All You Need To Know About Nigerian English (Examples Inclusive)
steemiteducation·@williams-owb·
0.000 HBDAll You Need To Know About Nigerian English (Examples Inclusive)
Nigerians are creative and industrious set of people who have mastery in the use of language, in other words, they have the ability to create their own set of lexical items and expressions from existing languages such as the English language. .jpg) <a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3Tke6SognEPETNMeeigxJLb7vPcCxqu-uIjHcDSRHkbs6nRwlf2hS4vAdlA">SOURCE</a> Some of the languages that evolved as a result of the interaction of the English language with Nigerians is the Nigerian English and Pidgin English which is called Creole in some parts of the world. We shall focus on the variety of English called The Nigerian English in this piece. Nigerian English is that variety of English, just like the American and British English, that has been made to align with the cultural dispostiton of Nigerians. Simply put, it has been indigenised, localised and domesticated in order to have the features of the social and cultural values of the Nigerian people. The Nigerian English have become a language on its own due to popularity from the media such as the Nigerian movie industry known as Nollywood. Nollywood actors tend to form their own set of lexical items and this is easily accepted by the audience as a part of the English language, sometimes unknownigly. Further more, we may easily add to our vocabulary any expressions we hear our religious leaders use in sermons either in the church, mosque or on the screens of the television. Nigerian speakers of English also come across some of these words in the books that are authored by Nigerians and also in day-to-day conversations with friends and family. Examples of Nigerian English are 1.) Mrs Johnson is the second-wife of the Minister of Finance. (Second-wife is the wife after the first by a polygamist) .jpg) <a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ54M05cHSyWY8JRrMVNrQFLp9bpreLik3hiB-EZPwtDi3xXmi_OA">SOURCE</a> 2.) The final burial of the great hunter is a seven-day programme. (Final burial is an elaborate party in honor of the dead) 3.) Can you help me load my phone? (Load means to recharge a phone) .jpg) <a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXzafm9j-Bl_LHfsakLTYgs3M00yvPRdIqRQSImh_szMZgHDwbew">SOURCE</a> 4.) Tell your mother to flash me when she arrives. (Flash means to beep a person's mobile phone)  <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/bT_cxtrmFm6kg-IGMQBTEGD1I5qGzoOJni7AcDF-R0X_BngdZZguAPHTkLdE9WwaLT0uuPdSNsIf-3sy_roQSg1ZtCLqr11ME5V-hMeCiDbKBri38hHK4hFDJeL1FtDiYlYNi9SR_IlgpQ=w470-h313-nc">SOURCE</a> 5.) I need ice-block (block) in my drink. (Ice-block or block means ice-cubes .jpg) <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT9klrlTVC0dYbz50j2NiY1Yy8_lC9_pJWbrFuVq96CDQSmLnJItc-8xjpC1Q">SOURCE</a> 6.) It's only the applicants that have long leg that got the job. (Long leg means influence peddling) .jpg) <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtKmgUV2nosudnQme5AcLBUdj9GdYqTPFm21S5eH5DoZzxtvP_Qmvr_1F0">SOURCE</a> 7.) My husband loves bush meat so much that he eats it every day. (Bush meat is used instead of wild meat as food/game) .jpg) <a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSUTMfv8tpAVx6psNMukSr8BjPisTon9j2eAMjqSaxNjw5PGzkx">SOURCE</a> **Other examples include** Nigerian English |Standard English ---------------|------------------- Trafficator |Traffic indicator Chicken change| Negligible amount Born-again |A devoted Christian Hometown |Place of origin Accident |Auto crash No go area |Out of bounds Yellow fever |Traffic warden Settlement |Bribe Network, Service |Phone reception Bukateria, Canteen |Local eatery Minerals |Soft drinks Area boys |Urchins All these words are gradually becoming a part of the Standard English in Nigeria due to their everyday usage and it should not be a surprise that most people do not even know that they are not Standard variety of English Language. ### Do you know any of these words or expressions that are mostly used by Nigerians? Do well to stop by at the comment section. # Thanks for reading.