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Next: Numbers of Speakers Up: Pidgin and Creole Previous: DepidginizationDecreolization, absorption,

Structure

Structure (grammar) of Pidgin(s)/Creole(s) is reduced:

  1. Has limited vocabulary, simplified grammar (e.g. no PNG, no gender, no plural marking, no agreement (e.g. `one man come; two man come; three man go yesterday')

  2. Often has aspect instead of tense; marked with particles instead of affixation.

  3. Very little redundency; as simple as can be.


Harold Schiffman
Tue Mar 25 08:54:40 EST 1997