Individual contributions to the spread of pidgins in 19th century North and West Africa

This paper details the spread of two pidgins in North and West Africa in the 19th century. It highlights the contributions of two individuals, the US State Department envoy, William Brown Hodgson and the French colonialist, Louis Faidherbe. Although the two men never overlapped in Africa, both played a role in shaping the linguistic landscape through their documentation and diffusion of the pidgins and indigenous languages. The paper further suggests the link between the two pidgins, a connection that stems directly from the linguistic engagement and output of the two individuals. It suggests a circularity of language evolution and record across the Mediterranean.