Dictionary

mimolect en · NOUN

Etymology

From mimo- + -lect.

Meanings

1. A xenolect that has become separated from its matrilect both geographically and communicatively.
   • As a xenolect develops, it becomes mimolect, that is, a variety whose external appearance resembles that of another (Stewart, 1989: 263-280). 2009, Anna Maria D'Amore, Translating Contemporary Mexican Texts, →ISBN, page 110:
   • At some point in the decreolization process, however, xenolectal structures become masked by surface-structure mimicry of the matrilect, so that the apparent degree of xenolecticity of the evolving mimolect drops below the real level, as represented by the crossover of A-B and C-D. 1989, Ofelia García, Ricardo Otheguy, English across cultures, cultures across English, →ISBN, page 277:
   • In the process, as substantial numbers of black speakers underwent decreolization, their decreolized speech, although technically a mimolect, would have much of the surface form and therefore social status of a true matrilect, and would itself then serve as an additional model for those speakers further behind in the decreolization process. 1990, Edward Herman Bendix, The Uses of Linguistics - Volume 583, →ISBN, page 43:

Forms