"A pidgin, or pidgin language, is a grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups of people that do not have a language in common."
These are simplified languages that develop as a means of communication between different communities that do not share a common language, such as Nigerian Pidgin and Tok Pisin.
What is Pidgin: An introduction to Pidgin, explaining what it is and how it works.
Installing Pidgin: A tutorial on how to download and install Pidgin on your system.
Setting up accounts in Pidgin: A guide on how to set up accounts for different instant messaging services in Pidgin.
Connecting to chat networks in Pidgin: Instructions on how to connect to various chat networks in Pidgin.
Using Pidgin for instant messaging: A tutorial on how to use Pidgin for instant messaging, including sending and receiving messages, and managing contacts.
Customizing Pidgin: A guide on how to customize the appearance and settings of Pidgin to best suit your needs and preferences.
Troubleshooting common issues with Pidgin: Tips and solutions for various common problems encountered when using Pidgin.
Using plugins and add-ons in Pidgin: A tutorial on how to use plugins and add-ons to extend the functionality of Pidgin.
Securing your conversation in Pidgin: A guide on how to use encryption and other security measures to protect your conversations in Pidgin.
"It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the country in which they reside (but where there is no common language between the groups)."
"Linguists do not typically consider pidgins as full or complete languages."
"Fundamentally, a pidgin is a simplified means of linguistic communication, as it is constructed impromptu, or by convention, between individuals or groups of people."
"A pidgin is not the native language of any speech community, but is instead learned as a second language."
"A pidgin may be built from words, sounds, or body language from a multitude of languages as well as onomatopoeia."
"As the lexicon of any pidgin will be limited to core vocabulary, words with only a specific meaning in the lexifier language may acquire a completely new (or additional) meaning in the pidgin."
"Pidgins have historically been considered a form of patois, unsophisticated simplified versions of their lexifiers, and as such usually have low prestige with respect to other languages."
"However, not all simplified or 'unsophisticated' forms of a language are pidgins."
"A pidgin differs from a creole, which is the first language of a speech community of native speakers that at one point arose from a pidgin."
"Most linguists believe that a creole develops through a process of nativization of a pidgin when children of speakers of an acquired pidgin learn it and use it as their native language."
"Its vocabulary and grammar are limited and often drawn from several languages."
"It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the country in which they reside."
"Typically, its vocabulary and grammar are limited and often drawn from several languages."
"Linguists do not typically consider pidgins as full or complete languages."
"A pidgin is a simplified means of linguistic communication, as it is constructed impromptu, or by convention, between individuals or groups of people."
"A pidgin is not the native language of any speech community, but is instead learned as a second language."
"A pidgin may be built from words, sounds, or body language from a multitude of languages as well as onomatopoeia."
"Pidgins have historically been considered a form of patois, unsophisticated simplified versions of their lexifiers, and as such usually have low prestige with respect to other languages."
"A pidgin differs from a creole, which is the first language of a speech community of native speakers that at one point arose from a pidgin."