Significant features of contact languages – consonants

These languages show the basic consonant phonemes of English, but possess a considerably smaller inventory of sounds. There is also substantial variation relating to the substrate languages. Kriol, for example, has additional lamino-palatal and retroflexed consonants that are not found in standard English. Generally, phonetic interference from vernaculars is more obvious in the language of older, especially rural, speakers. The extent of the influence depends on whether or not these vernaculars are the first language of speakers, as well as on education (which will inevitably increase contact with English). As in the case of vowels, speakers with a better command of English usually have expanded consonant inventories. Consequently, the following are very general tendencies and readers are advised to revisit for specific details of each of these languages.