Datapoint Reunion Creole/Person syncretism in independent personal pronouns

In modern Reunion Creole, the traditional syncretism of zot 'you' and zot 'they' has led to the use of bannla (or banna) as the form of the 3rd person plural. It is, however, debatable whether the syncretism is really the reason for this development. In Barat et al. (1977) about two thirds of the examples have zot, one third bannla. I do not believe that zot and bannla are interchangeable. More research is needed.

Values

Syncretism between 2nd and 3rd person

Example 54-27:
A koz zot i ariv kom sa don? Lontan zot la pa ankor veni voir amoin!
Akoz
why
zot
2pl
i
fin
ariv
arrive
kom
like
sa
that
don?
then
Lontan
long.time
zot
2pl
la
prf
pa
neg
ankor
yet
vëni
come
vwar
see
amwen!
obl.1sg
Why do you arrive like that? It has been a long time since you have come to see me!
French: Pourquoi vous arrivez comme ça donc? Il y a longtemps que vous n'êtes pas venus me voir!

Source: Barat et al. 1977: 31

Example 54-28:
Kan zot l'arivé, loin mem la, i voi Gran Dyab, ek sa bot a set lyé, déyer zot.
Kan
when
zot
3pl
l
prf
arive,
arrive
lwen
far
mem
very
la,
there
i
fin
vwa
see
Gran
Big
Dyab,
Devil
ek
with
sa
poss.3sg
bot-a-set-lye,
boot-with-seven-league
deyer
behind
zot.
3pl
When they arrived, very far from there, they saw Big Devil, with his seven-league boot, behind them.
French: Quand ils sont arrivés, très loin de là, ils voient Grand Diable, avec sa botte à sept lieux, derrière eux.

Source: Barat et al. 1977: 36

Example 54-29:
Bann la i ariv la kaz.
Bannla
3pl
i
fin
ariv
arrive
la
def
kaz.
house.
They arrive at home.
French: Ils arrivent à la maison.

Source: Cellier 1982: 89

Confidence:
Very certain