Here's a breakdown:
* Origins: Haitian Creole developed from a mixture of French, West African languages, and other languages spoken by slaves brought to Haiti.
* Formation: The language began to solidify in the 17th century as a pidgin language used for communication between different groups on plantations.
* Standardization: By the 18th century, Haitian Creole had evolved into a creole language, becoming the primary language of the Haitian population.
While its precise age is difficult to pinpoint, it's generally accepted that Haitian Creole has been a distinct language for over 300 years.