Creolization

/ˌkriːəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process by which languages, cultures, or populations blend together to form new creole varieties with distinct characteristics.

Etymology

From 'creole' plus '-ization' (the noun form of '-ize'). It's the abstract process corresponding to the verb 'creolize,' describing how mixing happens over time.

Kelly Says

Creolization happened fastest in Caribbean colonies where enslaved people from different African regions had to communicate—they created fully new languages in just one or two generations, which is incredibly rare!

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