Defining the Target Language
 in Language Genesis

 Richard J. File-Muriel


0. Introduction
Prior work has looked at creolization in terms of imperfect L2
 learning (Ferguson and DeBose 1977, Shuman 1978, Andersen
 1979, 1980, Siegel 1997, and Thomason and Kaufman 1988). The
theory of imperfect second language learning posits that pidgins are
primarily the result of imperfect L2 learning of a dominant lexifier
language by the creole forming population (CFP). Besten, Muysken,
and Smith (in Arends et al. 1994:97-8) conclude that although not all
features of creoles can be explained by appealing to imperfect L2
learning, it plays an important role. The commonly held belief is that
creoles result from "the crystallization of some stage in the
developmental sequence of second language acquisition"(10). In other
words, the CFP faced with insufficient input, has to create a system of
communication, which approximates the language of the dominant
group. Under such a view, creoles are formed by the failure of CFP
speakers to completely acquire a given target linguistic model
(generally the model of the group in power). This paper will be divided
into the following sections: In section 1, I1 will review what claims have
been made regarding SLA and pidginization and show how their premise
lies in the assumption that the target language of the CFP was the lexifier
language (i.e. the language of the dominant group). 2. I1 will follow Baker