This study examines the tense/modelity/aspect system of Papiamentu, the Portuguese- and Spanish-based creole of the Netherlands Antilles. Papiamentu has been considered to deviate from the expected features of creole languages, but a pilot study has shown that Papiamentu conforms more to the prototypical creole TMA system than previously thought. This study extends the pilot study and involves new collection as well, incidentally creating a computer data base. The results are expected to clarify the status of Papiamentu among creole languages of the world and provide a model for more detailed study of TMA systems in creoles and natural languages in general, which in turn has relevance to the debate concerning Bickerton's bioprogram hypothesis concerning the origin and structure of creole languages.
