Pidgin
Pidgin is a simplified form of language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It typically arises in situations where speakers of different languages need to communicate for trade, work, or other purposes. Pidgins are characterized by a limited vocabulary, simplified grammar, and a mixture of elements from the languages of the groups involved.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Pidgins are not native languages; they are learned as second languages. They often have the following features:
- **Simplified Grammar**: Pidgins typically have a reduced grammatical structure compared to the languages they are derived from.
- **Limited Vocabulary**: The vocabulary of a pidgin is usually much smaller than that of a natural language.
- **Phonological Simplification**: Pidgins often have a simplified sound system.
- **Lack of Inflection**: Pidgins generally lack the inflectional morphology found in many natural languages.
Development[edit | edit source]
Pidgins develop in multilingual environments where speakers of different languages need to communicate. They often emerge in contexts such as trade, colonization, and labor migration. Over time, if a pidgin becomes stable and is learned by children as their first language, it can develop into a creole language.
Examples of Pidgins[edit | edit source]
Some well-known pidgins include:
- Tok Pisin: A pidgin language spoken in Papua New Guinea.
- Hawaiian Pidgin: A creole language spoken in Hawaii, which originated as a pidgin.
- Nigerian Pidgin: A widely spoken pidgin in Nigeria.
Related Concepts[edit | edit source]
- Creole language: A stable, natural language that has developed from a pidgin.
- Lingua franca: A language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a native language.
- Language contact: The phenomenon by which two or more languages influence each other.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD