The Story of Papiamentu

‘The Story of Papiamentu’ offers a comprehensive historical analysis of Papiamentu, the creole language spoken in Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire. Gary C. Fouse delves into the debated origins of Papiamentu, exploring whether it emerged from interactions between Spanish explorers and indigenous populations or from Portuguese traders in Africa. The book examines the roles of Portuguese and Dutch enslavers, the history of slavery in Curaçao, and the contributions of the Sephardic Jewish community to the language’s development. Through historical documentation and socio-cultural analysis, Fouse provides valuable insights into the evolution of Papiamentu and its significance within the Caribbean context.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ….. vii
Maps (Africa and Caribbean) ….. ix
Introduction ….. 1

Part 1 Language

Chapter 1 Pidgin and Creoles ….. 9
Chapter 2 Papiamentu- A Look at the Language ….. 19

Part 2 Slavery

Chapter 3 Slavery and Africa ….. 27
Chapter 4 Spanish Discovery and the Rule of the ABC Islands ….. 37
Chapter 5 The Emergence of the Dutch ….. 45
Chapter 6 Dutch Slavery on the ABC Islands ….. 57
Chapter 7 Revolts and Emancipation ….. 69

Part 3 Development

Chapter 8 The Formation of Papiamentu- How Did it Happen? ….. 83
Chapter 9 The Sephardic Jews of Curaçao ….. 109
Chapter 10 The Role of the Church ….. 125
Chapter 11 Papiamentu vs. Dutch- Society, Education and Law ….. 137
Chapter 12 Oral tradition ….. 163
Chapter 13 The Written Word ….. 175
Chapter 14 The Issue of Standardization ….. 193

Part 4 Present and Future

Chapter 15 Papiamentu in the Netherlands ….. 203
Chapter 16 The Present-Day Situation and the Future ….. 217

Bibliography ….. 227

Index ….. 239