Linguistic Concepts: Pidgins, Creoles, and Language Theories

Pidgins and Creoles: Defining Language Contact

Pidgin

A Pidgin is an auxiliary linguistic system resulting from contact between groups speaking different languages who need to communicate.

• Unstable Jargon: An initial, highly variable form.
• Stable Pidgin: A simple but stable auxiliary language that often arises in contexts of colonization and slavery.

Creole

A Creole is a pidgin language that has acquired native speakers.

Most creoles share a number of linguistic features, even though they were acquired in different geographical locations and areas, and despite having different superstratum and substrate languages. Common features include:

• Verbs in Series: A simple sentence structure using a verb for the main content and another verb or group of verbs to mark additional meaning.
• Word Order: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO).
• Double Object Constructions.

Theories of Human Language Origin

Monogenesis vs. Polygenesis

These theories address the origin point of human language:

• Monogenesis: This theory argues that human language has a single origin in time and space. It posits that all human languages spoken today ultimately proceed from a single group of Homo sapiens who developed articulate speech, likely somewhere in Africa.
• Polygenesis: This theory argues that different groups of Homo sapiens might have developed articulated language in different places on the planet at different times during their expansion.

Continuity vs. Discontinuity Theories

• Theory of Continuity: Proposes that human language arose from a call system shared with the rest of the primates, suggesting a gradual evolution.
• Theory of Discontinuity: Argues that human language is fundamentally different from our basic animal heritage, although it retains animal screams (e.g., groans of pain, crying children) mixed with the language.

Design Properties of Human Language

Key characteristics that distinguish human language:

• Using the vocal-auditory channel
• Arbitrariness
• Semantics
• Cultural transmission
• Spontaneous use
• Use of shifts (Turn-taking)
• Duality of patterning
• Displacement (ability to talk about things not present)
• Perception of the structure
• Productivity (creativity)

Paralanguage and Nonverbal Communication

Paralanguage

Paralanguage refers to distinct phenomena that are part of communication, often accompanying spoken words:

1. Suprasegmental Elements: Tone, volume, intonation, syllable duration, and rhythm.
2. Physiological/Emotional Reactions: Laughing, sighing, crying.
3. Quasi-words: Clicks, grunts, imitation of sounds, and animal calls.

Nonverbal Communication (Body Language)

Kinesics

Kinesics studies gesticulation and facial expression. Specifically, it examines manual gestures that accompany facial and oral language, as well as ritual gestures in common use. It does not typically study gestural codes used instead of spoken language or formal sign languages.

Proxemics

Proxemics studies the proximity between people, physical contact, body orientation, and posture during communication.

Personal Space

Personal Space is the area immediately surrounding us. We generally only allow others to enter this space if invited or under special circumstances. This space is typically most extensive to the front, moderate side-to-side, and least extensive behind us.