Pidgin and English in Melanesia: Is There a Continuum?

Abstract

It is generally accepted that there is a post‐pidgin or post‐creole continuum in Melanesia, similar to those found in West Africa and the Caribbean. But is there really? This question is answered by examining in detail the linguistic features of Tok Pisin (the Papua New Guinea variety of Melanesian Pidgin) which reportedly result from decreolization (or depidginization) and the linguistic features of Papua New Guinea English, looking for the influence of Tok Pisin. Code‐switching and transference between Tok Pisin and English and the reported existence of intermediate forms are also discussed. It is concluded that an English‐to‐pidgin continuum does not exist in Papua New Guinea or in the other Melanesian countries. The distinctiveness and status of Melanesian Pidgin are described as possible reasons for the lack of such a continuum. The situation in Melanesia does not support the life‐cycle view of pidgin/creole development, and lends weight to the view that post‐creole continua result from early variation and not later decreolization.