Language
Yes, they speak English in Nigeria, for it was once an English colony. So why would I have trouble understanding anyone. Well, if the average person is chatting in English I often have not much idea what they are saying. I think the accent is even harder to decipher than the one I encountered in India. Its only when people speak more clearly/slowly/directly to me that I can understand everything.
The worst is when boys get together. They almost always drift into Pidgin (broken) English, which is a mix of English and Nigerian words and one funky accent (don't forget the elaborate gestures). I think this is what I really need to learn, as apparently village people who can't speak English very well can speak pidgin.
Now Nigeria has many other languages since they have many tribes. But there are three main languages. Hausa is spoken in the northern regions, Igbo, in the south-eastern areas, and Yoruba, where I am, in the south-western states. So I am trying to learn Yoruba. It's actually strange, but I've seen it compared to learning Chinese. Because it's all about tone. i.e. many words are spelled the same, but the tone on the vowel sounds changes the meaning of the word. For example eyin could mean teeth, back or egg depending on how you say it. There are of course many instances where the wrong tone could get one in a bit of trouble.
More examples later.
Nick
posted by Nicholas Wolf @ 7:31 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
oh dear, i can't stop laughing. ohh oeee hiieerggrrrr!
Men Nick u actually crack me up too.Dont worry I think u shd be able to learn yoruba pretty if u put ur mind to it cos I have met like 2 white girls and blacks in the US that actually knows how to speak yoruba just from dating a yoruba man and I actuall know a guy that is married to a black American and she can cook almost all the main yoruba dishes.
Just try and have fun,cos Nigeria is always fun.I miss Nigeria
Hello,
I've been looking for about one month online and can't find anything that even comes close to the result I need. My son (19) was on tour throughout africa for 3 months a year ago. There was a deligation of different tribal chieftans or dignitaries at a gala where my son attended. He was asked to come to they're section of the room where a lot of bodyguards and other aids were located. My son met several of them and they all started calling him a name. One of the English speaking aids to the deligations told him, and wrote down the name:
* FADAHUNSI
The aid also phonetically spelled it for him. The aid then told my son that the name meant:
* "Royalty Has Favored Me"
Again, I can't varify this anywhere. Can you give me some insite to the meaning and derivation of this word/name please?
Thank you very much. My direct E-Mail is:
Phil46713@hotmail.com
"Just Curious"
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