Professor Robert B. Le Page was one of the pioneers to study the theoretical, structural and applied aspects of Sociolinguistics—particularly in pidgin and creole studies. His interpretation of the roles that creoles play in our understanding of language is revolutionary and his works have influenced scholars to re-examine the notions of language in general, with special emphasis on Caribbean languages.

This book is a collection of essays by Le Page. This book discusses the concept of language and how it shapes one's identity. The essays deal with Le Page's sociolinguistic studies in contact situations. Categorised into four major sections–Theoretical Aspects, Pidgin and Creole Studies, General and National Language and Identity–the papers discuss everything relevant as well as problematic in pidgin and creole languages and linguistics, e.g. notion of language and concept of competence in the context of Creole studies, problems of linguistic continua, de-creolisation and re-creolisation, Caribbean connections in the classroom, standardisation of Caribbean languages, linguistic myths and snobberies, vernacularisation of literacy, stylistic application of linguistic, use of metaphors in the context of language and race, language and nationalism, etc. Moreover, the problematic question of having a national language in the newly-independent states of Malaysia and Singapore and how it influences the idea of nationalism are also discussed here. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of fluid multilingual situations interested in studies of language planning, language and education in general and pidgin and creole studies in particular.