Native Language
Why do some Nigerians think that speaking and teaching their children, their native language is razz?
As long as it doesn't affect their spoken English, whats wrong?
Is speaking Pidgin razz too? I particularly love the waffy dialect of pidgin.
Someone please educate me!
17 comments:
there's absolutely nothing wrong with teaching your kids to speak your dialect. I speak my language around my friends who dont understand a word of what i'm saying and they think its posh
When it comes to speaking your dialect, I am an advocate o. I speak the yoruba language pretty well (if I do say so myself) and would be ashamed of myself if I didn't teach my children. All this talk of your dialect being razz is silly if you ask me. Being robbed of your identity; now, that's razz.
There's nothing razz about teaching your children your language - I think it is a really important part of our heritage and cultural identity.
In fact, as far as I'm concerned, it's only razz people who think that their children shouldn't speak their native language.
And I agree with you about Waffy pidgin - e sweet well well.
That is just stupid. Anyone that thinks teaching your children your native language is just a stupid wannabe social climber. And the sad thing is the people they are trying to emulate know better!
As for pidgin - weirdly enough it's actually a form of language in itself. It's like Patois in some other countries which is considered a language. Ok I dont speak pidgin and I wouldn't even try cos I just come across as trying to hard but I certainly understand it and wouldn't pretend otherwise.
Teaching my kids local dialect shouldnt include pidgin English. They should be able to speak Igbo and other dialects but pidgin is a No NO. Personal chioce so no dissing, abeg! Cheers!
Wow, some people think it's razz? Then how will our culture and languages be preserved and passed down from generation to generation? I personally am not very fluent in my dialect and it pains me...lol...
Wow...LOL...Absolutely nothing wrong with teaching my kids my native languages..In fact i think its essential if we are not going to lose our heritage completely.
Pidgin intrigues me. But ultimately, as long as one's spoken english is not negatively affected, its all good
omo babes, there is nothing wrong in learning how to speak your native language, you know, i am ashamed to say that i cannot speak yoruba well, i wonder how my kids would learn how to speak when dad does not know how to... pidgin is so cool, but u no wan be like 2face oh
This is the rejoinder to the rejoinder. I just wrote this in response to lost's take on your poem. Hope you like it.
My son has come
returned from the dead.
My back has been bent
bent double with the weight of my prayers
My heart lightens
the burden tumbles down
Years restored; which I thought were lost
In the midst of rejoicing, I see
see a new light in his eyes
the warrior who left me
he's returned a broken man
his lips tremble, his eyes dart to and fro
in unguarded moments,
cold steel creeps into his touch
he is not right, he is not the same
As the night lightens into morn
with the first call of the cockerel,
I slip into his room
I call his name, look into his eyes
lay his head upon my breast,
mama knows all, mama’s love will heal.
I feel an adult who feels ashamed to speak his local dialect and thinks it's razz to teach his/her children may be suffering from a low self esteem
Learning another language is always a good thing, I always think it is a shame when kids can't speak one of their parents languages. I for one can't speak Yoruba. I guess a lot of parents think that instead of teaching your children a language that is only spoken in very few countries, they're better off learning a language spoken internationally.
Pidgin english isn't a language lol, it's fun but I'd only let my children speak it as long as they knew how to speak perfect English first!
I wish I had been required to speak the many languages spoken in my house when growing up - yoruba, kalabari. Instead, my mother focused on French. While I am glad that I speak French, it would have been nice to have a command of both my mother and father's tongues. As for Yoruba, I simply watch Yoruba movies to keep up with my ability.
As for Pidgin, my grandmother spoke Pidgin and even though I am unable to speak Yoruba or Kalabari or her language, Bakweri, I can knack pidgin like a proessional!
i think its important to teach your native tongue to your children.I'm doing that with boys already.I speak Yoruba and my dialect ekiti quite well.
there is a story of some folks who live in the US and they come home for hoilday and the US cousins are looking forward to speaking the native tongue with the Naija cousins they got a rude shock when the naija cousins didnt understand or speak a word of the language.
I guess its d general misconception dt u'd find it har learning English if u start with your native language. Well in Nigeria, d fear of F9 in English in WAEC is d major cause,so most parents equate good spoken English to good written one. Far from d truth! I grew up with proper Yoruba and learnt English d hard way and I appreciate that. At a time after my Uni,I majored in speaking Yoruba again and leaving English for formal occassions. There's an aspect of culture u dont just get without an understanding of ur native tongue(lol). Proverbs,colloquials,insults etc,I just love my language YORUBA!
I love culture and i think theres absolutely nothing wrong with ours... my children will learn igbo, yoruba, french, spanish, and pidgin english if i have my way.. howeverelse will they gossip with each other.. and how will i let them know things that i dont want others to hear.. doesnt matter what part of the world i'm in.. i'm Nigerian... and whatever the other half will be.. i wil at least impart my side onto em...
I speak almost only Igbo to my daughter. She's not yet 2 years old. Go figure.
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