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Sometimes people who speak different languages are in a community together and must develop a way of communicating. Similarly, their offspring must also find a way to communicate. The main difference between the speech of the first generation and the speech of the second generation is _________.

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Final answer:

The difference between first and second-generation speech in multilingual communities is the development from a simplified pidgin to a more complex creole language.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main difference between the speech of the first generation and the speech of the second generation in a community where people speak different languages is the development from a pidgin to a creole. A pidgin arises when speakers of different languages need to communicate for practical purposes, like trade or work, but it's a simplified language with a limited vocabulary and grammar. Creole languages develop in the next generation when children of pidgin speakers use the pidgin as a primary language, naturally expanding and refining its structure to express a full range of meanings and abstract concepts. This shows a progression from a functional but limited form of communication to a rich, full-fledged language.

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