The study of pidgin and creole languages, usually emphasizing oral language codes, offers insights into language, especially as an observably dynamic phenomenon. However, channel is highly influential on the surface form of the language code. Pidgin sign language codes, not dependent on oral language codes, can serve as an ideal forum for the discussion of universality and uniqueness in pidgins and creoles. Code structure of these pidgins is relatively unexplored and the channels of the pidginized languages heavily influence surface code structure. One pidgin sign language, Pidgin Sign English (PSE), has developed out of the U.S. sociolinguistic situation of the deaf community where communication is necessary between the deaf and the hearing. PSE comes from American Sign Language (ASL), which is channeled through the manual-visual modality, and English, channeled through the oral-aural modality. Several grammatical, functional (phonological), and linguistic characteristics of PSE can be discussed, such as: (1) the progressive aspect; (2) negative incorporation; (3) agent-beneficiary directionality; (4) copula; (5) the perfective aspect; (6) articles; (7) plurality; (8) number incorporation; (9) phonology, especially suprasegmentals; (10) handshapes, places and movements; (11) the written language; (12) reduction and admixture; (13) restricted inter-group use; and (14) the relationship of these areas to a dynamic theory of pidgin and creole languages. PSE may serve the vital function of fostering development of the deaf subculture with minimal long-term cultural interference from the hearing community. (Author/MHP)