Datapoint Mauritian Creole/Expression of pronominal subjects

In written materials pro-drop is very rare. But in naturalistic spoken data it appears to be on the increase. During Baker's first 2-year stay in Mauritius (1965–1967), pro-drop was only noted in the spoken language in the 2nd person singular in order to avoid the otherwise obligatory decision of whether to use the intimate /to/ (< French tu/toi) or the more formal /u/ (< French vous) form. (This distinction has been lost in all other French Creoles. Its retention in Mauritian Creole is probably to be associated with massive Indian immigration in the 19th century - people whose languages have two or more 2nd person singular forms for use with people of differing status.) In later visits from 1970 onwards, pro-drop was observed with other persons and numbers. On reflection, Baker thinks that his earlier estimate of at least 25% pro-drop may be too high but it is undoubtedly an increasing tendency which merits serious investigation.

Values

Optional pronoun words

Example 55-107:
li ti al lakaz
li
3sg
ti
pst
al
go
lakaz
house
S/he went home.
Example 55-108:
Speaker_A: mo'n bizeṅ praṅ bis – Speaker_B: ti al par bis? – Speaker_A: in al par bis
Speaker_A:
Speaker_a:
mo'n
1sg.compl
bizeṅ
mod
praṅ
take
bis
bus
Speaker_B:
Speaker_B:
Ø
Ø
ti
pst
al
go
par
by
bis?
bus
Speaker_A:
Speaker_a:
Ø
Ø
in
compl
al
go
par
by
bis
bus
Speaker A: I had to take the bus. – Speaker B: Did you take the bus? – Speaker A: I have taken the bus.

Source: Kriegel 1996

Example 55-109:
Si met mwa daṅ lot klima [...].
Si
if
Ø
Ø
met
put
mwa
1sg
daṅ
loc
lot
other
klima
climate
[...].
[...]
If one puts me in a different climate [...].
French: Si on me met dans un autre climat [...].

Source: Kriegel 1996

Confidence:
Unspecified