The origins of Chinese Pidgin English: Evidence from Colin Campbell's diary

This paper describes some intimate details of the trade interactions between European traders and Chinese merchants and officials in the 1730s. Although it might be thought that the "linguist" or interpreter would mediate such interactions, the role of the linguist was complex, and he was often specifically excluded from negotiations. The data lend support to the theory that CPE arose out of direct trade negotiations between Chinese merchants and English-speaking traders around this time. Copyright © 2005 English Centre, University of Hong Kong. Copyright © 2005 English Centre, University of Hong Kong.