Pidgins and Creoles: Birth of

Pidgins and Creoles: Birth of Languages

Suraiya Lecturer of The Faculty of Humanism and Letter State Islamic University of Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh - Indonesia E-mail: [email protected]

Abstrak: Tulisan ini menjelaskan sepintas tentang bahasa Pidgin dan Creole. Bahasa Pidgin dan Creole adalah dua jenis bahasa yang digunakan di dunia dan para penggunanya adalah komunitas tersendiri yang ada di berbagai belahan dunia. Pembahasan dalam artikel ini dimulai dengan pemaparan sejarah atau latar belakang timbulnya bahasa Pidgin dan Creole dan mulai digunakannya kedua bahasa tersebut di dunia. Penjelasan tentang definisi kedua istilah tersebut juga dipaparkan dengan jelas dengan tujuan agar lebih mudah dipahami. Tulisan ini juga membahas beberapa persamaan antara bahasa Pidgin dan Creole serta perbedaan keduanya beserta contoh-contoh kosa kata yang digunakan dalam masyarakat penggunanya. Lebih lanjut juga dideskripsikan secara detail tentang masyarakat yang menggunakan kedua bahasa tersebut di dunia. Di akhir tulisan, artikel ini membahas tentang beberapa alasan mengapa Pidgin dan Creole terlahir sebagai bahasa yang digunakan beberapa komunitas di berbagai belahan dunia.

Kata Kunci: Bahasa Pidgin; bahasa Creole; terciptanya bahasa

Abtsract: This article presents an outlook of pidgins and creoles starting from the background of the arise of the using of pidgins and creoles in the world. To have a clear understanding of what pidgins and creoles distinctive features of pidgins and creoles and the community using pidgins and creoles in the world. At are the definition of both terms are explained briefly here. This article also discusses some distinctions or the end of the discussion, this article describes some brief discussions related to some reasons stating that pidgins and creoles are born as languages.

Keywords: Pidgin; Creole; birth of languages

Introduction diverge into varied or even completely is a means of communication. new languages. Among the languages of the There are some living languages in the world. world are pidgins and creoles. Some of the languages dissappeared when the Researchs related to pidgins and creoles reason for communication diminishes. Some have been conducted by some researchers others, however, developed very differently years ago. Musyken and Smith state that the from their related languages. Other were earliest written source for many creoles date from the 18th century, when missionaries taking on different grammar and vocabulary, to influenced by the neighbouring languages, started writing dictionaries and translating

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own patterns and forms. Most likely, the word is the Chinese pronunciation of the English religious texts into the languages of the slaves. in 1739 in Virgin Islands when the very word “business”. Eventually, the term became The term ‘creole’ was first applied to a language used for all pidgin languages.3 was referred to a carriolsche by a Moravian youthful Ducth- crede Negerhollands missionary.1 The most basic definition of a pidgin is “a In line with what have been stated by simplified form of speech formed from one Musyken and Smith, Vicente also adds that who have no other language in common”. or more existing languages, used by people studies on pidgin and date As was mentioned above, the original pidgin from before he ninetienth century, however, languages was developed out of the need for as academic discipline it was not established two groups of people to communicate. This is until 1950s and early 1960s.2 In addition, most commonly used for business and trade Bickerton (1990 ) and Givon (1998 ) are among 4 those who wrote about pidgins and creoles. purposes,Thus, whenPidgin it is beneficiala language to both that sides. arises For what reason and consideration that when people that do not have a common pidgins and creoles are said as born languages language, when they have to come into ?. In this article, the writer will describe some contact with each other but it is not used by any community to communicate among are considered as born languages. experts findings of why pidgins and creoles themselves. One of famous pidgin language is in New Guinea which developed What are Pidgins and Creoles? between the English speaking administrators and the local population. Some words of Tok There may be several different origins Pisin quoted from Bolinger in Hudson can be for the ‘pidgin’. It may come from Chinese seen as follow. The words in brackets indicate pidgin English where it means ‘business’ or Hebrew “pidjom’ which means ‘ barter’. The Tok Pisin word. term “pidgin”, sometimes spelled “pigion”, the English source that explain the preceding originally referred to Chinese Pidgin English. Bimeby (by and by) leg belong you he-all- After English came to Chine in the 1630s, a right gain (again). need for a shared language arose in order to ‘Your leg will get well again’ conduct trade. Local workers communicated Sick he-down-im(him) me. with their English-speaking counterparts through broken English, which developed its ‘I am sick’

1Musyken, Pieter and Smith, Noral. The Study of Pidgin and creoles Languages..1995. P. 7-8 3Erick Zidowecki, Parrot Time. The Thinking 2Vicente, Veruska Salvador. “English-Based of Speaking. Extras Of Pidgins and Creoles. A Look at Pidgins and Creoles: From Social to Cognitive How some Languages are Born. www.parrottime.com/ Hypotheses of Acquisition.” Revista Virtual de index.php?i=15&a=153. Retrieved on February 20, studos da linguagem_ReVEL, Vol 5, n 9 agosto de 2017 2007, ISSN 1678-8931 (www,revel.inf.br). P.1 4Ibid

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Me like-im saucepan belong cook-im The main distinction is that from a social bread. point of view that creoles are of more interest 7 ‘ I want a pan for cooking bread’.5 than pidgins. The reason to say this is that there are more speakers of creoles than of The term Creoles, however, come from pidgins, One of the most spoken creoles is Tok the French creole which means “indigenous” Pisin that was borrowed from Spanish criollo which primarily in , where it is the means “ native “. It is commonly known as . It is spoken by over five million people, a one-time pidgin which has become the official language. Over one million people are mother tongue of a community.6 It means speak it to a certain degree, but not necessarily creoles are the languages that are developed taught it as a first language. Most people there by the children of pidgin speakers. When the English speaker to understand with many of fluently. Tok Pisin can be easy for a native children of the adults speaking the pidgin start gohet (go ahead), hariup (hurry up), kamaut (come itself to be a stable language. Then, as the the words being simplifications, such as learning it as their first language, it has proven out), and sidaun (sit down). pronunciation, and grammar. a. The characteristics of Pidgins children grow up, they expand the vocabulary,

Distinction between Pidgins and Creoles of a pidgin language that distinguish it from Here are the important defining features other variety of language. pidgin is the language used as a contact As has been explained previously that 1. The most distinctive feature of pidgins language when people originally speaking is the lack of morphology. different languages use when they come in contact. This language can develop to become 2. A pidgin based on variety X is not creole languages. This requires the pidgin to be learned as mother tongue by children who describe the unsuccesful attempt of an just an example of bad X as one might then generalize the features of the pidgin into a individual foreigner to learn X. This is fully-formed and stabilized grammar, but there because pidgin is developed by both is a case that not all pidgin becomes creole as sides of communication gap as the it can die or obsolete. The following discussion main reason of creating this language will describe some main distinctions between is to help bridge the gap. pidgins and creoles. 3. A pidgin is not simply the result of 5Bolinger, D. Aspects of Language, 2nd ed. New heavy borrowing from one variety into York. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1975. P. 356. In Hudson,R. A.Sociolinguistics. 1985 variety into which items may be 6Pidgins and creoles. Retrieved from http:// another, since there is no pre existing homepage.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/silke.Hoeche/ borrowed. It is reasonable to say this aspects%20of%20Language%20Change/ Pidgins%20and%20creoles.doc. On February 20 7Hudson, R.A, Sociolingustics, 1985, Cambridge 2017 Univ Press. P. 66

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since pidgins are formed from some of 9. Pidgins usually draw most of their their own language, some from other vocabulary from one language, the language.8 language of the European colonizer, 4. A Pidgin is a language variety that lexifier. The lexifier is usually the e.g. English, Spanish, French or Dutch arises from contact between two or (= the superstrate). more languages with complementary distribution. 10. Pidgins are not mutually intelligible with these languages eventhough 5.

In the context of European colonialist languages of the European colonizers they are lexically and grammatically expansion these languages were the and the non-European indigenous 11. Theinfluenced grammars by their are input simplier languages. and language(s) of those being ‘colonized’ reduced than the grammars of their input languages.9 and Indian Oceans, e.g. West-African around the Atlantic and in the Pacific languages. b. The characteristics of Creoles

6. Languages involved in the formation of pidgins and creoles are also referred reference to and in contrast to pidgins. Here A creole is usually defined both with to as superstrate and substrate. The dominant language in contact language: are the important defining features of a creole situations constitutes the superstrate. 1. Unlike pidgins which have no The indigenous non-European native speakers, creoles have native languages are the substrate which speakers. A child born into a pidgin- is the less dominant language in a speaking community will acquire this contact situation. The speakers of the substrate languages were regarded pidgin will be turned into a creole by socially inferior to the European pidgin as a first language. Thus, the the process of . colonizers. 2. Creoles always develop out of a 7. the process in which a pidgin develops is referred to as pidginization. opinion toward this). pidgin. (some experts have different 8. A pidgin do not have native speakers. 3. The process whereby a creole It is used as a consequences of the fact develops and a pidgin acquires native that it is used only for communication between members of different 9Language Birth: Pidgin and Creole languages. communities. ELLO ( and Online. adapted from Sebba , 1997) Retrieved from 8Hudson, R.A, Sociolinguistics, 1985, Cambridge Univ Press. P.65-66 Languagebirth on February 23, 2017. WWW.ello.uos.de/field.php/sociolinguistics/

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speakers is called creolization. that might also sound like a corruption of 4. Creolization may occur at any of the example, the word for “ship” is “sip”, but since “sheep”, it is doubled, so “sheep” is “sipsip”.11 developmental stages of a pidgin. Depending on the developmental To have a better understanding of the stage at which creolization starts meaning of pidgin and creole, let us take an to happen, there is either gradual illustration of Rohingya people coming to creolization or abrupt creolization. Aceh. To have a communication with Acehese people, certainly, they can not since they do 5. Gradual creolization occurs in the not understand Acehnese language. Acehnese people, on the other side, do not understand In other words, creolization starts extended / expanded pidgin stage. Rohingya’s language either. In fact, they need at a stage where the pidgin is highly to communicate since daily routinity demands developed. It is already characterized so. Therefore, the Rohingya people might by established linguistic norms of create some vocabulary that derive from their usage.

language. This is what it is called pidgin. If this 6. Abrupt creolization describes the own language mixed with Acehnese people process before a stable pidgin could emerge. Here, the process kind of mixed language used by the children becomes creole. of creolization occurs at an early of Rohingya as their first language, then it developmental stage of the pidgin. At this point, it is still characterized claim that creoles do not derive from pidgins. by a lack of stable linguistic norms of There are, however, some experts who Chaudenson (2001) and Mufwene (2001) usage.10 are among those who debated the theory One of the most famous creole language that state that creole derived from pidgins is Tok Pisin. An interesting aspect of Tok Pisin since they believe that creoles developed is its usage of inclusive and exclusive forms independently from pidgins, the former in of pronouns. Western languages normally plantation settlement colonies and the latter in just have a singular and forms (I, we), trade colonies. Both developed gradually, from while Tok Pisin also has a dual and triple varieties more and more different from them. closer approximations of the initial targets to involved. They are constructed by adding the The writer, however, takes a simple conclusion form, which are used to define exactly who is words “tu” and “tri” into the pronoun forms. that whether a pidgin becomes a creole, we Tok Pisin also utilizes , mainly have to trace back where the geographical to distinguish between different words. For distribution of the creole itself. 10Language Birth: Pidgin and Creole languages. 11Zidowecki, Erick. Parrot Time. The Thinking ELLO (English Language and Linguistics Online. adapted from Sebba , 1997) Retrived from at how some languages are born. Retrieved from of speaking. Extras of pidgins and Creoles. A Look on Languagebirth on February 23 2017. February 23 2017 www.ello.uos.de/field.php/sociolinguistics/ www.parrottime.com/index.php?i=15&a=153

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Pidgins, Creoles and the Community be taken as general perception accepted generally by all people in the world since some Every languages has its own features pidgins and creoles were born because of the and characteristics that make it different immediate necessity. Most slaves had little from other languages. One of the central opportunity to learn the ordinary language characteristics of pidgins and creoles is their of their masters. In addition, when pidgins become creoles ( not all pidgins ), and becomes compared to the structures of their source – highly simplified grammatical structure or input – languages. Though grammatically of a language. This certainly reveals the their first language, it shows us the complexity properties of the human mind which created standpoint not inferior language varieties but highly simplified, they are from a linguistic language. communicative purposes of their speakers. separate languages on their own fulfilling the a clear district in the world which pidgins and Outside linguistics, the general attitude The following figure is presented to have towards these languages is nevertheless often creoles used.13 rather negative even among their speakers. Thus, it can be seen that there are many What is the hidden perception toward the languages named pidgins and creoles in the community using pidgins and creoles in the world that are used by thousands of people world?. around the world, some still pidgins but many One of the perception is Pidgins is lack are creoles since they have got the proccess of prestige. This is because the development of creolization. Some are born from the proccess of slavery, some other are from trade closely connected to European colonialist while others are from bussiness as in chinese of pidgins and creoles is not exclusively but language derived its term pidgin which means bussiness. Most pidgins are concentrated expansion and its accompanying slave trade. pidgins (and creoles) located along former on the Atlantic coast of the African mainland This is the reason why we find so many trade routes.12 Pidgins became very closely are concentrated on Atlantic and Indian associated with slaves, and acquired a poor and on Pacific islands, whereas most creoles reputation. Ocean islands and on the Atlantic coast of the Americas. Another perception is that those who speak pidgins and creoles get the reputation of being stupid since they could not speak a Pidgin and Creole Languages: Birth of Languages proper language. Those perception, however, can not To have a clear understanding of the

12Language Birth: Pidgin and Creole languages. 13Language Birth: Pidgin and Creole languages. ELLO (English Language and Linguistics Online. ELLO (English Language and Linguistics Online. adapted from Sebba , 1997) Retrieved from adapted from Sebba , 1997) Retrieved from

Languagebirth on February 23 2017. Languagebirth on February 23 2017 www.ello.uos.de/field.php/sociolinguistics/ www.ello.uos.de/field.php/sociolinguistics/

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language is then called “pidgin”. Thus, one fact the world, we may look back at the history said that pidgins arise because of colonization. existence of pidgin and creole languages in taking place in the nineteenth century. One of Another thought said that pidgins is a the reasons of the arise of pidgin and creole Trade Language. This is referred to the fact is the coming of slaves from Africa to North that the reason for wanting to communicate America to work on plantations. They had with members of the other communities is often trade. This can be seen in the north west Unfortunately, they could not communicate by to mix with people from other communities. Amazon area that Tukano is the language of using the language of their bosses and peers. one of the twenty-odd tribes but is also used as This situation had brought a fact that they had a trade language by all the others.14 However, to create their own language in order to be able to communicate with those people who do not 14Hudson,R.A, Sociolinguistics, Cambridge. understand the slaves’ language. The created 1985. Univ Press. P. 61

ADABIYA, Volume 25 No. 1 Februari 2017 63 Suraiya most said that pidgins come from the English former trade routes.16 word bussiness. as pronounced in the pidgin A pidgin will develop its own basic English which developed in China.15 vocabulary and grammar, but in rather Pidgins and creoles are said born as languages. This is reasonable since Pidgins languages. Normally, the majority of the simplified ways compared to the “parent” and creoles arise because of some conditions vocabulary is from the target or larger that make the speakers must create a language language (often English), and most of the in order to be able to communicate. Both typically referred to as contact languages local language. Most pidgins remain small and sounds, grammar, and syntax comes from the because they arise from contact between two specialized, being called “trade languages”. Pidgins do not normally arise just from two such languages develop in areas where or more existing languages. More precisely, speakers with different native languages who languages existing next to each other. can not speak and understand each others’ that become creole beforehand, and here, languages have contact to each other. In The writer gave an example of a pidgin

have a better understanding toward it. Let need for communication between these another example of pidgin is displayed to specific social situations there is a fundamental us look at West African Pidgin English. It was developed during the late 17th century, when say that their languages are complementarily speech communities for example trade. We the British were running a slave trade in the distributed. In such situations a common Atlantic. The sailors and slave traders spoke means of communication, a common language, English between themselves while being is needed. in constant contact with African villagers, This situation has brought a result. The who spoke a number of West African Niger– result is the development of a language that Congo languages. Since both sides needed to communicate for business purposes, they respectively. This new language functions as started trying to learn each others language has not existed before: a pidgin or jargon a , a language to communicate, and met in the middle. Once a basic system was for its speakers: a language which is used as developed and became adopted, it spread to a means of communication between speakers other areas needing it for the same purposes. who do not share a native language. Pidgin As the British travelled inland, the pidgin languages do not have native speakers. The spread and developed.17 development of pidgins and creoles is not 16Language Birth: Pidgin and Creole languages. ELLO (English Language and Linguistics Online. adapted from Sebba , 1997) Retrieved from exclusively but closely connected to European colonialist expansion and its accompanying Languagebirth on February 23 2017. so many pidgins (and creoles) located along www.ello.uos.de/field.php/sociolinguistics/17Zidowecki, Erick. May/June 2015.The slave trade. This is the reason why we find Creoles. A Look at how some languages are born. 15Hudson, P. 61-62 RetrievedThinking of from speaking. Extras of pidgins and

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Then it started to diverge and become away” gets compressed and the “th” sound is more specialized, like regular languages do, shortened to a “t” sound.20 with the English. These became Gambian Pidgin While pidgins are often limited to a depending on which languages were mixing English (Aku), Pidgin English vocabulary of around 300 words, creoles (Krio), Liberian Pidgin English, Ghanaian typically have at least 1000 to 3000 words. In Pidgin English, English, and a sense, the young language grows up along Cameroon Pidgin English (Kamtok). with the children. We consider this generation to be native speakers of the creole language. When using a pidgin, it is often rather This process is called nativization.21 There is simple to understand what is being said if no widely accepted theory on how or why this you already know the stronger language, like happens. One theory is that the formation of English. You just simplify your hearing on it, looking for the most basic words and elements. structure the human mind can invent, so creoles reflects the most basic grammatical Nigerian Pidgin English would they are all going to be developed with that be the question “How you dey?”, which can An example in baseline. More elaborate grammars takes a easily be understood to mean “How are you doing today?”. The words are the same or by the situation of the speakers and the older much longer time to develop, being influenced shortened, making them easier to learn, and languages nearby.22

Eventhough there are some contradictive the extraneous ones are removed. Spelling can also be simplified, such as “I no no” for “I do negative with the second one being a phonetic not know”. The first “no” is used to imply the opinions of the experts writing about whether 18 the evolution, here, the writer come to the spelling of “know”. or not creoles in the world have experienced “Gi mi.” = “Give it to me.” A few more examples are: creoles is a proof that a language is born. conclusion that the existence of pidgins and “I no sabi.” = “I don’t understand.” In conclusion, pidgins and creoles “Wetin“I dey fine.” dey happen?”= “I’m fine. = I’m“What’s doing going well.” on? What’s happening?” are born because of necessity and raised “Listen well well” = “Pay attention” among human children, both are fascinating “Troway” = waste, throw away”19 creatures. Pidgins and creoles not only act as The most obvious change from English a bridge between languages and cultures, but to the pidgin here is how some sounds are they also give us insight into how languages develop, since they are created and brought to adulthood in a relatively short time. simplified. “Give” on is Februaryshorted to23 just 2017 “gi”. “Throw 18Zidowecki, Erick. May/June 2015. Parrot php?i=15&a=153 and Creoles. A Look at how some languages are 20 born.Time. RetrievedThe Thinking from of speaking. Extras of pidgins Zidowecki, Erick. on February 23 2017 21Zidowecki, Erick 19Zidowecki, Erick.www.parrottime.com/index. 22Zidowecki, Erick php?i=15&a=153

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Bolinger, D. Aspects of Language, 2nd ed. New York. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1975. In Hudson,R. A.Sociolinguistics. 1985 Erick Zidowecki, Parrot Time. The Think- ing of Speaking. Extras. Of Pidgins and Creoles. A Look at How some Languages are Born.

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Hudson,R.A, Sociolinguistics, Cambridge. 1985. Univ Press. “Language Birth: Pid- gin and Creole languages.” ELLO (English Language and Linguistics Online. adapted from Sebba , 1997) Retrieved from www.

Languagebirth on February 23 2017. ello.uos.de/field.php/sociolinguistics/ Musyken, Pieter and Smith,Noral. The Study of Pidgin and creoles Languages..1995. P. 7-8

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