Rickford, J.K.(2015) SOCIOLINGUISTIC & PIDGIN- CREOLE STUDIES
In this paper, Rickford explores the field of sociolinguistics and Pidgin-Creole studies. He begins by providing an overview of sociolinguistics, which is the study of how language varies and changes within social groups. This field examines the relationship between language and society, investigating factors such as social class, age, gender, and ethnicity that influence language variation.
Rickford then narrows his focus to Pidgin and Creole languages, which are formed when speakers of different languages come into contact and create a simplified form of communication. Pidgins typically emerge as a means of communication between speakers who do not share a common language, such as in trade or colonial situations. Creoles, on the other hand, develop when children acquire a pidgin as their first language and it becomes fully developed and complex.
The author discusses the various theories and approaches that have been used to study Pidgin and Creole languages. This includes the decreolization theory, which suggests that Creole languages will gradually become more similar to their lexifier languages (the languages that influence the vocabulary and grammar of the Creole). Another approach is the social network theory, which examines the social relationships among speakers of a Pidgin or Creole and how this affects language variation and change.
Rickford also reflects on the importance of Pidgin and Creole languages in understanding language variation and change more broadly. He argues that the study of Pidgin and Creole languages can provide valuable insights into language universals, language acquisition, and contact-induced language change.
Overall, Rickford's paper provides a comprehensive overview of sociolinguistic and Pidgin-Creole studies. He discusses the theories and approaches used in this field, highlighting the relevance of studying Pidgin and Creole languages for a better understanding of language variation and change.