Korlai Portuguese Creole: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Indo-Portuguese creole of India}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name       = Korlai Indo-Portuguese
| name             = Korlai Portuguese creole
|altname     = Kristi
| altname         = Kristi
|nativename = ''Nou Ling''
| nativename       = ''Nou Ling''
|states     = [[India]]
| states           = [[India]]
|speakers   = 750
| speakers         = 800
|date=1998
| date             = 2015
|ref=e18
| ref             = e25
|familycolor = Creole
| familycolor     = Creole
 
| fam1             = [[Portuguese Creole]]
|fam1       = [[Portuguese Creole]]
| fam2             = [[Indo-Portuguese Creoles|Indo-Portuguese]]
|fam2       = [[Indo-Portuguese Creoles|Indo-Portuguese]]
| fam3             = [[Indo-Portuguese Creoles|Northern Indo-Portuguese]]
|fam3       = [[Indo-Portuguese Creoles|Northern Indo-Portuguese]]
| iso3             = vkp
|iso3=vkp  
| glotto           = korl1238
|glotto=korl1238
| glottorefname   = Korlai Portuguese
|glottorefname=Korlai Portuguese
| lingua           = 51-AAC-agc
|lingua=51-AAC-agc
| pushpin_map     = India Maharashtra#India
|pushpin_map = India Maharashtra#India
| coordinates     = {{coord|18.5232|N|72.9195|E|region:IN-MH}}
|coordinates = {{coord|18.5232|N|72.9195|E|region:IN-MH}}
}}
}}


'''Korlai Indo-Portuguese''' is a [[creole language]] based on [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], spoken by less than 1,000 [[Luso-Indian]] [[Indian Christians|Christians]] of [[Korlai Fort|Korlai]] in the [[Raigad District]] ([[Colaba District]]) of the [[Konkan]] region, in [[Maharashtra, India]]. It is located between [[Goa and Damaon]]. It has vigorous use and it is also known as '''Kristi''' ("Christian"), Korlai Creole Portuguese, Korlai Portuguese, or as ''Nou Ling'' by the [[creole people]] of Korlai themselves, which literally means "our language".
'''Korlai Portuguese''' is an [[Indo-Portuguese creole]] based on the [[Portuguese language]], spoken by approximately 1,000 inhabitants of the Korlai village at the [[Korlai fort]], a former possession of the [[Portuguese in Goa and Bombay]]. Their speech is referred to as Korlai [[Creole language|creole]], Korlai Portuguese, Kristi or ''Nɔw-ling'' by the speakers themselves, which translates to "our language" in the creole. The speakers are a part of a very close-knit community, and refer to themselves as the ''Kristi'' community bound by their affiliation to the [[Christian denomination]], of [[Roman Catholicism in India]].<ref name="Clements 2015">{{Cite journal |last=Clements |first=J. Clancy |date=2015 |title=Portuguese Settlement of the Chaul/korlai Area and the Formation of Korlai Creole Portuguese |journal=Journal of Language Contact |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=13–35 |doi=10.1163/19552629-00801002 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Korlai is situated in the Raigad district ([[Colaba district]]) of the [[Konkan division]] named after the [[Colaba fort]], 150 kilometers south of [[Mumbai (Bombay)]], in [[Maharashtra, India]]. The speakers are of a homogenous Roman Catholic pocket in an area otherwise dominated by [[Konkani Muslim]] and Hindu [[Marathi-Konkani]] speaking inhabitants.<ref name="Clements 2015" />


<ref name="undefined" />== Distribution and number of speakers ==
== Development of Korlai Creole Portuguese ==
[[File:Korlai.jpg|thumb|The village of Korlai viewed from [[Korlai Fort]]]]
[[File:Korlai.jpg|thumb|The village of Korlai viewed from [[Korlai Fort]]]]


The village of Korlai lies on the mouth of Kundalika River, across from the ruins of [[Korlai Fort|a large Portuguese fort]], which is located in [[Revdanda]]. Until the 20th century, Korlai, its Christian inhabitants, and its language were relatively isolated from the Marathi-speaking Hindus and Muslims surrounding them. Since 1986, there is a bridge across the [[Kundalika River]], because of which industry has now moved into the area.
The development of the language can be traced back to the 1500s with the conception of the new element of society, the native Indian Catholics and Eurasian offspring. The existing caste system within India had a great influence on the creation of KCP (Korlai Creole Portuguese). The Eurasian offspring and the Indian-Eurasian offspring were isolated from the pure-blood Portuguese and other castes. This isolation led them to intermarry and children began learning the pidgin their parents spoke.<ref name="Clements 1996">{{Cite book |last=Clements |first=J. Clancy |title=The Genesis of a Language: The Formation and Development of Korlai Portuguese |date=1996 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing |isbn=90-272-5238-6 |location=Amsterdam}}</ref> The Korlai creole emerged among the slaves and their offspring who converted to Christianity and became a part of the Portuguese community while still adhering to existing caste distinctions.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015">{{Cite journal |last=Paradkar |first=Ruta |last2=De Athayde |first2=Amanda |date=2015 |title=Revisiting Korlai: A Case of Language Contact |url=https://go.exlibris.link/tg8wsbwp |journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. |volume=75 |pages=203–214 |jstor=26264737}}</ref>  The social isolation this community faced contributed to the maintenance and growth of Korlai creole.


What is known about the history and the grammar of ''No Ling'' can be found in the 1996 book ''The Genesis of a Language: Formation and Development of Korlai Portuguese'' written by J. Clancy Clements.
In today's context, the Kristi community is geographically separated from the rest as the community lives in the 'varcha bhag' [Upper Korlai]. The community also differs from the rest of the area occupationally. Korlai Creole Portuguese speakers are agriculturists whereas the other dominant occupation is of fishers from the [[Koli people|Koli]], Mali, [[Agri community|Agari]] and a few Maratha communities. Apart from the geographical and occupational differences, the Kristi community differentiates itself linguistically, by the use of 'nɔ ling', an important marker of their identity.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015" /> However, with the changing times and better connectivity between Korlai and the rest of the world, the language evolving. The newer generation prefers the use of Marathi as it is dominant language of the state and the insistence of the Church in order to create unison.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015" /> This is causing a huge influence of Marathi on the language and its development.


Portuguese colonisation in the 15th and 16th centuries gave rise to Portuguese-controlled trading posts, forts, and colonies in the Subcontinent. This led to the birth of some interesting pidgins and creoles for which Portuguese was the lexifier language (a language from which pidgins/creoles derive their core lexicon).
== Socio-historical Background ==
Chaul was an important trade city near Korlai and was first visited by the Portuguese in 1505. This area was previously under the Muslim rule from 1318. The Portuguese and the Muslim ruler maintained a friendly relation, however, the relation soon experienced tension and a war broke out. During this time 600 ''casados'', i.e. Portuguese men married the native women who were living outside the Chaul fort along with a large number of Hindu and Muslim shopkeepers.<ref name="Clements 2015" /> In 1594, the Portuguese took over the fort along with Korlai in the valley of the ''marro'' (hill). By 1630, a small Christian community grew when the church, ''Nossa Senhora do Mar'' 'Our Lady of the Sea' was built on the hill. The slaves and the offspring of the ''casados'' [Portuguese men] and ''soldadas'' [Soldiers] were mainly Christian converts.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015" /> The Portuguese abandoned Chaul and the hill to move to Goa in 1740. After the departure of the Portuguese, many Christians moved to other Portuguese territories while the Christians of the lower-castes moved closer to the church as the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] took control of the region.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015" />


One of the Portuguese lexified creoles still spoken in India is Korlai Creole Portuguese. Spoken by around 800 people of the coastal village of Korlai, located about 150 kilometres south of Mumbai, Korlai Creole was formed between the 16th to 18th century when Portuguese came in contact with Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language. Also known as Kristy or Nau lin, what sets Korlai Creole and the other Indo-Portuguese creoles apart from their Portuguese-lexified Atlantic counterparts is the nature of the contact situations prevalent in Southasia compared to the Atlantic world. While Portuguese-based Atlantic creoles formed in situations in which several languages were in contact with each other, Indo-Portuguese creoles formed in two-language contact situations. A majority of Korlai Creole’s core lexicon is from Portuguese. Due to the Catholic church in Mumbai adopting Marathi post 1964, and it being the medium of education in schools, the Korlai has become highly endangered and may become extinct in a few decades.
== Features of Korlai Creole Portuguese ==
Korlai Portuguese vowels are similar to the Middle Portuguese, which was spoken by Portuguese soldiers that came to the region. The sole difference being the point of articulation of the central vowel. Both Marathi and Korlai Creole Portuguese had a decline in nasal vowels and this process of [[Denasalization|denasalisation]] is connected for both languages.<ref name="Clements 1996" /> In the younger generation, Korlai Creole Portuguese also shows an increase in the borrowing of Marathi [[Lexical item|lexical]] items.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015" /> Clements indicated that the language had [[SVO word order]] but recent data shows the language now utilizes a [[Subject–object–verb|SOV word order]], which could be attributed to increased influence of Marathi.<ref name="Paradkar and De Athayde 2015" />


Portuguese creoles in northern areas (Diu and Korlai) had Indo-Aryan substrate in the form of Gujarati and Marathi, respectively.
== Examples of ''Ling'' ==
 
== Examples of ''No Ling'' ==


:Thanks a lot: ''Muit'obrigad!'' From Port. ''Muito Obrigado''
:Thanks a lot: ''Muit'obrigad!'' From Port. ''Muito Obrigado''
Line 48: Line 48:
:First, Second: ''Primer, Sigun''; From Port. ''Primeiro, Segundo''
:First, Second: ''Primer, Sigun''; From Port. ''Primeiro, Segundo''
:How are you?: ''Use, kile te?''
:How are you?: ''Use, kile te?''
:All are eating and drinking their fill: ''tud gent cumen beben tem fart''; From Port. ''toda a gente come e bebe até farta''
:All are eating and drinking their fill: ''tud gent cumen beben tem fart''; From Port. ''toda a gente come e bebe até fartar''


Song of Korlai:
Song of Korlai:
:''Maldita Maria Madulena,''
{{Poem quote|text={{lang|vkp|
:''Maldita firmosa,''
Maldita Maria Madulena,
:''Ai, contra ma ja foi a Madulena,''
Maldita firmosa,
:''Vastida de mata!''
Ai, contra ma ja foi a Madulena,
Vastida de mata!}}}}


Portuguese translation:
Portuguese translation:
:''Maldita Maria Madalena,''
{{Poem quote|text={{lang|pt|Maldita Maria Madalena,
:''Maldita Formosa,''
Maldita Formosa,
:''Ai, contra minha vontade foi a Madalena,''
Ai, contra minha vontade foi a Madalena,
:''Vestida de mata!''
Vestida de mata!}}}}


English translation:
English translation:
:Cursed Maria Madalena,
{{Poem quote|text=Cursed Maria Madalena,
:Cursed Beautiful one,
Cursed Beautiful one,
:Oh, against my will it was Madalena,
Oh, against my will it was Madalena,
:Dressed in leaves and branches!
Dressed in leaves and branches!}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |last1=Clements |first1=J. Clancy |title=The Genesis of a Language: the formation and development of Korlai Portuguese |date=1996 |publisher=John Benjamins |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9789027252388}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Clements |first1=J. Clancy |title=Portuguese Settlement of the Chaul/Korlai area and the Formation of Korlai Creole Portuguese |journal=Journal of Language Contact |date=2015 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=13–35 |doi=10.1163/19552629-00801002|doi-access=free }}


{{Portuguese Creoles}}
{{Portuguese Creoles}}
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[[Category:Portuguese-based pidgins and creoles]]
[[Category:Portuguese-based pidgins and creoles]]
[[Category:Luso-Indian]]
[[Category:Luso-Indian]]
[[Category:Portuguese language in Asia]]

Latest revision as of 15:12, 30 May 2024


Korlai Portuguese creole
Kristi
Nou Ling
Native toIndia
Native speakers
800 (2015)e25
Language codes
ISO 639-3vkp
Glottologkorl1238
Linguasphere51-AAC-agc
Approximate location where Korlai Portuguese creole is spoken
Approximate location where Korlai Portuguese creole is spoken
Korlai Portuguese creole
Approximate location where Korlai Portuguese creole is spoken
Approximate location where Korlai Portuguese creole is spoken
Korlai Portuguese creole
Coordinates: 18°31′24″N 72°55′10″E / 18.5232°N 72.9195°E / 18.5232; 72.9195

Korlai Portuguese is an Indo-Portuguese creole based on the Portuguese language, spoken by approximately 1,000 inhabitants of the Korlai village at the Korlai fort, a former possession of the Portuguese in Goa and Bombay. Their speech is referred to as Korlai creole, Korlai Portuguese, Kristi or Nɔw-ling by the speakers themselves, which translates to "our language" in the creole. The speakers are a part of a very close-knit community, and refer to themselves as the Kristi community bound by their affiliation to the Christian denomination, of Roman Catholicism in India.[1] Korlai is situated in the Raigad district (Colaba district) of the Konkan division named after the Colaba fort, 150 kilometers south of Mumbai (Bombay), in Maharashtra, India. The speakers are of a homogenous Roman Catholic pocket in an area otherwise dominated by Konkani Muslim and Hindu Marathi-Konkani speaking inhabitants.[1]

Development of Korlai Creole Portuguese[edit | edit source]

The village of Korlai viewed from Korlai Fort

The development of the language can be traced back to the 1500s with the conception of the new element of society, the native Indian Catholics and Eurasian offspring. The existing caste system within India had a great influence on the creation of KCP (Korlai Creole Portuguese). The Eurasian offspring and the Indian-Eurasian offspring were isolated from the pure-blood Portuguese and other castes. This isolation led them to intermarry and children began learning the pidgin their parents spoke.[2] The Korlai creole emerged among the slaves and their offspring who converted to Christianity and became a part of the Portuguese community while still adhering to existing caste distinctions.[3]  The social isolation this community faced contributed to the maintenance and growth of Korlai creole.

In today's context, the Kristi community is geographically separated from the rest as the community lives in the 'varcha bhag' [Upper Korlai]. The community also differs from the rest of the area occupationally. Korlai Creole Portuguese speakers are agriculturists whereas the other dominant occupation is of fishers from the Koli, Mali, Agari and a few Maratha communities. Apart from the geographical and occupational differences, the Kristi community differentiates itself linguistically, by the use of 'nɔ ling', an important marker of their identity.[3] However, with the changing times and better connectivity between Korlai and the rest of the world, the language evolving. The newer generation prefers the use of Marathi as it is dominant language of the state and the insistence of the Church in order to create unison.[3] This is causing a huge influence of Marathi on the language and its development.

Socio-historical Background[edit | edit source]

Chaul was an important trade city near Korlai and was first visited by the Portuguese in 1505. This area was previously under the Muslim rule from 1318. The Portuguese and the Muslim ruler maintained a friendly relation, however, the relation soon experienced tension and a war broke out. During this time 600 casados, i.e. Portuguese men married the native women who were living outside the Chaul fort along with a large number of Hindu and Muslim shopkeepers.[1] In 1594, the Portuguese took over the fort along with Korlai in the valley of the marro (hill). By 1630, a small Christian community grew when the church, Nossa Senhora do Mar 'Our Lady of the Sea' was built on the hill. The slaves and the offspring of the casados [Portuguese men] and soldadas [Soldiers] were mainly Christian converts.[3] The Portuguese abandoned Chaul and the hill to move to Goa in 1740. After the departure of the Portuguese, many Christians moved to other Portuguese territories while the Christians of the lower-castes moved closer to the church as the Marathas took control of the region.[3]

Features of Korlai Creole Portuguese[edit | edit source]

Korlai Portuguese vowels are similar to the Middle Portuguese, which was spoken by Portuguese soldiers that came to the region. The sole difference being the point of articulation of the central vowel. Both Marathi and Korlai Creole Portuguese had a decline in nasal vowels and this process of denasalisation is connected for both languages.[2] In the younger generation, Korlai Creole Portuguese also shows an increase in the borrowing of Marathi lexical items.[3] Clements indicated that the language had SVO word order but recent data shows the language now utilizes a SOV word order, which could be attributed to increased influence of Marathi.[3]

Examples of Nɔ Ling[edit | edit source]

Thanks a lot: Muit'obrigad! From Port. Muito Obrigado
I: yo; From Port. eu
You (singular): wo; From Port. vós
You (formal): usé; From Port. você
He and She: el; From Port. ele (he) and ela (she)
We: no; From Port. nós
You (plural): udzó; From Port. vós outros
They: eló; from Port. eles outros
Numerals: ũ, doy, tre, kwat, sink, sey, set, oyt, nob, dey; From Port. um, dois, três, quatro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez
First, Second: Primer, Sigun; From Port. Primeiro, Segundo
How are you?: Use, kile te?
All are eating and drinking their fill: tud gent cumen beben tem fart; From Port. toda a gente come e bebe até fartar

Song of Korlai:

Maldita Maria Madulena,
Maldita firmosa,
Ai, contra ma ja foi a Madulena,
Vastida de mata!

Portuguese translation:

Maldita Maria Madalena,
Maldita Formosa,
Ai, contra minha vontade foi a Madalena,
Vestida de mata!

English translation:

Cursed Maria Madalena,
Cursed Beautiful one,
Oh, against my will it was Madalena,
Dressed in leaves and branches!

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Clements, J. Clancy (2015). "Portuguese Settlement of the Chaul/korlai Area and the Formation of Korlai Creole Portuguese". Journal of Language Contact. 8 (1): 13–35. doi:10.1163/19552629-00801002.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Clements, J. Clancy (1996). The Genesis of a Language: The Formation and Development of Korlai Portuguese. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 90-272-5238-6.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Paradkar, Ruta; De Athayde, Amanda (2015). "Revisiting Korlai: A Case of Language Contact". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 75: 203–214. JSTOR 26264737.

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