[…] creolization and decreolization correspond to the two (overlapping) halves of the acquisition process […] The first half, dominated by the bioprogram, corresponds to creolization, but the second half, dominated by other components in which the child bridges the gap between bioprogram and target language, corresponds to decreolization. The only significant difference would seem to be that creolization and decreolization cannot overlap, while the evolution of the bioprogram and the pressure from the target language can, do, and indeed must overlap. However, since this difference stems directly from purely pragmatic differences between the circumstances of the “normal” child and the circumstances of the creole-creating child it can in no way invalidate the correspondence.
- Bickerton (1981), a pag.314