Tongan English (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9783111417394)

This book documents the sound, structure, history and status of Tongan English, a previously undescribed variety of English in the South Pacific. Description is based on empirical analysis of a large corpus of spoken data and ethnographically informed observations of language use in the community. Possible substrate language influence is taken into account when outlining the phonology, morphosyntax and lexis of Tongan English. The book sheds light on norm formation and development in Tongan English as a contact variety, contributing to a broader discussion on of the nativisation of emergent and L2 Englishes.