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smile4kenn (m)
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Well, I was born in Lagos and we always speak english at home and school. So i never had the chance to learn ibo language until i travelled out. Now am trying to learn but its hard for me.
Please others identify yourself so that i will know am not the only one
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prince_onx
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Thats not an excuse! I was born and raised in Lagos too! we also speak english both at home and school but still I understand and speak Igbo very well. (I'm sure u speak Yoruba! just didn't pay attension to Igbo).
All the same I like the zeal in you for trying to learn now. Yes it'll be tougher but just try your best you'll get it. Get/miss with enough Igbos and tell you friends to always speak Igbo when you're with them.
Hope those that want their kids to be Oyibo especially those born in Nigeria are reading! see what u do to your kids? You made them strangers to their own language. Speak your language (Igbos mostly) to your kids at home, they can always learn/speak english outside/school. Learn from other tribes like Yoruba! the yorubas I know even here in America speak/teach their kids yoruba while 99.9% of Igbos I know here are Igbos by title.
I can live with/forgive those born outside Nigeria for not understanding Igbo but for those born and raise in Naija no matter where, sorry no excuse!
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naija_diva (f)
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Thats not an excuse! I was born and raised in Lagos too! we also speak english both at home and school but still I understand and speak Igbo very well. (I'm sure u speak Yoruba! just didn't pay attension to Igbo). everyone's circumstances may be different from your's so you can't tell him that's not an excuse because it may be his excuse for not speaking. I have a cousin who was born in lagos along with her siblings but they grew up only speaking english. her father didn't want them learning yoruba and igbo was rarely spoken at home so my cousins couldn't speak yoruba or igbo but they could understand it. one of my cousins out of all her siblings is the only one that can speak igbo because she went to college/university in igboland. for me i don't know if she's speaking it right but my parents can tell that she just learnt it because they say her accent/pronounciation is a little off. |
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prince_onx
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@naija_diva:
Been born in Lagos and speaking english at home is not a reason for an Igbo not to be able to learn Igbo. They, especially their parents just didn't teach them and they in turn didn't learn. I'm sure they started talking before they got into school! what were they speaking? if its english, who thought them that? why didn't they learn Igbo at the same time? when parents speak english to their kids at home, that what happen! it has nothing to do with been born in Lagos! you can be bron in Jerusalem and still speak Igbo!
If you claim its an excuse, then why didn't your cousins speak anything else but english? they don't speak Igbo, they don't speak Yoruba still they are born in Lagos! that can be US/UK or anywhere!
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naija_diva (f)
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they didn't speak because no one around them was speaking it. you can't just wake up on morning and all of a sudden speak another language if you haven't been exposed to the laguage. that's why yorubas outside of nigeria can speak it because their parents speak it and relatives speak it to them right from when they were young. but as for some igbos born outside nigeria they don't speak it because they are not exposed enough to the language. their parents don't speak to them in igbo, relatives don't speak to them in igbo, and friends don't speak to them in igbo.
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prince_onx
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You call someone's language another language? Anyway, all I know is that regardless of where you're born, you can still speak your language as long as you want to and ofcox people arround you speaking it.
I didn't mostly blame the poster but his parents, and most of we Igbos in general.
I don't know if some families do it to feel special or what but we Igbos got work to do with teaching our kids not only our language but our culture as well.
We're talking of kids raised in english!, I know some people (girls especially) that I knew when they got off the plane here in US that hardly speak Igbo anymore! one told me that she's losing it because she don't really speak it everyday and she's been here only about 4yrs and about 26yrs old! how do you explain that?
Bottom line, where you're born don't matter. I can accept that the people you grew up arround didnt speak it to you but telling me its because you were born in manfee is no reason. I'm glad you pointed the Yorubas as example.
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smile4kenn (m)
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Although i can speak and unerstand yoruba, but i had igbo friends and they speak english or pidgin english. I understand 70% Igbo and speak about 15%, Sometimes when i try to speak, i feel am not getting it right.
I know its not an excuse, and i don't put my parents to blame. All parents wants the best for their kids and they felt we should learn and master english first before igbo.
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ghettochyk (f)
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Thats not an excuse! I was born and raised in Lagos too! we also speak english both at home and school but still I understand and speak Igbo very well. (I'm sure u speak Yoruba! just didn't pay attension to Igbo).
All the same I like the zeal in you for trying to learn now. Yes it'll be tougher but just try your best you'll get it. Get/miss with enough Igbos and tell you friends to always speak Igbo when you're with them.
Hope those that want their kids to be Oyibo especially those born in Nigeria are reading! see what u do to your kids? You made them strangers to their own language. Speak your language (Igbos mostly) to your kids at home, they can always learn/speak english outside/school. Learn from other tribes like Yoruba! the yorubas I know even here in America speak/teach their kids yoruba while 99.9% of Igbos I know here are Igbos by title.
I can live with/forgive those born outside Nigeria for not understanding Igbo but for those born and raise in Naija no matter where, sorry no excuse!
Sweetie, you can't tell him that's "not an excuse". Who died and made you judge? Do you even KNOW him from Adam? If he doesn't speak Igbo, the he doesn't!! BIG EFFIN DEAL!!!! And it not being an excuse to YOU is YOUR opinion. Sheesh!! People always attacking others on Nairaland. |
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ghettochyk (f)
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Although i can speak and unerstand yoruba, but i had igbo friends and they speak english or pidgin english. I understand 70% Igbo and speak about 15%, Sometimes when i try to speak, i feel am not getting it right.
I know its not an excuse, and i don't put my parents to blame. All parents wants the best for their kids and they felt we should learn and master english first before igbo.
damn. . . . your even explaining yourself. I guess there was no use for my first post. <don't be a sucker, man> Anyways, don't be surprised if he comes back and tell u 2nd excuse is BS. |
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romeo (m)
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Every igbo person with igbo parents has no reasons, I repeat!! Has no reasons at all for their lack of spoken igbo, it's shameful and degrading to our culture and people if our youths can not speak our language!! who will teach the next generation if our generation can not even write it?
But if you're mixed then a few igbo words can do until practice makes you perfect
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Mortiple (m)
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Nwanna, I really sympathize with you. It is not all your fault. Your parents, guardian or benefactor must share the blame too.  Unarguably, we are all descendants of one man called Adam but God in His wisdom divided mankind into different languages and tongues. Yet, many still think the world will be a better place if we all speak same language.  Broda, please try and learn the language. Thank goodness we are in Infotech age. You can do so no matter wherever, whenever and however. Please do that now! Ndeewwwoooo! |
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4 Play (m)
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Me,na only Igbo I sabi speak.I no fit speak English.  |
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otele (m)
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i was born in london, my mum is from trinidad, but we go to nigeria at least once in 2 years. i can speak igbo(my accent may be funny though) i can write it, i even know of igbo proverbs. and i had my primary education in owerri.  even in england i continue to learn igbo from nigerian movies and from nigerians. it is my identity. i was brought up to embrace nigerian identity. that is good |
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naija_diva (f)
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Sweetie, you can't tell him that's "not an excuse". Who died and made you judge? Do you even KNOW him from Adam? If he doesn't speak Igbo, the he doesn't!! BIG EFFIN DEAL!!!! And it not being an excuse to YOU is YOUR opinion. Sheesh!! People always attacking others on Nairaland.
thank you. Every igbo person with igbo parents has no reasons, I repeat!! Has no reasons at all for their lack of spoken igbo, it's shameful and degrading to our culture and people if our youths can not speak our language!! who will teach the next generation if our generation can not even write it?
But if you're mixed then a few igbo words can do until practice makes you perfect
It's true, if you have igbo parents, then you should be able to speak it but a lot a parents don't teach their children igbo or the culture. my parents taught me enough about my culture and they teach us igbo proverbs and things of that sort but to its not enough so i do my own little research and ask questions. some children just don't care about learning igbo. so even if their parents do speak it to them, they are not going to learn because they don't want to. |
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ghettochyk (f)
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Every igbo person with igbo parents has no reasons, I repeat!! Has no reasons at all for their lack of spoken igbo, it's shameful and degrading to our culture and people if our youths can not speak our language!! who will teach the next generation if our generation can not even write it?
But if you're mixed then a few igbo words can do until practice makes you perfect
That's still YOUR opinion. And I don't see how not knowing how to speak a certain language should be SHAMEFUL AND DEGRADING. PROSTITUTING is SHAMEFUL and DEGRADING, as well as terrorism. So do be picky with your choice of words. WTF! it's not like he's even living in Igboland. Now that would be a different story. Y'all can't be judging others like that for real. |
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naija_diva (f)
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That's still YOUR opinion. And I don't see how not knowing how to speak a certain language should be SHAMEFUL AND DEGRADING. PROSTITUTING is SHAMEFUL and DEGRADING, as well as terrorism. So do be picky with your choice of words. WTF! it's not like he's even living in Igboland. Now that would be a different story. Y'all can't be judging others like that for real.
Ha. That was funny. But for real on a serious note, no one is forced to do anything. we're all human beings whether we speak english, french, igbo, etc. the most important thing is that you are able to wake up in the moring and live your life in shameless way. |
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prince_onx
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@ghettochyke and naija_diva:
You two are fooling yourself and I hope you don't mislead others in the poster's position.
Like I said before and I'm glad you're hearing it from other people too including someone born in London with mix parents! it's not an excuse not to understand your language (Igbo) because you were born in Lagos. People from Asia, middle east, South America, other parts of Africa give birth and raise their kids in all part of the world yet they speak/understand their native language. But for we Nigerians especially IGBOs will always find one excuse or the other why we don't understand our language!
Like Romeo said/ask who will teach the next Igbo generation the language if all of you keep giving one stupid reason or the other for not understanding?
Do you think an American, a Briton, or an Indian/asian born in Nigeria will learn Igbo, yoruba, or hausa and leave their own native language be it English, Chinesse, or whatever? you think they'll leave that? I don't think so!
The poster admit he understand/speak yoruba, how do you explain that? he already know deep inside him that he is Igbo and need to understand that language.
@poster: you're doing very good at 70% just dey tear the thing as you fit! trust me you go get am well after all you no learn yoruba for one day and you didn't just perfectly start speaking yoruba so move on!
@naija_diva: follow follow no good! make your point and speak your own mind stops bouncing from one angle to the other.
One minute you jumped on me the next minute you said if he's parents are Igbos! no na Hausa them be! (I wonder what the f**k we were saying all this time) if his parents are igbos my yasss.
Bottom line:
where you're born (with igbo parents) is not an excuse or a reason for not speaking igbo! ask African/Americans how they feel for not knowing anything about their Origin, their culture, or language! sure you know what that mean.
So Igbos (parents Oh, brothers Oh, sisters Oh, friends Oh whatever we need/have to extend our culture and language to our kids and generation regardless of where we're born, raised, or live! PERIOD.
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naija_diva (f)
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@ghettochyke and naija_diva:
You two are fooling yourself and I hope you don't mislead others in the poster's position.
Like I said before and I'm glad you're hearing it from other people too including someone born in London with mix parents! it's not an excuse not to understand your language (Igbo) because you were born in Lagos. People from Asia, middle east, South America, other parts of Africa give birth and raise their kids in all part of the world yet they speak/understand their native language. But for we Nigerians especially IGBOs will always find one excuse or the other why we don't understand our language!
Like Romeo said/ask who will teach the next Igbo generation the language if all of you keep giving one stupid reason or the other for not understanding?
Do you think an American, a Briton, or an Indian/asian born in Nigeria will learn Igbo, yoruba, or hausa and leave their own native language be it English, Chinesse, or whatever? you think they'll leave that? I don't think so!
The poster admit he understand/speak yoruba, how do you explain that? he already know deep inside him that he is Igbo and need to understand that language.
@poster: you're doing very good at 70% just dey tear the thing as you fit! trust me you go get am well after all you no learn yoruba for one day and you didn't just perfectly start speaking yoruba so move on!
@naija_diva: follow follow no good! make your point and speak your own mind stops bouncing from one angle to the other.
One minute you jumped on me the next minute you said if he's parents are Igbos! no na Hausa them be! (I wonder what the f**k we were saying all this time) if his parents are igbos my yasss.
Bottom line:
where you're born (with igbo parents) is not an excuse or a reason for not speaking igbo! ask African/Americans how they feel for not knowing anything about their Origin, their culture, or language! sure you know what that mean.
So Igbos (parents Oh, brothers Oh, sisters Oh, friends Oh whatever we need/have to extend our culture and language to our kids and generation regardless of where we're born, raised, or live! PERIOD.
hold up slim, you don't have to refer to me like that. you ain't my daddy and i don't have to listen to you. if you feel one way that's you, not me. you do not have to go at me like that. who the hell made you chief to decide what we should be doing or not? if people do not want to learn, its not your business to make it feel like its there fault. So Igbos (parents Oh, brothers Oh, sisters Oh, friends Oh whatever we need/have to extend our culture and language to our kids and generation regardless of where we're born, raised, or live! PERIOD. that was my point the whole time you dumbass, if you could read. |
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ghettochyk (f)
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Talk all you want. In the end, it's STILL YOUR OWN OPINION. That's not going to stop him from getting a decent job or car, or get him into a credible university. And I'm sure that if speaking your parents' native language is a requirement for any of above mentioned things, I'm sure it's not going to be YOU that he'll be seeking such items from. In the end, this silly debate/argument will end in Nairaland. . . . which of course isn't the REAL world. and what you say will STILL AND ALWAYS BE YOUR OWN OPINION!! He didn't start this thread to see how many self-righteous folks can critize him. Because that would just be ridiculous. NUFF SAID!
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prince_onx
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@naija_diva:
Then next time go to the point and don't beat around you smartass, if you could speak!
I'm out!
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naija_diva (f)
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@naija_diva:
Then next time go to the point and don't beat around you smartass, if you could speak!
I'm out!
i wasn't beating around the bush. you the one trying to act like your holier than thou because you speak igbo trying to act like you somebody's father making the poster feel bad. |
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romeo (m)
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That's still YOUR opinion. And I don't see how not knowing how to speak a certain language should be SHAMEFUL AND DEGRADING. PROSTITUTING is SHAMEFUL and DEGRADING, as well as terrorism. So do be picky with your choice of words. WTF! it's not like he's even living in Igboland. Now that would be a different story. Y'all can't be judging others like that for real.
A certain Language? WTF are you talking there? your mother tongue is now a certain language!! what the hell are you always doing in igbo kwenu thread? if i may ask. I didn't know you have this mindset. Talk all you want. In the end, it's STILL YOUR OWN OPINION. That's not going to stop him from getting a decent job or car, or get him into a credible university. And I'm sure that if speaking your parents' native language is a requirement for any of above mentioned things, I'm sure it's not going to be YOU that he'll be seeking such items from. In the end, this silly debate/argument will end in Nairaland. . . . which of course isn't the REAL world. and what you say will STILL AND ALWAYS BE YOUR OWN OPINION!! He didn't start this thread to see how many self-righteous folks can critize him. Because that would just be ridiculous. NUFF SAID!
A decent job and car is nothing compared to your heritage! let's just be cautious with how we advice people on this issue. |
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chiogo (f)
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@poster, umm, i wldn't say that's a good thin' but i wldn't condemn u either. Your parents are def. to blame. This issue is common among igbos, idk why. I've never met a yoruba person whether born in naija or US who cannot speak yoruba. I have cousins who were born in Nigeria, they lived in Lagos and went to them preppy schools so they never spoke igbo and their parents also spoke to them in english. Their parents later came to realize how bad it was and started teachin' them igbo, they're still young(d oldest shld be like 14) and they now speak igbo fairly well and understand when it's spoken to them. The last two kids(twins) were born here in the states but they already understand igbo Cuz their parents don't want to repeat the same thin'. As for me, igbo was spoken to me since i cld remember at home. I'm good with d language but not perfect. You cld still learn it dependin' on your age, if u're still in your early teens, u cld but if an adult, it cld be hard for u. anywayz, keep learnin' and u'll be good.
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stillwater (f)
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I can't speak Igbo.  |
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oziomatv (m)
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Bros no yawa as you dey japan now make sure you pay more attention to Japanese language then when umunnagi take the remaining land from your father, you go call meeting with yoruba language that has Japanese accent. On a serious note you need to know an aspect of your root it's your identity and will save you something one day, Igboman always get help when he/she can speak his language outside Igboland no matter how rich or confortable. try to associate most with some reasonable igbo fellows. Please always visit this thread on nairaland it'll help you develop on your writing and reading igbo. http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-19138.0.html |
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doncaster (m)
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Stupidity will never let us Africans move ahead expecially we nigerians. I feel stupid that i can understand but cannot speak it very well because its suppose to be my first lang. Now i leave in England when i go to our town meeting here am the only Born in Nigeria that address in English which is weird and stupid as well. I visit igbo kwenu thread sometimes to add to my knowlegde of igbo. here in England all Indians and parkistanis speak their Lang(Punjabi and whatever) as if they where born in their home land but beleive me 70% of them have not been to India or Pakistan before. So do other ethnic groups(Somalians,zims and all the rest).
You can easily learn English or whatever outside but once in your house i beleive you speak your native lang.
@poster
you can still learn, people left Nigeria for germany at old age and still they learnt how to speak german. When you call home from japan try and speak with your folks in Igbo i think they will appreciate it.
For those of you that find nothing in speaking igbo,an english man will not accept you for speaking english either. And speaking English will not change your genotype however heard you try.
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oziomatv (m)
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Stupidity will never let us Africans move ahead expecially we nigerians. I feel stupid that i can understand but cannot speak it very well because its suppose to be my first lang. Now i leave in England when i go to our town meeting here am the only Born in Nigeria that address in English which is weird and stupid as well. I visit igbo kwenu thread sometimes to add to my knowlegde of igbo. here in England all Indians and parkistanis speak their Lang(Punjabi and whatever) as if they where born in their home land but beleive me 70% of them have not been to India or Pakistan before. So do other ethnic groups(Somalians,zims and all the rest).
You can easily learn English or whatever outside but once in your house i beleive you speak your native lang.
@poster
you can still learn, people left Nigeria for germany at old age and still they learnt how to speak german. When you call home from japan try and speak with your folks in Igbo i think they will appreciate it.
For those of you that find nothing in speaking igbo,an english man will not accept you for speaking english either. And speaking English will not change your genotype however heard you try.
Nna gi muru gi. A true talk from a son of the soil. English is for educated and intelligent people while IGBO is for Illiterates okwa ya? Igbo kwenu. |
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ifyalways (f)
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@poster,its good you want to learn.thats a positive attitude. make friends and mix with igbo people often,speak out,get corrected and with a little effort and determination,you would get there.  ya gazieeeee |
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ghettochyk (f)
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Stupidity will never let us Africans move ahead expecially we nigerians. Don't really know if it's your own stupidity is keeping you from moving forward, but my dear, my family and I are African and Especially Nigerian, and honey, progress is the ONLY thing in we know. For those of you that find nothing in speaking igbo,an english man will not accept you for speaking english either. And speaking English will not change your genotype however heard you try. Since when did this become a topic about being accepted by an English man or trying to change genotypes? Stupidity amongst Africans indeed! And when did this become a Yoruba vs. Igbo vs English thread? English is for educated and intelligent people while IGBO is for Illiterates okwa ya?
Igbo kwenu. Now where did this come from? Anyways, that has nothing to do with the discussion but if that's how YOU feel. But I can swear that Igbo aint for Illiterate folks, or I wouldn't know it. It's nice y'all are trying to advice the thread that he should learn Igbo. If he learns Igbo, better for him, and if he doesn't, then he doesn't. He won't kill himself. It's not his fault he doesn't speak Igbo. He didn't decide where he would grow up and the type of folks he'd associate with the most <at least as a kid>. Now, as a grown man, if he decides it's best for him to learn igbo, the it's going to be HIS responsibility to learn it. And if he does learn it, it will be better for him, not me, or any of us. |
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ifyalways (f)
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@ GC ,happy val jare |
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