The expression Indo-Portuguese Creoles may mean any of the creole languages spoken in India or Sri Lanka which had a substantial Portuguese influence in grammar or lexicon, such as
- Sri Lanka Indo-Portuguese language
- Diu Indo-Portuguese language
- Daman Indo-Portuguese language
- Kristi language
- Cochin Indo-Portuguese Creole (known locally as "Portuguese" or "Cochin Portuguese"), formed due to the contact between Portuguese, Malayalam and probably a host of languages spoken by various communities in ancient Cochin. Cochin Indo-Portuguese Creole was probably one of the first contact languages that sprung up in Asia and was the mother tongue of part of the local Catholic community from 15th-19th century. This language developed with the formation of Catholic and Indo-Portuguese households in Malabar, and it was so vital by the time the Dutch took over (in 17th century) that it managed to thrive under them. The process of abandonment must have begun around the turn of the 19th century. William Rozario, the last speaker this creole, died on 20 August 2010 in Vypeen. In Cochin some still understand the Creole partially.
- Cannanore Indo-Portuguese Creole, formed due to the contact between Portuguese and Malayalam languages and estimated to have only five speakers currently. Formed after the Cochin Creole.
The expression Indo-Portuguese may refer not only to the Creoles but also to the ethnic groups speaking those languages.
Famous quotes containing the word creoles:
“Men always sell strawberries, women, blackberries, your all- knowing Creole friend says. ‘Why?’ you ask. ‘Ah, it has always been that way.’ When you get to know Creoles better, you realize that the phrase ‘It has always been that way’ justifies everything.”
—For the City of New Orleans, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)