There are four main theories about the origins of pidgin and creole languages, they are called Theories of Genesis.
Monogenetic Theories (single-origin theories)
This theory studies the formation of pidigins and creoles languages focusing on European-based languages, and does not consider the development worldwide.
According to this theories, all European-based Pidgins have a proto-pidgin as common origin, in this case the fifteenth century Portuguese-based pidgin in West Africa (WAPP).
Polygenetic Theories (multiple-origin theories)
On contrary of Monogenetic theories, the Polygenetic assumes that the pidgins and creoles of the world did not evolve from only one proto-pidgin but developed individually from different starting points. According to these theories the structural similarities are thus the result of parallel, but independent developments, worldwide.
Universalist Theories
These theories are called Universalist because explain the formation of pidgin and creole languages from the premise that all humans are characterized by an innate ability to simplify language.
Thus, the structural similarities are understood as the result of universal strategies for language simplification shared by all humans worldwide.
Substrate theories
This one consider the role of substrate languages, in general the less prestige language, in the pidginization process. These substrate languages contributes significantly to the pidgins grammars.
These theories focus in typical structural elements shared by pidgins (and creoles) worldwide also are found in the substrate languages which played a role in their development.
