A LITTLE LAUGHTER NEVER HURTS

Okay, Okay, enough with the campaigns and intense conversations. I know the elections are just around the corner, but I still think we need to take a breather before we develop one health issue or another over such a thing as Nigerian elections. Afterall, I'm here turning my moi-moi to cake instead of waiting for the national cake. Laughter actually has some health benefits, but incase you are in doubt, read it here. Earlier today, I read a personal message from a blackberry friend of mine and it really did make me *lmao*. It was a simple thing as “pidgin” English (bad English). All it said was something like “19gbidigbidi no date”. Now if you’ve lived in Nigeria, and also, the Niger-delta region to be precise, then you would totally understand what I mean.

Inspired by that singular phrase, (if it can be called one), I decided to go back memory lane to the days when phonetics hadn’t overtaken the pidgin English. And we didn't have people infusing the letter "l" into every word to make it sound American.  You may have heard of "yels". Like it or not Nigerians, pidgin English is the one language that unites us. It is one that the Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Bini, Igalla, Ijaw, Itsekiri man understands and can speak fluently albeit different accents and styles. So, let’s go back to when pidgin was still pidgin.

*The conc. pidgin are highlighted in red

• This thing dey sono me (pronounced saw-nor)
• Kukuma dey go na
• E dey my doormot
• Comot for poto-poto  (pronounced pot tor- por tor)
• Chuku chuku dey there

In pidgin English, we also have a way of saying things repeatedly twice. Usually, this is done for emphasis,  I think. For example;

• True true
• Ye-ye
• Mu-mu
• Shaky shaky
• Jedi jedi
• Waka waka
• So so
• Lai lai
• Lie lie

These are just a few I could get down in a hurry. The list is endless; you can join in on the fun and add yours in the comment section below.

Owiedo kpataki! Urhobo wado!

1. Over and out!