erico2k2:

Let me pick your brains a little, howmany country in Europe do you think speak English? since you said its the world language of commmunication.

qleyo:

This year, I went to Japan for a month, asides the pleasantries, I spoke only English. I went to Mexico, asides gracias and poquito, I spoke English, I went to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, Italy - take a wild guess what language me and the billions of other visitors communicated in? English. I was in France for three months, I met people, a few of which I will probably keep for the rest of my life, Brazilians, Spaniards, Chinese, Thai, Indonesians, Croatians, Russians, all taking the same course I was taking, they couldn't speak good enough French, so we spoke in, guess again? English. I have a friend in Lagos, she is Greek and is married to a man she met in Lagos who is German, would that marriage have happened without English? Likewise another friend who is Swedish and is married to an African born Swede, Swedish by blood but speaks nothing other than, wouldn't you have it? English. I know two people who are Igala and perhaps a little more from Benin, I can speak neither Language but I great them, thank them and say good bye to them in the Igala/Benin, but guess what I speak to them the rest of the time? English. I have friends from all over Nigeria, guess what we communicate in, English.

I never said Europeans spoke only English, neither did I imply that the world spoke only English. Yes most countries have their own Lingua Franca, but half of these countries were not colonised and did not have 101 tribes forced into one country. They have spoken and will continue to speak one major language for time to come. But the fact is and will remain for the next decade at least, the world communicates in English (or French) - as a first, second or third language. Hell even the cocky French who refused for so long to learn English have given up and now speak, wouldn't you have it English!

Princek12:

gleyo, how many languages can you speak fluently?

Princek12:

gleyo, how many languages can you speak fluently?

qleyo:

English
French
Conversational Hausa

I would count "pidgin", but for the fact that pidgin by definition is not a language, but a simplified version of a language. When we take it seriously and actually have a dictionary for it and every word in English actually has a direct translation, like Creole has become, then maybe.

qleyo:

This year, I went to Japan for a month, asides the pleasantries, I spoke only English. I went to Mexico, asides gracias and poquito, I spoke English, I went to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, Italy - take a wild guess what language me and the billions of other visitors communicated in? English. I was in France for three months, I met people, a few of which I will probably keep for the rest of my life, Brazilians, Spaniards, Chinese, Thai, Indonesians, Croatians, Russians, all taking the same course I was taking, they couldn't speak good enough French, so we spoke in, guess again? English. I have a friend in Lagos, she is Greek and is married to a man she met in Lagos who is German, would that marriage have happened without English? Likewise another friend who is Swedish and is married to an African born Swede, Swedish by blood but speaks nothing other than, wouldn't you have it? English. I know two people who are Igala and perhaps a little more from Benin, I can speak neither Language but I great them, thank them and say good bye to them in the Igala/Benin, but guess what I speak to them the rest of the time? English. I have friends from all over Nigeria, guess what we communicate in, English.

I never said Europeans spoke only English, neither did I imply that the world spoke only English. Yes most countries have their own Lingua Franca, but half of these countries were not colonised and did not have 101 tribes forced into one country. They have spoken and will continue to speak one major language for time to come. But the fact is and will remain for the next decade at least, the world communicates in English (or French) - as a first, second or third language. Hell even the cocky French who refused for so long to learn English have given up and now speak, wouldn't you have it English!

igbo2011:

1st: Native
2nd: English
3rd: Mandarin Chinese
4th: Another dominate language

We need to stress our languages and speak it at home and to friends, then use English for school and work. Chinese for international business.GBAM


Let me remind those of you talking global that so many years ago latin was the major language.Whether we like it or not, we cant speak english like the british.even english techers speak pidgin.I want to be less like them(british), and more of me(IGBO naija)

Siena:


Comrade, why can't you accept that parents will make their own choices, with regards to what languages their children will be taught?? Besides, not every poster here has English as a first language, there are various mixes. How sure are you that the poster you're calling a hash head doesn't have French ancestry? And even if they don't, does it really matter?

Some prefer their children are taught pidgin, some English, some their native language, some French / Spanish etc. That's their business, and no cause to insult them. Their children, their choice.

horny4u:

English is powerful for economy and global reasons

however

our native dialect is more powerful in the sense that it feeds our kids self worth and pride in who they are, you only need to study the West Indies or African Americans to see what i mean. They act like there is something missing and they seek it all the time, we have it and should not throw it away.  You are 1st an individual then  yoruba, igbo, hausa etc before you are a Nigerian and except you are good at what you are , there is not much you can bring to the table in the world.

Watch the Chinese, Indians closely to see most speak their language even if they have not been to their respective countries.
If we look at this from only the economic point of view then we miss out on the most important aspect of this which is self love and esteem.

Kids who know where they originated from tend to be more balanced, why do people study history ? Its because the past has a lot to do with the future. Our kids must know their family heritage, language and much more then they can square their shoulders and say I know me.

Our native language should be passed on it is only self less to do that.

erico2k2:

well said, leave people wen never even reach MM they form Jand,my child is not allowed to speak pidgin, yeye fowl

Siena:


Comrade, H[i]o[/i]rny is right, in that our native languages should not be abandoned. Native language bro, not pidgin. Those that choose not to bring their children up with pidgin, have made a choice. That does not make them "yeye", as you seem to think. Everyone has a choice to make, everyone has their own way of bringing up their children.

Insulting those that have a contrary view will not change things.

Siena:

H[i]o[/i]rny, I think you're getting me wrong. I'm not an advocate of teaching children pidgin. We weren't brought up speaking pidgin, and we're bringing up our children the same way.

horny4u:

My response was to agree with you .