The Routledge Handbook of Pidgin and Creole Languages offers a state-of-the-art collection of original contributions in the area of Pidgin and Creole studies. Providing unique and equal coverage of nearly all parts of the world where such languages are found, as well as situating each area within a rich socio-historical context, this book presents fresh and diverse interdisciplinary perspectives from leading voices in the field. Divided into three sections, its analysis covers: Areal perspectives on Pidgin and Creole languages; Ideology, history and theoretical constructs; Pidgins and Creoles, and the evolution of human languages; Sociolinguistic perspectives on Pidgin and Creole languages; Creoles as socio-cultural forms. Demonstrating how fundamentally human and natural these communication systems are, rich in expressive power and sophisticated in their complexity, The Routledge Handbook of Pidgin and Creole Languages is an essential reference for anyone with an interest in this area.