I could imagine how most Igbos speak English due to the exposure to British colonizers and acceptance of western education. But are there some who only know Igbo? If so, what percentage of Igboland would you say is still monolingual?

Mambofiend: I could imagine how most Igbos speak English due to the exposure to British colonizers and acceptance of western education. But are there some who only know Igbo? If so, what percentage of Igboland would you say is still monolingual?

A fraction of the aged population (those born in the 30's and 40's when Western education wasn't all that common) are monolingual. It will be difficult to arrive at a percentage without conducting a survey though.

Mambofiend: I could imagine how most Igbos speak English due to the exposure to British colonizers and acceptance of western education. But are there some who only know Igbo? If so, what percentage of Igboland would you say is still monolingual?

That's a nice question you asked there. Igbo people are some dynamic bunch of people, often speaking at least 2 languages throughout their entire lives. Even the elderly ones living close to neighbouring tribes in the village in the village who don't speal English or pidgin speak the neighbouring language as second language. These elderly ones in the village, even if they don't speak English understand it to a considerable extent.

To find monolingual speakers of Igbo, you'd have to look in the village. In the Nsukka area where I did my undergrad, I came across several indigenes, young and old, in the market, on the streets etc. who spoke only their dialect and nothing else. You had to speak Igbo to converse with them.

Mambofiend: I could imagine how most Igbos speak English due to the exposure to British colonizers and acceptance of western education. But are there some who only know Igbo? If so, what percentage of Igboland would you say is still monolingual?

I doubt..even old Igbo woman understand pidgin English which is a form of English

tonychristopher:

I doubt..even old Igbo woman understand pidgin English which is a form of English

In my trips to the east, I have encountered older people who could only speak Igbo. Actually they spoke mostly their local dialect. My friend from Asaba was floored when he escorted us to Enugu once. Couldn't understand jack from an old dude who could only speak the local tongue.

chulla12:

In my trips to the east, I have encountered older people who could only speak Igbo. Actually they spoke mostly their local dialect. My friend from Asaba was floored when he escorted us to Enugu once. Couldn't understand jack from an old dude who could only speak the local tongue.

correct but the percentage should be like 4%

bigfrancis21:

That's a nice question you asked there. Igbo people are some dynamic bunch of people, often speaking at least 2 languages throughout their entire lives. Even the elderly ones living close to neighbouring tribes in the village in the village who don't speal English or pidgin speak the neighbouring language as second language. These elderly ones in the village, even if they don't speak English understand it to a considerable extent.

To find monolingual speakers of Igbo, you'd have to look in the village. In the Nsukka area where I did my undergrad, I came across several indigenes, young and old, in the market, on the streets etc. who spoke only their dialect and nothing else. You had to speak Igbo to converse with them.

Are Northerners also bilingual?

my paternal grandma speaks only Igbo
And most of the old people in my hometown
So, I guess they still exist

Mambofiend:

Are Northerners also bilingual?

Not really. You can find more monolinguits among them than in Igboland. They tend to be conservative and static to change, except the educated or exposed ones.