Some theoretical possibilities:

{

1. Monogenesis: All Pidgin(s)/Creole(s) are historically descended from European, probably Portuguese pidgins (Sabir). This ``explains" all the similarities: vocabulary was orig. Portuguese, got relexified in time with new vocab in other Pidgin(s)/Creole(s). ``Relexification" means vocabulary can be almost totally replaced with new vocab from another donor language, or perhaps relexified with later ``standard" loans from the same donor language.

2. Polygenetic: There are separate processes of development, but the various different kinds are sort of ``dialects" of an overall system.
   1. Or: are there pidgin and creole ``dialects" of English, French, Portuguese, etc.?
   2. Or: are there structural similarities because of ``linguistic universals"?

3. Universalist hypothesis: Doesn't matter whether the origins are monogenetic or polygenetic, the similarities result when the donor languages are ``stripped bare" and the languages are built up again according to the principles of ``linguistic universals".

• Problems with these hypotheses: