Substratal reflections: the completive aspect and the distributive numerals in Isle de France Creole

Abstract

This paper examines briefly two areas of Isle de France Creole semantax in the development of which substratal influence appears to have played an important role. One of these areas is interesting, in that it has not received a great deal of attention to date, but it is not a particularly salient nor even controversial matter: the reduplicated numerals which I label “distributive” numerals. The other is of greater significance. It is the completive aspect marker. I have suggested elsewhere (1982:101) that this item may reflect a Bantu substratal influence, and this suggestion is elaborated upon here.