Monogenesis and polygenesis

[sheri lyn pargman]

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Of course, in pidgin/creole studies, "polygenesis" also refers to the view
that modern pidgins and creoles developed independently of each other, in
different places throughout the world.  This is in contrast to the
so-called "monogenesis hypothesis," which claims that most modern pidgins
and creoles are descended from one early trade language.
 
Sheri Pargman
University of Chicago
 
 
On Mon, 2 Feb 1998, bwald wrote:
 
> I once wrote something similar to Histling before, but the use of
> "polygenesis" reminded me of it.  In pidgin/creole studies, "polygenesis"
> usually refers to the descent of a language from more than one natural
> language, contrary to the tree concept of language diversification.  In the
> current discussion, "polygenesis" is being used in a somewhat different,
> but equally valid, way, to suggest that languages evolved "from scratch" in
> different places (at different times is beside the point here).