Re: Pidgin Languages

En réponse à Joseph Fatula <fatula3@...>:

> Does the pidgin language keep all features that the generating
> languages
> have in common?
Normally not. A pidgin usually simplifies a lot, even the features languages
have in common (because they have different markings usually).

  For example, all of the languages around this place
> inflect
> their nouns for number.  Would the pidgin then do the same, as all of
> its
> speakers have that concept in their own languages?
>
If they express that concept in the same way with sufficiently similar marks,
then maybe. But even then, since basically people develop a pidgin because they
don't understand each other's languages, even that would probably not be used,
since they would probably use other words (like "many", etc...) to insist on
the number, and the different languages' number marks would soon be overlooked.

> And for the phonology - would it make sense for the trade pidgin to have
> all
> of the sounds that are found in all of the originating languages, or
> would
> people be likely to adopt foreign sounds for a pidgin language?
>
Pidgins usually have a very simple phonology, usually even simpler than simply
the intersection of the phonologies of the originating languages. It probably
goes with the need to be understood quickly and easily, which makes people
choose for the simplest.

> Any information is appreciated.  Well, any useful information.
>
Hope I was useful enough.

Christophe.

http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr

Take your life as a movie: do not let anybody else play the leading role.