SALIENT FEATURES OF KOINES: PRETORIA SOTHO, SPOKEN KOINE GREEK AND TOWN BEMBA

Abstract

An attempt is made to describe the salient features of koine varieties on the basis of three defining examples and with reference to Hymes' (1971) model for the study of pidgins. creoles and other language types. First the most salient features of Pretoria Sotho are discussed and then those of Spoken Koine Greek and Town Bemba. All three examples show considerable variation in outer (phonological) form, dynamic expansion of inner (semantic/lexical) form, incomplete confluence of linguistic traditions, extension to a cosmopolitan function and popular social status. Finally, attention is given to the differences between koines on the one hand and creoles, pidgins, certain slang varieties and standard varieties on the other. The main differences are differences in profile on a set of live scales.