NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which of the following terms describes a simplified language that arises in contexts of contact between different language speakers?

1. Pidgin

2. Creole

3. Dialect

4. Register

The correct answer is: Pidgin

The term that aptly describes a simplified language that emerges in situations where speakers of different languages come into contact is "pidgin." A pidgin is typically a transitional language that develops in order to facilitate communication between groups who do not share a common language. It borrows elements from multiple languages but is simplified in grammar and vocabulary, allowing for immediate practical communication rather than being fully developed as a distinct language. In contrast, a creole is also a contact language, but it arises when a pidgin evolves through generations of speakers, becoming more complex and stable, eventually serving as the first language for a community. A dialect refers to a particular form of a language specific to a region or social group and is characterized by distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Register refers to the variation in language use depending on the context, subject, or audience, but does not involve the emergence of a new simplified language. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why "pidgin" is the most appropriate term for the described phenomenon.