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In:New Perspectives on Mauritian Creole and Reunion Creole: Standardization, grammar and language use
Edited by Muhsina Alleesaib and Julie Lefort
[Contact Language Library 61] 2025
► pp. 279–323

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Chapter 10
(Re)defining the classification of Mauritian French varieties through a phonemic/phonetic approach

 | University of Mauritius
 | University of Mauritius
Published online: 7 April 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/coll.61.10flo
Abstract
In this chapter, we question the validity of previous works on the phonology of Mauritian French, which take a sociolinguistic approach and argue that there exist three varieties of Mauritian French, based on the (ethnic) population’s speech. We question the two dichotomies between endogenous and exogenous varieties of Mauritian French and between “Gens de couleur” and “Afro-Creole” groups. We show that this classification of the Creole community does not stand with regard to genealogy and that the “new French-speakers” variety should also not be regarded as a homogeneous and stable variety. We propose to analyse the stratification of Mauritian French by taking as focal point acoustic phonetics, which could then give a new insight into the social and sociolinguistic landscape of Mauritius Islands.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • 1.Defining Mauritian French varieties and Mauritian French Speakers
    • 1.1Mauritian French as part of a multilingual society from a historical perspective
    • 1.2Attempts of classification of the Mauritian population
    • 1.3Classification of Mauritian French varieties
    • 1.4Criticism of variables used in the classifications of Mauritian population and Mauritian French varieties
  • 2.Methodology
    • 2.1Profile of informants
    • 2.2Materials
    • 2.3Processing
  • 3.Clustering and variation of Mauritian French vowels
    • 3.1Comparison between Mauritian French and Standard French vowels
    • 3.2Phonological clustering of Mauritian French vowels
    • 3.3Overview of the variations affecting vowels realizations in Mauritian French
    • 3.4Correlation of formant values with independent variables
      • 3.4.1Variations of vowels by community
      • 3.4.2Variations of vowels by place of residence
      • 3.4.3Variations of vowels by L1(s)
  • 3.5Results
    • 3.5.1Variation of vowels by community of informants
    • 3.5.2Variation of vowels by place of residence of informants
    • 3.5.3Variation of vowels by language spoken at home
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (50)
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