This volume of the "Creole Language Library" series examines the social and historical aspects of pidgin and creole languages, such as Eskimo pidgin, Saramaccan and Papiamento. It looks at the theories of origin of these dialects and common grammatical features.

1. Preface; 2. List of abbreviations used; 3. Maps; 4. I. General aspects; 5. 1. The study of pidgin and creole languages (by Muysken, Pieter); 6. 2. The socio-historical background of creoles (by Arends, Jacques); 7. 3. Pidgins (by Bakker, Peter); 8. 4. Mixed languages and language intertwining (by Bakker, Peter); 9. 5. Variation (by Rooij, Vincent de); 10. 6. Decolonization, language planning and education (by Appel, Rene); 11. 7. Creole literature (by Adamson, Lilian); 12. II. Theories of genesis; 13. 8. Theories focusing on the European input (by Besten, Hans den); 14. 9. Theories focusing on the non-European input (by Arends, Jacques); 15. 10.Gradualist and developmental hypotheses (by Arends, Jacques); 16. 11. Universalist approaches (by Muysken, Pieter); 17. III. Sketches of individual languages; 18. 12. Eskimo pidgin (by Voort, Hein van der); 19. 13. Haitian (by Muysken, Pieter); 20. 14. Saramaccan (by Bakker, Peter); 21. 15. Shaba Swahili (by Rooij, Vincent de); 22. 16. Fa d'Ambu (by Post, Marike); 23. 17. Papiamento (by Kouwenberg, Silvia); 24. 18. Sranan (by Adamson, Lilian); 25. 19. Berbice Dutch (by Kouwenberg, Silvia); 26. IV. Grammatical features; 27. 20. TMA particules and auxiliaries (by Bakker, Peter); 28. 21. Noun phrases (by Bruyn, Adrienne); 29. 22. Reflexives (by Muysken, Pieter); 30. 23. Serial verbs (by Muysken, Pieter); 31. 24. Fronting (by Veenstra, Tonjes); 32. V. Conclusions and annotated language list; 33. 25. Conclusions (by Arends, Jacques); 34. 26. An annotated list of creoles, pidgins, and mixed languages (by Smith, Norval); 35. Bibliography; 36. Subject index; 37. Index of languages; 38. Index of place names; 39. Author Index