Babawillyentertainment.com
 |
 |
CONTACT: Dr Wilson Orhiunu P O Box 12835 Sutton Coldfield Birmingham B73 9ED
By Dr Wilson Orhiunu
(Babawilly)
The use of English thus spread and soon became the ‘official language’ of Nigeria and was used in education and in all government business.
Nigerian Languages
There are 3 main indigenous languages spoken by the predominant ethnic groups in Nigeria. These are Hausa and Fulani in the north, Yoruba in the South West and Ibgo in the South East.
Other ethnic groups languages include Edo, Efik, Ijaw, Kanuri, and Urhobo to name a few.
English is the official language and Pidgin English is spoken by most Nigerians.
Current use of Pidgin English
Pidgin English is the lingua franca of the streets. It is the language of the common man and very closely related to the common man.
The uneducated people who do not have a grasp of Standard English have no choice to use pidgin English for communication
The educated class however use pidgin differently. Virtually all formal communication is done in Standard English however informal conversations with friends are conducted in pidgin English.
Pidgin is also the language of comedy in Nigeria. Most of the new breed of comedians such as ‘I go die’ and ‘Basket mouth’ perform their stand up routines in pidgin English (Nite of a thousand laughs. DVD). Pidgin for many represents a time to relax and many professionals can only discuss their work in Standard English.
Pidgin is also used for phone calls but less for text messages as most Nigerians are unsure how to spell in pidgin due to the absense of a universal spelling code.
Mass Media
Films and Drama
Pidgin tends to be the language of house helps and low paid workers on TV
Comedy soaps like Masquerade , Hotel De Jordan and Village Headmaster had a few characters who spoke soley pidgin English.
Most Nollywood films will have the star ctors speak in a pseudo British or American accent with the occasional pidgin phrase thrown in.
Many adverts are in pidgin.
(Babawilly)
The use of English thus spread and soon became the ‘official language’ of Nigeria and was used in education and in all government business.
Nigerian Languages
There are 3 main indigenous languages spoken by the predominant ethnic groups in Nigeria. These are Hausa and Fulani in the north, Yoruba in the South West and Ibgo in the South East.
Other ethnic groups languages include Edo, Efik, Ijaw, Kanuri, and Urhobo to name a few.
English is the official language and Pidgin English is spoken by most Nigerians.
Current use of Pidgin English
Pidgin English is the lingua franca of the streets. It is the language of the common man and very closely related to the common man.
The uneducated people who do not have a grasp of Standard English have no choice to use pidgin English for communication
The educated class however use pidgin differently. Virtually all formal communication is done in Standard English however informal conversations with friends are conducted in pidgin English.
Pidgin is also the language of comedy in Nigeria. Most of the new breed of comedians such as ‘I go die’ and ‘Basket mouth’ perform their stand up routines in pidgin English (Nite of a thousand laughs. DVD). Pidgin for many represents a time to relax and many professionals can only discuss their work in Standard English.
Pidgin is also used for phone calls but less for text messages as most Nigerians are unsure how to spell in pidgin due to the absense of a universal spelling code.
Mass Media
Films and Drama
Pidgin tends to be the language of house helps and low paid workers on TV
Comedy soaps like Masquerade , Hotel De Jordan and Village Headmaster had a few characters who spoke soley pidgin English.
Most Nollywood films will have the star ctors speak in a pseudo British or American accent with the occasional pidgin phrase thrown in.
Many adverts are in pidgin.
Introduction
 |