Restricted pidgins are simplified languages that emerge in multilingual areas where different groups of people with different linguistic backgrounds come into contact. These languages are characterized by a simplified grammar, reduced vocabulary, and a mix of elements from different languages. They develop as a means of communication between groups that do not share a common language and typically lack native speakers. Restricted pidgins are often used in limited domains, such as trade, where communication needs are relatively straightforward and specific. They are different from creole languages, which emerge when these pidgins become the primary means of communication for a community and develop native speakers.
