Etymology. Pidgin derives from a Chinese pronunciation of the English word business , and all attestations from the first half of the nineteenth century given in the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary mean “business; an action, occupation, or affair” (the earliest being from 1807).
Where does the term pidgin English come from?
The term pidgin was first recorded in English in 1807, as English was adopted as the business and trade language of Canton (Guangzhou), China . At the time, the term business English was often written as pigeon English, a spelling that reflects the local pronunciation.
Who speaks pidgin English?
More than 75 million people are believed to speak pidgin across Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. But it’s not just an African phenomenon. The term “pidgin” was first recorded in English in 1807 in Canton, China.
What is Pidgin English called?
West African Pidgin English, also called Guinea Coast Creole English , was a language of commerce spoken along the coast during the Atlantic slave trade in the late 17th and 18th Centuries. This allowed British slave merchants and local African traders to conduct business.
Why is pigeon called pidgin?
The word pidgin comes from the Chinese pronunciation of the English word, business . Pidgin is a term that has now been extended to any simplified version of language used by two non-fluent speakers in order to communicate. A pigeon is a fat bird that eats seeds and has found a home in many large towns and cities.
How do you say hello in pidgin?
Usually pronounced “har fa” . “How far?” is the most common way to say “hello” in Nigerian pidgin.... When you are not sure how to greet somebody, it is always appropriate to say “Kóyo ”.
Is BBC pidgin real?
BBC News Pidgin is an online news service in West African Pidgin English that was launched by BBC World Service in 2017. The news service is based in Lagos, Nigeria . Pidgin is one of the most widely spoken languages in West Africa (with up to 75 million speakers in Nigeria) but it does not have a standard written form.
Do Nigerians speak English?
Nigeria’s population is currently about 200 million and is expected to reach 450 million by mid-century. Though English is the only official language , there are some 350 indigenous languages that most Nigerians use most of the time.
What is broken English called?
Broken English is a name for a non standard, non-traditionally spoken or alternatively-written version of the English language . These forms of English are sometimes considered as a pidgin if they have derived in a context where more than one language is used.
What does Na you sabi mean?
Na you sabi. Definition: 1. A subtle way of saying ‘ I don’t care what you think ‘ 2.
Is English a pidgin language?
English is definitely not a pidgin language , insofar as pidgin means a grammatically simplified form of a language, used for communication between people not sharing a common language.
Who invented creoles?
Coined in the colonies that Spain and Portugal founded in the Americas, creole was originally used in the 16th century to refer to locally born individuals of Spanish, Portuguese, or African descent as distinguished from those born in Spain, Portugal, or Africa.
What is difference between pidgin and Creole?
What is the difference between pidgin and creole? In a nutshell, pidgins are learned as a second language in order to facilitate communication , while creoles are spoken as first languages. Creoles have more extensive vocabularies than pidgin languages and more complex grammatical structures.
