broke down Bay Street.
Miss
Miss
-
 
the
art
boys
boy.pl
-
 
them
pl
broke
break[pfv]
down
down
Bay
Bay
Street.
Street
Miss, the men completely destroyed Bay Street.
Confidence:
Certain

Plural stem change Frequency: 11.1%

Example 12-44:
Except for like the dan - the dancers, 'cause people like - you know, women ain’t too handy with their hands, you know.
[...]
[...]
women
woman.pl
[...]
[...]
[...] women [aren't too clever with their hands, ...].
Confidence:
Certain