This article is about the form of language in general. For particular languages, see Pidgin § List of notable pidgins. For the type of bird, see pigeon. For the IM client, see Pidgin (software). For other uses, see Pidgin (disambiguation).
Simplified language
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A pidgin[1][2][3]/ˈpɪdʒɪn/, or pidgin language, is a grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups of people that do not have a language in common: typically, its vocabulary and grammar are limited and often drawn from several languages. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the country in which they reside (but where there is no common language between the groups).
Fundamentally, a pidgin is a simplified means of linguistic communication, as it is constructed impromptu, or by convention, between individuals or groups of people. A pidgin is not the native language of any speech community, but is instead learned as a second language.[4][5]
A pidgin may be built from words, sounds, or body language from a multitude of languages as well as onomatopoeia. As the lexicon of any pidgin will be limited to core vocabulary, words with only a specific meaning in the lexifier language may acquire a completely new (or additional) meaning in the pidgin.[citation needed]
Pidgins have historically been considered a form of patois, unsophisticated simplified versions of their lexifiers, and as such usually have low prestige with respect to other languages.[6] However, not all simplified or "unsophisticated" forms of a language are pidgins. Each pidgin has its own norms of usage which must be learned for proficiency in the pidgin.[7]
A pidgin differs from a creole, which is the first language of a speech community of native speakers that at one point arose from a pidgin. Unlike pidgins, creoles have fully developed vocabulary and patterned grammar.[citation needed] Most linguists[according to whom?] believe that a creole develops through a process of nativization of a pidgin when children of speakers of an acquired pidgin learn it and use it as their native language.[citation needed]
^Muysken, Pieter; Smith, Norval (2008). "The study of pidgin and creole languages" (PDF). In Arends, Jacques; Muijsken, Pieter; Smith, Norval (eds.). Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction. John Benjamins. pp. 3–14.
^Özüorçun, Fatma (2014). "Language varieties: Pidgins and creoles" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
^Bickerton, Derek (1976). "Pidgin and creole studies". Annual Review of Anthropology. 5: 169–93. doi:10.1146/annurev.an.05.100176.001125. JSTOR 2949309.
A pidgin /ˈpɪdʒɪn/, or pidgin language, is a grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups of people that do...
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of different languages simplifying and mixing into a new form (often, a pidgin), and then that form expanding and elaborating into a full-fledged language...
Hawaiian Pidgin (alternately, Hawaiʻi Creole English or HCE, known locally as Pidgin) is an English-based creole language spoken in Hawaiʻi. An estimated...
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Chinese Pidgin English (also called Chinese Coastal English or Pigeon English) is a pidgin language lexically based on English, but influenced by a Chinese...
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pidgins throughout history, including a number of new ones emerging today. The major attested historical Arabic pidgins are: Maridi Arabic, a pidgin of...
Papua. Despite the small number of speakers, it is the basis of a local pidgin. It has 18 consonants and 5 vowels. Onin at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)...
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are Duvde, Duve, Duvele, Duvre. It is also known as Wiri. A Duvle-based pidgin is used with speakers of Wano as well. Duvle at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)...
Carib Pidgin may refer to: The Ndyuka-Tiriyó Pidgin, a pidgin language spoken in South America The "men's language" spoken by the Island Caribs in the...
Labrador Inuit Pidgin French, also called Belle Isle Pidgin, was a French-lexified pidgin spoken between Breton and Basque fishermen and the Inuit of Labrador...
franca is English, which was the language of Colonial Nigeria. Nigerian Pidgin – an English-based creole – is spoken by over 60 million people. The major...
Pidgin Delaware (also Delaware Jargon or Trader's Jargon) was a pidgin language that developed between speakers of Unami Delaware and Dutch traders and...
language spoken on the tip of the Bomberai Peninsula. It is the basis of a pidgin used as the local trade language. Marginal phonemes are in parentheses....
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