6.12.2020 What is Creole Language? - Definition & Phrases | Study.

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What is Creole Language? - De nition & Phrases

Creole language is a language that forms from two parent language merging together into a new language.
Learn more about Creole language and see an example of how Haitian Creole developed.

Creole Language Development: Pidgin

When di erent groups of people want to open relations with each other, language can be as
tremendous an obstacle as geography or distance. Typically, the initial contact is handled
through sign language and a lot of patience. After enough contact, the groups begin to use
similar terms to communicate with one another. One group's word for 'wool' might be used,
while the other group's word for 'oats' might be used, especially if those commodities are being
traded. The two languages that combine to form a pidgin are referred to as parent languages.

With enough exposure, this exchange of language forms what is known as a pidgin, or trade
language. A pidgin (pronounced like 'pigeon') is a form of language with limited vocabulary,
useful for trade and other practical matters. Pidgins are rarely used outside speci c situations
and the vocabulary is geared toward concepts like trade goods, amounts, and other relevant
information. Discussing more in-depth things like philosophy or emotions are di cult or even
impossible with such a limited vocabulary.

Creole Language De nition & Explanation

With enough exposure to one another, people can develop pidgin dialects into languages in
their own right. This typically happens when children begin to favor the pidgin dialect over the
parent language. This kind of language is called a creole. Not every pidgin will become a creole,
as some relationships between groups do not require more nuanced communication. Some
pidgins die out if no one needs to speak them anymore (for instance, if trade stops). By the
same token, not every creole develops from a pidgin language. If there is enough contact
between groups from the beginning, it is possible that a creole will form more quickly without
the need for a pidgin.

The form that creoles (and often pidgins) take generally depends on the type of contact
between the parent groups. Fairly egalitarian types of contact, like that between trading
partners, will tend to blend the languages more evenly. Contact between two groups with an
obvious di erential in power, like that between masters and slaves, tends to skew the amount
of each language that is spoken. For instance, eld slaves will be expected to understand the
master's language, while there is less reason for the master to learn the language spoken by the
slaves. Since most pidgins and creoles were formed during the colonial expansion era, they
often have much in common with European languages, like Dutch, English, French, and Spanish.

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6.12.2020 What is Creole Language? - Definition & Phrases | Study.com

Example: Haïtian Creole

Haïtian Creole is one of the o cial languages of Haïti, a nation in the Carribean. The other
o cial language there is French. Haïtian Creole arose from the French colonization of Haïti.
During the process of colonization, many of the native inhabitants of the island died from
disease. In order to work the plantations they had planned, the French imported African slaves.
Composed of French and several African languages, Haïtian Creole arose from the necessity of
communication between the French and their slaves.

As touched on earlier, such unequal relations between speakers of the parent languages can
yield a creole having a much stronger in uence from one language than another. The slaves
needed to understand their masters in order to work plantations. At the same time, the French
didn't feel it was important to learn the slaves's languages. So, in Haïtian Creole, most of the
words are derived from French. The pronunciation of the Haïtian language varies from the
French, as the African speakers had little formal training in French. The grammar of the creole
tongue developed over generations of use from a rather simple version of French grammar to a
more complex type of structure. Some nuances of Haïtian Creole do not exist in the French.

Haitian Creole Phrases

Here are a few examples of Haitian Creole phrases. They are di erent from the French mother
tongue but related.

English Haitian Creole French

Hello Bonjou Bonjour

Yes wi Oui

Good evening Bonswa Bon soir

Good bye Orevwa Au revoir

How much is this? Konbyen? Combien?

Lesson Summary
A creole is a language constructed from the languages of two di erent cultures, each of which
have their own tongues. The development of a creole often takes place after the development
of a pidgin, which is a simple tongue composed of words from either parent language. Pidgins
are useful for speci c purposes, like trade, and do not have many words unrelated to this
purpose. A pidgin that survives long enough may develop into a creole. Creoles often display
more words and grammar from one language than another. This is often a result of an unequal
balance of power between the two groups of speakers. One example of a creole language is
Haïtian Creole, which comes from French and African languages.

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