A Study On The Development From Pidgin To Creole From The Angle Of Biological Evolution

Pidgins and Creoles have been long studied for their unique characteristics. The prior studies mainly focused on the origin and the formation of the languages, though sometimes also are interdisciplinary. In this thesis, they will be studied from the angle of biological evolution. First, human brain is the base of the origin of any language, let alone pidgins and Creoles. Darwinian Theory, especially the idea of natural selection, is cited in the thesis as one of the theoretical background.Theories in pragmatics and grammaticalization also are cited here to demonstrate the evolution from Pidgin to Creole. First, adaption and choice are seen as one of the mechanism in the evolution. It includes the contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, dynamics of adaptability and salience of adaption processes. The adaption is to adapt language users into communication context, their mental context, the social context, the physical context and the language context. To make choices is to choose the right language, the right code, the right style and so on. Second, pragmatic inferencing, as one of the motivations of grammticalization, is another mechanism. Pidgin languages are degenerate and reduced, which can only be used in limited situations. Successful communication is hindered. The emergence of Creole shows the users' intention to be expressive. The process of evolution is that of grammaticalization. Language use is the impetus of the evolution.Many hints are given in the paper. First, language is improved and developed in language use. Second, adaption and choice of the context and structure should be emphasized.