Charlene J. Sato

Charlene J. Sato or Charlene Junko Sato, called "Charlie" (25 June 1951, in Lahaina – 28 January 1996), was a linguist known for her contributions to pidgin and creole studies.

Life Sato grew up in Wahiawa and attended Leilehua High School. Sato died of ovarian cancer.

Education Sato obtained a B.A. in linguistics at University of California, Berkeley in 1973, and an M.A. in linguistics at University of Hawaiʻi in 1978. She then completed a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics at University of California, Los Angeles in 1985. Sato was the editor of the Carrier Pidgin newsletter from 1989 to 1993. She also served on the executive committee of the Society of Pidgin and Creole Linguistics.

Also in 1987, Sato fought the Hawaii State Board of Education's attempt to ban the use of Hawaii Creole English in the classroom, and helped establish the Hawaii Coordinating Council on Language Policy and Planning.

Sato was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Publications Sato, Charlene J. 1990. The Syntax of Conversation in Interlanguage Development. Doctoral dissertation.