8. Bare nouns in Réunionnais Creole

This paper examines the determiner system of Réunionnais Creole (RC) with a special focus on the use, interpretation and distribution of its bare nouns. The synchronic part of the study involves a comparison of bare nouns between RC and Modern French whereas the diachronic section considers RC and Middle French in an attempt to determine the origins of RC bare nouns and whether there are uses proper to RC.

On the one hand, this paper uncovers convincing evidence tracing the use and distribution of bare nouns in RC to Middle French. On the other, it highlights the full complexity of the situation by taking into account the many variants spoken at the time when RC emerged, as well as the current situation of diglossia with French.¹