What is a pidgin language?
a simple form of a language, especially English, Portuguese, or Dutch, with a limited number of words, which are used together with words from a local language. It is used when people who do not speak the same language need to talk to each other.West African Pidgin English is big - but some teachers do not approve:
Although it is commonly spoken, Pidgin is not an official language anywhere in West Africa. In many schools, children are disciplined if they are caught speaking Pidgin, rather than English. However, some local radio stations do broadcast in Pidgin.Pidgin - West African lingua franca - BBC News
As reported in the latest E L Gazette:
West African Pidgin is not a slang dialect of English, it is an established variant which is widely used as a lingua franca throughout the region and is used by the BBC for regional news. However standard British English, not Pidgin, is the official language of Ghana and is the form required in the education system.
Pidgin English is for the birds | E L Gazette
Here's film star Claire Edun giving a couple of lessons:The English actress who is a Nigerian film star in Nollywood - BBC News
And a grammar lesson:
Definition and Examples of West African Pidgin English
With more from Wikipedia:
West African Pidgin English - Wikipedia
Africa has a huge amount of linguistic diversity:
Africa is home to the highest linguistic diversity in the world, with over 1500 different languages. It is only during the colonial era that other languages were introduced on the African continent. Languages like English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. So even before the colonial masters came to the continent, Africans had their indigenous languages. But things started changing when Africans were required to speak the language of their masters. By means of education and also with the introd…African pidgin languages [Culture TMC] - YouTube
The BBC is now broadcasting in West African Pidgin English:
BBC World Service announces biggest expansion 'since the 1940s' - BBC News
BBC starts Pidgin digital service for West Africa audiences - BBC News
The BBC in Pidgin? People Like It Well-Well - The New York Times
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