In which state speak the best pidgin English. Is it in Edo or in another state?


Pidgin English, like all other language is in my opinion; relative. Americans think they speak English but the English beg to differ.

In Nigeria, the southern and eastern states speak more Pidgin (as the language of commerce) than anywhere else in the country but even within this subset, there are nuances in spoken pidgin which indicate differences. To ask; ‘which is better’ I think would only throw a wrench in your efforts at reaching a sound conclusion on the matter. the reasons I think include;

First, there isn’t a standard for pidgin, whether spoken or written, the language is only recently emerging as a standard of communication in the country and this is all thanks to the rapid proliferation of mainstream (electronic) media and the need to communicate to a larger proportion of the Nigerian population who do not subscribe to English as a first language.

Second, between areas like Edo, Warri, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Owerri it is by the nuances in how the language is spoken that defines the individuals identity, nuances go further in managing communication between several groups and remain crucial till present.

However, one can develop a preference based on aesthetics, comprehension and perhaps personal experience, which inform opinion about a people, their culture, and how they are viewed by everyone else. In Lagos pidgin is widely spoken but does not necessarily resonate any aggression or hostile undertones like it does in Warri or Edo where these very aggressive undertones have morphed and are in recent times associated with dark humor, e.g. “whish kind question you sef dey aks? be like say na slap dem for use answer you”.


Some people shared their opinion. See Below:
    "Delta state. Warri, precisely. It's almost like their indigenous language. A close second would be Edo though. I'm at a town in between Benin and Warri presently. The way people speak pidgin English is just intoxicating (funny though) " - Precious Amamgbu

    "In my opinion, in Nigeria, the best Pidgin English is spoken in Delta and Edo state. Edo and Delta state make up the old BENDEL state. In warri, a city of Delta state, Pidgin is spoken quite widely and a lot of famous comedians in Nigeria who perform in pidgin English come from Warri." - Iria Anenih

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