View source for Eastern Imaguan Creole

{{For|the other creole language spoken on [[Imagua]] with the same name|Western Imaguan Creole}}
{{Infobox language
|name          = Eastern Imaguan Creole
|nativename = ''Imagwa kio''
|pronunciation = 
|region        = {{flag|Imagua and the Assimas}}
|speakers      = 32,105
|date          = 2011
|speakers2     = {{wp|Second language|L2}}: TBD
|familycolor   = Creole
|fam1   = {{wp|English-based creole|Estmerish-based creole}}
|fam2   = [[Estmero-Arucian Pidgin]]
|script = {{wp|Latin script}}
|nation = 
|agency =
|iso3   = esc
|lingua = 
|map    = 
|mapcaption =
}}
'''Eastern Imaguan Creole''' (''Imagwa kio'') is an {{wp|English-based creole languages|Estmerish-based}} {{wp|creole language}} traditionally spoken in the eastern regions of the island of [[Imagua (island)|Imagua]]. Historically prevalent in eastern Imagua, where trade and settlement patterns meant there was little contact with [[Geatland|Geatish]] colonies in present-day [[Eldmark]] and the [[Assimas Islands]], Eastern Imaguan Creole has been undergoing {{wp|decreolization|decreolisation}} and {{wp|language shift}}, as speakers shift to {{wp|British English|standard Estmerish}} and [[Western Imaguan Creole]].

==History==
[[File:ImaguanCreoles.png|250px|thumb|left|Map of the distribution of Western and Eastern Imaguan Creoles in 1911 by [[Edwin Wensley]]]]
Eastern Imaguan Creole is believed by linguists to have been a descendant of a {{wp|contact language}} spoken around [[Estmere|Estmerish]] trade posts in present-day [[Rwizikuru]], with linguist [[Tinozivaishe Makwarimba]] from the [[University of Rwizikuru]] hypothesising that local {{wp|Shona people|Rwizi}} near [[Fort Graham]] wishing to trade with Estmere had to learn the {{wp|English language|Estmerish language}}, but due to Estmerish's complicated grammar, the Rwizi near Fort Graham simplified it to a point that they can comprehend it, while still getting the message across to the Estmerish merchants.

As slaves were imported onto the island of Imagua by [[Estmere|Estmerish settlers]] after the island was seized in 1658, they bought their language with them, leading to the development of an [[Estmero-Arucian Pidgin]] on the island. On Imagua, the pidgin made contact with what would become [[Western Imaguan Creole]]: in areas where there was still trade with [[Geatland|Geatish]] colonies in present-day [[Eldmark]] and the Assimas, or in areas with a high proportion of Geatish settlement, Western Imaguan Creole would be adopted by slaves, while in areas that did not trade with Eldmark and had a low proportion of Geatish settlement, an Estmerish-based creole would develop.

After slavery was abolished in 1771, many speakers of Eastern Imaguan Creole migrated to [[Cuanstad]]: due to Cuanstad's size and influence, speakers of Eastern Imaguan Creole tended to live separately from those who spoke Western Imaguan Creole. Some speakers would migrate to present-day [[Rwizikuru]], where they would develop a [[Freemen|distinct identity]] with a [[Estuary Creole|sister language]] emerging. However, from the nineteenth century onward, colonial authorities began to institute policies to crack down on Eastern Imaguan Creole, by prohibiting its use in schools and government offices, in order to promote the use of {{wp|British English|standard Estmerish}} in wider society.

This led to growing stigma against the use of Eastern Imaguan Creole, particularly in Cuanstad. However, as late as the early twentieth century, Eastern Imaguan Creole was still widely spoken east of what [[Edwin Wensley]] called in 1911 "the Geatish line," with Wensley noting that "the black population spoke a peculiar form of Estmerish: only those who came from those west of the Geatish line would speak their own language," and estimating that around 300,000 people poke "what I call eastern Imaguan Estmerish."

However, with the advent of radio and television broadcasts throughout the twentieth century, it allowed for the promotion of both the standard varieties of Estmerish, and Western Imaguan Creole across the island of Imagua, which led to a process of {{wp|decreolization|decreolisation}} and {{wp|language shift}}. This was exacerbated by {{wp|rural flight}} from the 1950s on, which led many who previously spoke Eastern Imaguan Creole to abandon it in favour of Estmerish or Western Imaguan Creole.

In addition, while attitudes towards Western Imaguan Creole have shifted to be more in favour, particularly from the 1980s onwards, Eastern Imaguan Creole has remained largely stigmatised as a form of "bad Estmerish" and its use has been declining: as of 2011, there were only around thirty thousand speakers, most of whom lived either in rural areas and/or were over the age of 60. There is little government support, although university courses are offered at the [[University of Cuanstad]] to teach and discuss Eastern Imaguan Creole.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Bilabial consonant|Bilabial}}
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Labiodental consonant|Labio-<br>dental}}
! colspan="2" |{{wp|Alveolar consonant|Alveolar}}
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Palatal consonant|Palatal}}
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Velar consonant|Velar}}
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Glottal consonant|Glottal}}
|-
!<small>plain</small>
!<small>whistled</small>
|- align="center"
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Stop consonant|Plosive}}
!<small>voiceless</small>
| {{IPA|p}}
|
| {{IPA|t}}
|
|
| {{IPA|k}}
|
|- align="center"
!<small>implosive</small>
| {{IPA|ɓ}}
|
| {{IPA|ɗ}}
|
| 
| {{IPA|ɠ}}
|
|- align="center"
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Fricative consonant|Fricative}}
!<small>voiceless</small>
|
| {{IPA|f}} 
| {{IPA|s}}
| 
| {{IPA|ʃ}}
|
|
|-
!<small>breathy</small>
|
| 
| {{IPA|z̤}}
| 
| {{IPA|ʒ̤}}
|
| {{IPA|ɦ}}
|- align="center"
!{{wp|Nasal consonant|Nasal}}
!<small>plain</small>
| {{IPA|m}}
|
| {{IPA|n}}
|
| {{IPA|ɲ}}
| {{IPA|ŋ}}
|
|- align="center"
! rowspan="2" |{{wp|Affricate consonant|Affricate}}
!<small>voiceless</small>
|
|
| {{IPA|t͡s}}
| 
| {{IPA|t͡ʃ}}
|
|
|- align="center"
!<small>breathy</small>
| 
|
| {{IPA|d͡z̤}}
| 
| {{IPA|d͡ʒ̤}}
|
|
|- align="center"
! colspan="2" |{{wp|Approximant consonant|Approximant}}
|
| {{IPA|ʋ}}
|
|
| {{IPA|j}}
| {{IPA|w}}
|
|- align="center"
! colspan="2" | {{wp|Lateral approximant}}
|
| 
| {{IPA|l}}
|
|
|
|
|}

===Vowels===
Like {{wp|Shona language|Rwizi}} or [[Estuary Creole]], vowels in Estuary Creole are pronounced like {{IPA|a}}, {{IPA|e}}, {{IPA|i}}, {{IPA|o}}, {{IPA|u}}, with vowels maintaining a consistent pronunciation: if a vowel is followed by another vowel, they are to be pronounced {{wp|hiatus (linguistics)|separately}}. However, unlike Rwizi, but like Estuary Creole, there are no tones in Eastern Imaguan Creole.

==Grammar==
Because of [[Estmerish-Arucian Pidgin]]'s origin as a {{wp|contact language}} between {{wp|English language|Estmerish}} and {{wp|Shona language|Rwizi}}, Eastern Imaguan Creole's grammar is simplified.

Estuary Creole's verbs default to {{wp|simple present}} tense, with words used to modify sentences, with ''den'' used to indicate an action took place in the past, and ''sun'' for actions that will take place in the future.

*'''Me sliping''' ({{IPA|/me sli'piŋ/}})
**''I am sleeping''

*'''Me sliping den''' ({{IPA|/me sli'piŋ ɗen/}})
**''I was sleeping; I had been sleeping''

*'''Me sliping sun''' ({{IPA|/me sli'piŋ sun/}})
**''I will be sleeping; I am going to sleep''

===Pronominal system===
Eastern Imaguan Creole's {{wp|pronouns|pronominal system}} is radically simplified compared to {{wp|British English|standard Estmerish}}, as Estuary Creole lacks gender distinction.

*I, me - Me ({{IPA|/me/}})
*You (form. sing.) - Du ({{IPA|/ɗu/}})
*You (inf. sing.) - Yu ({{IPA|/ju/}})
*You (form. plur.) - Dutsu ({{IPA|/ɗuˈt͡su/}})
*You (inf. plur.) Yuwi ({{IPA|/juˈwi/}})
*He, him, she, her, they, them - Dem ({{IPA|/ɗem/}})
*Plural them (form.) - Demtsu ({{IPA|/ɗemˈt͡su/}})
*Plural them (inf.) - Demwi ({{IPA|/ɗemˈwi/}})
*Our, we, us (form.) - Tsu ({{IPA|/t͡su/}})
*Our, we, us (inf.) - Wi ({{IPA|/wi/}})

===Copula===
Eastern Imaguan Creole has only one {{wp|copula|copular form}}, ''bi'' ({{IPA|/ɓi/}}).

*'''Me bi fate''' ({{IPA|/me ɓi faˈte/}})
**''I am a father''
*'''Me bi tu Niu Tish sun''' ({{IPA|/me ɓi tu ɲu tiʃ sun/}})
**''I will be going to [[Nua Taois]]''
*'''Me bi yung den''' ({{IPA|/me ɓi juŋ ɗen/}})
**''I was young''

===Negation===
In Eastern Imaguan Creole, there are two negative tense indicators: ''no'' ({{IPA|/no/}}), and ''kant'' ({{IPA|/kant/}}). ''No'' is the general negative tense, while ''kant'' is used to permanently deny a request under any circumstances, or if someone is unable to do something because of poor health or because of a disability.

*'''Yu no go tu shopwi''' ({{IPA|/ju no tu ʃapˈwi/}})
**''You may not go to the shops''.
*'''Du kant mai dem''' ({{IPA|/ɗu kant maˈi ɗem/}})
**''You will never marry him''
*'''Dem kant tak''' ({{IPA|/ɗem kant tak/}})
**''She cannot talk''

==Orthography==
Traditionally, Eastern Imaguan Creole was seen as a "degenerated variety" of {{wp|English language|Estmerish}}: thus, most works which mention Eastern Imaguan Creole used {{wp|eye dialect}} spellings. Academic works have tended to use the {{wp|International phonetic alphabet}}.

Since 1998, a common orthography has been in use by the [[University of Cuanstad]] to transcribe Eastern Imaguan Creole, based largely off of [[Edwin Wensley]]'s [[Western Imaguan Creole#Orthography|orthography]] for [[Western Imaguan Creole]] but adapted to fit Eastern Imaguan Creole sounds. Despite some efforts at promoting the orthography to write Eastern Imaguan Creole, few use it due to the continuing stigma.

==Vocabulary==
Most vocabulary used in Eastern Imaguan Creole comes from {{wp|English language|Estmerish}} and from [[Western Imaguan Creole]]. However, there are some loanwords from [[Bahia]], most notably the plural marker ''-tsu'' and the word for ''us'', tsu ({{IPA|t͡su}}), which derives from the {{wp|Shona language|Rwizi}} word ''isu''.

Because Eastern Imaguan Creole developed from an earlier pidgin language used between the 17th and 19th centuries in present-day [[Rwizikuru]], which developed into the [[Estmero-Arucian Pidgin]], many Estmerish terms have their origins in {{wp|Early Modern English|Early Modern Estmerish}}, with the consequence that many of the words now mean something different in {{wp|Modern English|modern Estmerish}}, like ''respet'' ({{IPA|/resˈpet/}}, from Estmerish ''respect'') referring to forethought and consideration, as opposed to deep admiration or due regard to another in modern Estmerish, and ''lising'' ({{IPA|/liˈsiŋ/}} from ''leasing''), referring to the ability to lie, as opposed to renting space from a business.

Terms for native {{wp|flora}} and {{wp|fauna}} on the island come from Western Imaguan Creole, such as ''hewe'' ({{IPA|/ɦeˈwe/}}) meaning snake, ''minkun'' ({{IPA|/minˈkun/}}), meaning potato, and ''hes'' ({{IPA|/ɦes/}} for horse.

===Examples===
All examples below are presented in {{wp|basilect|basilectal}} Eastern Imaguan Creole.
*'''Yu tak kio?''' ({{IPA|/ju tak kiˈo/}})
**''Do you speak [Eastern Imaguan] Creole?''
*'''At yu?''' ({{IPA|/at ju/}})
**''How are you?''
*'''Du kosta?''' ({{IPA|/ɗu kosˈta/}})
**''How much does this cost?''
*'''Fa Kwansta?''' ({{IPA|/fa kwanˈsta/}})
**''How far is [[Cuanstad]]?''
*'''Kosta tanti silingwi''' ({{IPA|/kosˈta tanˈti siˈliŋˈwi/}})
**''It costs twenty [[Arucian shilling|shillings]].''
*'''Me nem...''' ({{IPA|/me nem/}})
**''My name is...''
*'''Yu nem?''' ({{IPA|/ju nem/}})
**''What is your name?''
*'''De lavati?''' ({{IPA|/ɗe laˈʋaˈti/}})
**''Where is the bathroom?''

[[Category:Languages of Imagua and the Assimas]]