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Synoptically one can state four basic characteristics for Pidgins: The first and most important point is that Pidgins have no native speakers. two knifes becomes two knife) and decrease the number of words, but in return expanding their meanings (Holm, 1988: 5). They cooperate with other groups to create an unscripted language, simplifying, leaving off complications (e.g. Furthermore, the superstrate speakers accept many of the emerging changes in order to facilitate communication and to become more comprehensible, simultaneously they do not try to speak as they do within their own group (Holm, 1988: 5). Mostly, they are accommodating by adopting words of speakers with more power, speakers of the superstrate language (Holm, 1988: 5). Speakers of these groups can be divided into at least two groups: Speakers with less power are speakers of the substrate language. The Pidgin is strengthened because there is a need for these stated groups to communicate (for example for trade) but none of these groups learns the mother tongue of the other group (Holm, 1988: 4).
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It is a reduced language that arises through extensive contact between different groups of people who do not share a common language (Holm, 1988: 4). Generally, a Pidgin is “any combination and distortion of two languages as a means of communication.” (Sebba, 1997: 1) Pidgin English is defined as “any lingua franca consisting of English and another language.” (Sebba, 1997: 1) DEFINITIONS 2.1 Pidginsĭefining what is a pidgin and what is not is a challenging undertaking.
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Finally, I will introduce the topic of De- and Re-creolization. I continue with the most known origins of Pidgins, which is followed by the four phases of development from a Pidgin to a Creole. I start with an outline of the definitions of Pidgins and creoles and how they relate to each other. In my term paper I will examine the emergence of a Creole. This sequence of Jamaican Creole is only one of the diversity in the creole-speaking world. “Chrismus time ah de time ob gladness, and de time ob goodwill, when de goodwill pirit tek hold ob we, we feget ebery libing ting bout de grudge we gat against wen ex doah neighbour an we begins fe wish him all kinda nice something, cause we feel nice weself. THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT: FROM PIDGIN TO CREOLEĥ.1 De-Creolization and Post-Creole continuum 3.2 The independent parallel development theoryģ.4 The Monogenetic/Relexification TheoryĤ.
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