Pidgins, Creoles, and the Emergence of Language

Pidgins and creoles are language systems that arise in situations of contact between groups without a common language. Their study has informed models of language change and has inspired theorizing about the origins of language, in particular the role children play as agents of language creation and language change. In the last twenty years, however, the field has seen significant upheavals, as foundational assumptions have been challenged and in some cases overturned. This course will consider pidgins and creoles within their socio-historical context, with primary emphasis on what pidgins and creoles can tell us about language emergence and language change. Enrollment limited to 19 first year students.