₦airaland Forum

Lilisticlili:
They are both not standard english but almost a lingua franca or Nigerian second langauge.

But they still poses similiarities......

Finestboi

AreaFada2:
Broken English is more correctly the English spoken by someone who speaks little English. Like a Peruvian or Venezuelan who just speaks little English in addition to his native Spanish. He will not be able to make good sentences or string the correct words together properly.

Whereas Pidgin is actually lingua franca in many countries. Popularly called creole in the Caribbean including Patois in Jamaica.

In Nigeria it is understood by more people than proper English in Niger Delta & SE. Even great grand mothers in Sapele will speak it quite well.

Pidgin is a mix of local languages and Portuguese, Spanish, French, English, etc.

A word like sabi in "na you sabi". Sabi (know) comes from Portuguese word "saber" or to know. Originally from Latin word "sapere" for "to know". Also something like "fine shoes boku for my house". Boku is from French "beaucoup" or many.

In Ancient Benin City, before 1897, some local residents already spoke a pidgin version of Portuguese. Not surprising since the Portuguese first came around 1478. Presumably in Warri area too. So mixing what already existed with language (English) of the new colonial masters would have come naturally to people in that axis.

People talk of broken English & pidgin English interchangeably in error. They are different. Just because pidgin sounds simplified doesn't make it broken.