Asymmetry in path coding: Creole data support a universal trend

MOTION-TO and MOTION-FROM constitute an instance of agrammatical coding asymmetry. According to the form-frequency correspondences, MOTION-FROM constructions are longer as or at least not shorter than MOTION-TO constructions. Corpus data from different languages show that there is indeed a clear difference in frequency of MOTION-TO and MOTION-FROM constructions. These figures fit nicely with the hypothesis that speakers highlight the less frequent and therefore less predictable meaning: MOTION-FROM constructions are longer.

In the course of language change processes, we see these coding preferences fossilizing into coding asymmetries. Independently of the origin and degree of innovation in the creole patterns and independently of the fact that creoles are the outcome from heavy restructuring processes, creole languages support the universal trend.