Sociolinguistics
Phonological Simplicity
- Pidgins have a comparatively high degree of phonological simplicity:
(a) Pidgins avoid difficult sounds, i.e. those sounds that are phonologically highly marked.
(b) Pidgins show a simple syllable structure (consonant-vowel).
(c) Pidgins have a preference for short words, i.e. a small number of syllables per word.
(d) In pidgins tone has no phonemic status, i.e. tone is generally not used to distinguish words.
(Information taken and adapted from Sebba, 1997)