In search of a submerged phonology: the case of early Cape Dutch Pidgin

Due to the orthography in which the scattered data of early Cape Dutch Pidgin (CDP) until about 1720 have come down to us the phonology of this pidgin seems to be fairly ‘Dutch’ in nature. Yet this conflicts with Baron van Reede’s complaint about the Khoekhoen’s pronunciation of Dutch. Van Reede’s complaint is confirmed by Dutch loanwords as can be found in Khoekhoe word lists of the same period. Furthermore, careful analysis of the pidgin data has brought to light a few additional cases. Finally, there can be shown to be phonological continuity between CDP (as spoken by the Khoekhoen) and present-day Khoekhoe Afrikaans although the evidence is not overwhelming.