Vicjustice:

 When you ask Europeans (who aren't from English speaking countries) whether they speak English, they usually answer saying "little" even if they speak well enough.
 When you meet Nigerians in/on the streets of Europe, and you ask them if they speaks English (because you don't know if they're Nigerians), they'd answer "YES" or "of course" if they're in good moods, and if in bad moods, they'd get offended saying "what sort of question is that?".
 But in some real cases, the people who say they speak a "little" actually speak the little in good commands, and it's easier for the English people to understand them than the Nigerians who claim English is their in-built talents.
 Believe me, some of our English usages are really embarrassing. I know some guys who can't converse on phone with people who are not Nigerians, the accents are terrible and the English commands or usage are awful: it would be easier if the non Nigerians can read their lips, but that doesn't happen on phone.
 There was this Edo girl who was repatriated at Dublin airport, she had a tourist/visiting visa, when asked by the immigration officer at the point of entry her purpose of visiting, she ignorantly answered "terrorist", and this led to further questions and interrogations. They knew that she was innocent and ignorant, but the immigration officers found enough reason to send her back to Nigeria on the ground that they were "not satisfied that she merited her visa"
 Even here in Nairaland, sometimes, it is difficult to read and understand some articles in this forum, Though, wrong spellings could be pardon (none is above mistakes), and it's also understandable when people misuse words (for example they misuse BEING for BEEN) and also, many people try to use "short cuts" words like DATZ Y, 4RM, HOLZ, and WUD etc, as if they're sending sms from mobile phones where spaces are limited: this makes other useres sometimes read over and over and over again just to get the point that a poster is trying to make. Sometimes, i really try hard to get the points, and still i don't get the full meaning.
 I blame the pidgin English for our poor English, this sort of English has deeply influenced our usage of the standard English, even our learned people sometimes find themselves in difficulties trying to express some points which they can easily expressed in pidgin English.
 [i][b]How many of you now hate me?[/[/b]i]

Tats:

Me  .

@Vicjustice, good one there. I would advise that if you are writing such a post, you need to thoroughly read through it to ensure that you do not make any mistakes, or else, end. Corrections are required in some of your texts.

toshmann:

hey mr vicjustice
nairaland is an informal forum. it is not a place to display your command of the english language. how do you expect someone who was able to spare 10 mins from his daily schedule to find a joke or two or to ease off to take start proofreading what he posts on nairaland? abi na exam person de write here? wetin. after all english no be my papa langs so wetin concern us. the main thing here na communication. we created a community online where we can come discuss, quarrel and relax as the case may be, not to examine our english lang profficiency. abi we de write thesis or cover letter here? haba.

i have no big qualms with anyone who can communicate here even though the english is not too good. after all, in my whole life, i'm yet to see a single european who can speak igbo to an acceptable level. whosai

chiogo:

well, i get your point but then if you don't understand the point a person is making at all, that only shows the person is incoherent and illiterate, which has nothing to do with pidgin english because like i said it's a way of being informal. There are lots of educated people who speak pidgin english even in the USA, why?? because here in America, you see haitians, spanish, Jamaican folks interacting in their languages, Knowing as diverse a nation Nigeria is, in the sense that each ethnic group speaks its own language unlike most countries, Pidgin is another way of communication, which is a bit clear to me. Trust me on the fact that if you write down pidgin english for a white person, am sure they might have a clue as to what you're saying because it is only broken-down english. I don't understand why you're so bothered about europeans understanding what you speak, do we understand what they speak always too?? This mental slavery has got to stop. Jamaica and Barbados and some other countries were also colonized by the europeans(UK precisely) but they still have their own accents which is definitely not the Queen's english accent. Even here in America, black people speak lots of incorrect grammar but to them, it's like a culture. they use words like "brung" which is no where in the dictionary rather than "brought" and so many other imported words. Even some black americans do not understand what other black americans speak due to d different accents in different states. The way a black person from boston will talk would be different from the way a black person from Atlanta would. so, the errors you're talking about only means the person who typed it is  illiterate. That's just my point.

Tats:

For me, it is a source of concern that we speak english clearly and correctly where necessary when we are overseas or anywhere. It must not exactly be with a foreign accent. Unclear and incorrect english is one of the various reasons why some of us don't get very good white collar jobs abroad when we do job interviews either through phone or in person. It has nothing to do with mental slavery or suppressing the speaking of your native language or pidgin.

Would you interview someone for a high profile job in the US who says "brung" rather than "brought" and hire the person? Definitely not! Even here in the UK, some native british people from certain parts of the country who do not speak clear, correct and understandable english find it difficult to get some types of job. Some of them say "me house" rather than "my house". They do receive some sort of comments based on their way of speaking in the professional circles here too.

Troubleone:

everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, i agree with the vic

Baba_Dibia:

stupid itk peopel here