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English
Etymology
From pigeon English, from a Chinese attempt to pronounce the English word business during trades in the Far East.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /ˈpɪdʒɪn/, SAMPA: /"pIdZIn/
- (US) enPR: pĭjʹən, IPA: /ˈpɪdʒən/, SAMPA: /"pIdZ@n/
- Rhymes: -ɪdʒən, -ɪdʒɪn
- Homophones: pigeon
Noun
pidgin (plural pidgins)
- (linguistics) an amalgamation of two disparate languages, used by two populations having no common language as a lingua franca to communicate with each other, lacking formalized grammar and having a small, utilitarian vocabulary and no native speakers.
- Middle English likely began as a pidgin between the Norman invaders and the Anglo-Saxon-speaking (Old English) occupants of Britain. Otherwise, how could they have gotten any business done?
Related terms
- pidgin English
- Pijin
See also
External links
- Pidgin English - English Dictionary: from Webster's Dictionary - the Rosetta Edition.
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