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As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn - Culture (2) - Nairaland

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An Insight On The Gbagyi People: Real Owners Of Abuja / Which Language Is The Most Difficult? Igbo, Yoruba Or Hausa? / Why Do We(igbos) Love Speaking English Language To Our Fellow Igbos? (2) (3) (4)

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Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Nobody: 10:37am On Apr 08, 2019
grin
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by fergie001: 10:37am On Apr 08, 2019
The present Nigeria with my experience ..


Fulfulde
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by tripper003: 10:38am On Apr 08, 2019
You are welcome. smileyLearn your mother Father's tongue first. That's obvious.
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Okuda(m): 10:39am On Apr 08, 2019
you must be a badly brought up child. you are igbo but looking for a nigerian language to learn? what happened to your dads roots?

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Gsteve01(m): 10:40am On Apr 08, 2019
Better stay for your lane lipsrsealed


TO RENT OR BUY HOUSE, CHECK MY SIGNATURE
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Antoeni(m): 10:43am On Apr 08, 2019
If you wish not to take last, Learn Warri ,Benin or Port Harcourt/Bayelsa Pigeon English
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Ayotemide(f): 10:43am On Apr 08, 2019
Many Languages are learnt by being with native speakers, I know a lot of Igbo and Hausa people who speak fluently in Yoruba by their daily interactions, so there is nothing to fear.

Learn your native tongue which is Igbo to help transmit its knowledge to your children if you so wish; but I assure you staying with/living in Cities like Lagos (SW Nigeria) or Kano (Northern Nigeria) you would gain mastery of the local languages over time.

You should also know that living in Nigeria would see you speak a lot of English though;

I salute your dedication to know your mother tongue; that is in itself commendable.

3 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by nullboss: 10:44am On Apr 08, 2019
Are you mad??

1 Like

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Enemyofpeace: 10:45am On Apr 08, 2019
Learn Fulani so as to know how to defend yourself from Fulani herdsmen
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Abbeyjaiyeola(m): 10:46am On Apr 08, 2019
Whenever you are ready, I can teach you both Yoruba and Hausa. ���
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Upaka(f): 10:46am On Apr 08, 2019
Yoruba is easier. The grammar is not filtered with inflections like English. You can easily find books and scholarly works on Yoruba language. You can also communicate with people around you to help facilitate the learning.
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by ruffhandu: 10:47am On Apr 08, 2019
Did you say
uchefefe:
Hello!


Igbo
As an Igbo person, it makes sense for me to prioritize my language. I don't want to just sit there confused and lost during family gatherings, I also want to be able to speak to my grandparents who don't understand English well. That's really the only positives of Igbo though , even excluding the past experiences mention above, I've over all become disheartened by the idea of learning the language for a variety of reasons.


The bolded makes me doubt if you are truly an Igbo Person, or perhaps there is something you are yet to tell.

3 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by ThothHermes: 10:47am On Apr 08, 2019
Opiletool:
Op, as for your future questions, one step at a time is all I can tell you. Learn igbo first, since you say you often find yoruba speakers willing to teach you yoruba, you can also pick one or two words during a conversation. However, devote more time to learning Igbo. Who knows, your kids might even be more passionate than you in their time. And I believe the Igbo language is not gonna die. Stop worrying about future events, when you get to that bridge, you will cross it.

Another suggestion I would like to make is, listen to Igbo songs, then ask any igbo person around you for the meaning of some expressions. That will also help.
A lot of sentimental people on the thread. You can't fight evolution.

It is dying and will die grin

1 Like

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by ThothHermes: 10:49am On Apr 08, 2019
Okuda:
you must be a badly brought up child. you are igbo but looking for a nigerian language to learn? what happened to your dads roots?
If you had bothered to read the thread, you would not have said this rubbish

5 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by IamaNigerianGuy(m): 10:50am On Apr 08, 2019
adecz:
cool cool

You are Ibo, if you want to learn
a Nigerian language, you should start
from your own.

You don't know the sociopolitical dynamics
of language & ethnicity in Africa or
Nigeria, that's why you are even contemplating
Hausa or Yoruba.

Your dad is doing you a great disservice.

Best advice you'll get right there.
Trying to learn hausa or yoruba in your situation is like a mexican american who doesn't speak spanish trying to learn chinese.
Learn your mother tongue

4 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by yoged(m): 10:50am On Apr 08, 2019
Try and learn Yoruba. 70% of igbo speaks Yoruba while 30% of Hausa speaks Yoruba .. Omo yoruba lemi oooooo
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Ayotemide(f): 10:50am On Apr 08, 2019
Okuda:
you must be a badly brought up child. you are igbo but looking for a nigerian language to learn? what happened to your dads roots?

If you read that article, comprehension shouldn't be this far from you.

8 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by erico2k2(m): 10:50am On Apr 08, 2019
DonGtoG1:
Whichever language you choose to learn depends on what you want to use it for! .


No big deal about this FTC self!.
Dem nor dey pay FTC on Monday only Friday, try then and receive alert! grin grin
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by uuzba(m): 10:50am On Apr 08, 2019
uchefefe:
Hello!

For background, I was born to a Igbo father and a black American mother. I grew up in the U.S., and because my father didn't teach me anything about Nigeria, for the first part of my life I didn't even know I belonged to another culture. As I got a bit older I would question him about things pertaining to Nigeria; his response was "that's not important" or "don't ask such questions, focus on your book instead". At some point I asked him if he spoke another language. He confirmed that he did, but when I asked him to teach me he told me "no one speaks it, instead we just use English" and I accepted that answer.

I had a revelation one day in middle school when eating lunch with one of my friends. Like me she was born in the U.S., but had Chinese parents. We had gone to school together for nearly 10 years, so I was shocked when one day she picked up a phone call from her grandmother and spoke to her in fluent Chinese. When I questioned her on how she learned, she told me that her parents had been teaching her. That way, if she ever goes to China she won't struggle to communicate with her people, and if she chooses not to go she'll at least be able to talk with her grandparents that don't know English.

This impassioned me and that evening when my father came home from work I begged him to teach me Igbo, even though "no one speaks it". He agreed and taught me simple phrases like "kedu", "afa m bu", and "o di mma". The thing is, which it was nice to know these things I could not actually use them to communicate. I didn't understand Igbo grammar and my vocabulary was limited to basic greetings. When I began asking him the name of household items and chores he became angry with me. He told me I was focusing on Igbo and not my books (even though my grades were great), and that he'll punish me if I keep asking so I stopped.

Getting more so to the point, I'm now a graduate student in my early 20's. While I have tried my best to study Igbo, I have met many frustrations that have led me to investigate Hausa and Yoruba. At this point, it simply pains me that when I meet people from my country, I have no means of communicating with people from my country besides English. I plan on moving to Nigeria in the not-so-distant future, and when I go I want to be fluent is something.

Between the three major languages, the arguments I have for each are:

Igbo
As an Igbo person, it makes sense for me to prioritize my language. I don't want to just sit there confused and lost during family gatherings, I also want to be able to speak to my grandparents who don't understand English well. That's really the only positives of Igbo though, even excluding the past experiences mention above, I've over all become disheartened by the idea of learning the language for a variety of reasons.

Yoruba
One thing I like about Yoruba language is that Yoruba people seem to have put a lot of effort into developing it and teaching it. Most Nigerians I've met in the U.S. that speak a Nigerian language speak Yoruba, despite the fact that I've met mostly Igbo people. In addition, of Nigerians I've met also born in the U.S., only the Yoruba's are able to speak their language. Despite that, my family roots are in the South East. I may be able to speak with more Nigerians by learning Yoruba, but I'll still be disconnected from my family. Yoruba people might seem to have less of a "complex" when it comes to their language than Igbo people, but I have observed it's still there.

Hausa
I've only ever met one Hausa family in the U.S., but from what I've observed in Nigeria they seem to practice their language the most. In addition, it seems like Hausa is a lingua franca for most of the country, and many non-Hausas are fluent in the language. Hausa is one of the few sources I can find unadulterated practice of the language. It's also West Africa's most spoken indigenous languages. It still has the same problems a Yoruba though when it comes to connecting with my family. I also don't know how realistic it is to expect to live in the Northern Part of Nigeria as I have limited experience there.

Like I said, I want to move to Nigeria at some point and that's where I want to raise a family and start a career. When I have children I don't want them to grow up like me. I want them to be connected to their people and be able to communicate with them on a level no other group in the world can. I can tell my children to love and embrace African culture and languages when I know none myself.

I decided to come here for insight from other Nigerians as I have no one to talk to about this in real life. Given everything I've said what do you think I should do? At the end of the day I just want a sense connectivity and belonging among my people. I want to put my efforts into learning a language its speakers wholly embrace so I can pass it on to my children.

Also, I don't intend for this to be tribalistic at all. I would also appreciate if responses avoided tribalistic sentiments.
.
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by FreemanUYB(m): 10:51am On Apr 08, 2019
I recommend you learn Fulani

this will help you excel in Nigeria

Fulani is the Central language for Nigerian's

any were they are the are the leaders


if you know you know!!!

Fulani are only known for dumbness ( thank God you are educated)
Igbo's are known for their smartness in scamming people ( maybe that's why your father don't want to relate it to you)
Yoruba offcours are skull miners ( its widely known ) AFONJA!!!

the Hausa's are the most useless of all

they just don't do all this !!!

so learn Fulani or akwa ibom

my opinion !!!!

please don't quote me am not feeling fine!!!
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by CourtierJay: 10:54am On Apr 08, 2019
How about getting someone in Nigeria to speak to always, that's if you wanna learn how to speak Igbo. Cos for lack of speakers and 'teachers' you are discouraged from the language. I know a lot of people that can give you 20minutes of their time each day so you can converse with them in the language. That's a sure good way to learn the language I guess. I mean there's WhatsApp, theirs Skype and all. You can use these platforms to your benefit as regards the subject matter. My 2cents.
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by zlantanfan: 10:55am On Apr 08, 2019
If your dad says its not important i believe he actually wants you away from the Nigeria system.

Trust me nothing spectacular about what you bother yourself with, your friend case is different.

Just learn pidgin, its enough to get along with majority anywhere in southern Nigeria

4 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by derealj(m): 10:57am On Apr 08, 2019
uchefefe:


I know Nigerian Pidgin fairly well actually.



I do plan on learning all of them someday. I don't want to just scratch the surface with them though; I want to learn them deeply and fluently. It is difficult to balance that with also working on my doctorate. I will take what you said into account thought, that may be a good approach!



See I really do want to, but it feels as though it has so many more obstacles than the other languages. Learning in the U.S. I have to use books and dictionaries that use Izugbe. Because Izugbe isn't a real dialect I've learned Igbo that no one actually uses to speak. The first time I went to Nigeria and tried talking with my aunts and uncles, none of them understood what I was trying to say becuase Izugbe is so different compared to their dialect. There's also olilo uduame which makes it incredible difficult for me to understand what people are saying. On top of that, Igbo people seem really reluctant to help or even speak the language (at least abroad). I grew up outside of Ala Igbo, but I did belong to a small Igbo community with around 30 adults. I asked all of them and only one was actually willing to help me after my father refused to teach me, the rest just dismissed me. In addition, all the Igbo people in my generation I've met at colleges can't speak Igbo. Even many of my cousins don't speak the language despite being born and raised in Ala Igbo. My experience is limited, so I ask is the language really thiving and worth learning like the other two?

I don't know why your pops refused to teach you Igbo, but what you wrote here shows you are really putting in a lot of effort. Nevertheless languages are best learned orally, so find someone to teach you that Igbo over there.

6 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by madridsta007(m): 10:57am On Apr 08, 2019
uchefefe:
Hello!

For background, I was born to a Igbo father and a black American mother. I grew up in the U.S., and because my father didn't teach me anything about Nigeria, for the first part of my life I didn't even know I belonged to another culture. As I got a bit older I would question him about things pertaining to Nigeria; his response was "that's not important" or "don't ask such questions, focus on your book instead". At some point I asked him if he spoke another language. He confirmed that he did, but when I asked him to teach me he told me "no one speaks it, instead we just use English" and I accepted that answer.

I had a revelation one day in middle school when eating lunch with one of my friends. Like me she was born in the U.S., but had Chinese parents. We had gone to school together for nearly 10 years, so I was shocked when one day she picked up a phone call from her grandmother and spoke to her in fluent Chinese. When I questioned her on how she learned, she told me that her parents had been teaching her. That way, if she ever goes to China she won't struggle to communicate with her people, and if she chooses not to go she'll at least be able to talk with her grandparents that don't know English.

This impassioned me and that evening when my father came home from work I begged him to teach me Igbo, even though "no one speaks it". He agreed and taught me simple phrases like "kedu", "afa m bu", and "o di mma". The thing is, which it was nice to know these things I could not actually use them to communicate. I didn't understand Igbo grammar and my vocabulary was limited to basic greetings. When I began asking him the name of household items and chores he became angry with me. He told me I was focusing on Igbo and not my books (even though my grades were great), and that he'll punish me if I keep asking so I stopped.

Getting more so to the point, I'm now a graduate student in my early 20's. While I have tried my best to study Igbo, I have met many frustrations that have led me to investigate Hausa and Yoruba. At this point, it simply pains me that when I meet people from my country, I have no means of communicating with people from my country besides English. I plan on moving to Nigeria in the not-so-distant future, and when I go I want to be fluent is something.

Between the three major languages, the arguments I have for each are:

Igbo
As an Igbo person, it makes sense for me to prioritize my language. I don't want to just sit there confused and lost during family gatherings, I also want to be able to speak to my grandparents who don't understand English well. That's really the only positives of Igbo though, even excluding the past experiences mention above, I've over all become disheartened by the idea of learning the language for a variety of reasons.

Yoruba
One thing I like about Yoruba language is that Yoruba people seem to have put a lot of effort into developing it and teaching it. Most Nigerians I've met in the U.S. that speak a Nigerian language speak Yoruba, despite the fact that I've met mostly Igbo people. In addition, of Nigerians I've met also born in the U.S., only the Yoruba's are able to speak their language. Despite that, my family roots are in the South East. I may be able to speak with more Nigerians by learning Yoruba, but I'll still be disconnected from my family. Yoruba people might seem to have less of a "complex" when it comes to their language than Igbo people, but I have observed it's still there.

Hausa
I've only ever met one Hausa family in the U.S., but from what I've observed in Nigeria they seem to practice their language the most. In addition, it seems like Hausa is a lingua franca for most of the country, and many non-Hausas are fluent in the language. Hausa is one of the few sources I can find unadulterated practice of the language. It's also West Africa's most spoken indigenous languages. It still has the same problems a Yoruba though when it comes to connecting with my family. I also don't know how realistic it is to expect to live in the Northern Part of Nigeria as I have limited experience there.

Like I said, I want to move to Nigeria at some point and that's where I want to raise a family and start a career. When I have children I don't want them to grow up like me. I want them to be connected to their people and be able to communicate with them on a level no other group in the world can. I can tell my children to love and embrace African culture and languages when I know none myself.

I decided to come here for insight from other Nigerians as I have no one to talk to about this in real life. Given everything I've said what do you think I should do? At the end of the day I just want a sense connectivity and belonging among my people. I want to put my efforts into learning a language its speakers wholly embrace so I can pass it on to my children.

Also, I don't intend for this to be tribalistic at all. I would also appreciate if responses avoided tribalistic sentiments.

You are Igbo, possibly bearing an Igbo name, Igbo people have a language, YET you are wondering what language you are to learn in your attempt to learn a Nigerian language?

Is this a question, really?

If you are French through your paternal lineage and you want to learn a language, will you start by learning French so you will understand your people more and the country or start by learning Kiswahilli of East Africa? Of course, what is logical is French!
Hence, why is this a question?

4 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Proffdada: 10:57am On Apr 08, 2019
Olu20090:


Smells like an Afonja unity beggar aka One Nigerian deceiving you. Biafrans, how could you people not sense this? My people why, SMH! I have known these people all my life, so I know when I read their post. This is a certified afonja! No sensible Igbo man believes in this country. I said none if they are honest with themselves and Chukwu Okike Abiama (God of Abraham)
you prefer to wallow in the same ignorance you were brought up in. I know you would be nothing less than a racist if you were born to a white family . People like you make the world a better place in their absence.

5 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Evangkatsoulis: 10:58am On Apr 08, 2019
uchefefe:
Hello!


Getting more so to the point, I'm now a graduate student in my early 20's. While I have tried my best to study Igbo, I have met many frustrations that have led me to investigate Hausa and Yoruba. At this point, it simply pains me that when I meet people from my country, I have no means of communicating with people from my country besides English. I plan on moving to Nigeria in the not-so-distant future, and when I go I want to be fluent is something.

Between the three major languages, the arguments I have for each are:

Igbo
As an Igbo person, it makes sense for me to prioritize my language. I don't want to just sit there confused and lost during family gatherings, I also want to be able to speak to my grandparents who don't understand English well. That's really the only positives of Igbo though, even excluding the past experiences mention above, I've over all become disheartened by the idea of learning the language for a variety of reasons.

Yoruba
One thing I like about Yoruba language is that Yoruba people seem to have put a lot of effort into developing it and teaching it. Most Nigerians I've met in the U.S. that speak a Nigerian language speak Yoruba, despite the fact that I've met mostly Igbo people. In addition, of Nigerians I've met also born in the U.S., only the Yoruba's are able to speak their language. Despite that, my family roots are in the South East. I may be able to speak with more Nigerians by learning Yoruba, but I'll still be disconnected from my family. Yoruba people might seem to have less of a "complex" when it comes to their language than Igbo people, but I have observed it's still there.

Hausa
I've only ever met one Hausa family in the U.S., but from what I've observed in Nigeria they seem to practice their language the most. In addition, it seems like Hausa is a lingua franca for most of the country, and many non-Hausas are fluent in the language. Hausa is one of the few sources I can find unadulterated practice of the language. It's also West Africa's most spoken indigenous languages. It still has the same problems a Yoruba though when it comes to connecting with my family. I also don't know how realistic it is to expect to live in the Northern Part of Nigeria as I have limited experience there.

Like I said, I want to move to Nigeria at some point and that's where I want to raise a family and start a career. When I have children I don't want them to grow up like me. I want them to be connected to their people and be able to communicate with them on a level no other group in the world can. I can tell my children to love and embrace African culture and languages when I know none myself.

I decided to come here for insight from other Nigerians as I have no one to talk to about this in real life. Given everything I've said what do you think I should do? At the end of the day I just want a sense connectivity and belonging among my people. I want to put my efforts into learning a language its speakers wholly embrace so I can pass it on to my children.


You don't have to learn any nigerian language.
The standard language in Nigeria is English(British english) and pidgin english.
You weren't born or bred in Nigeria, you likely know no body here. So forget about your Nigerian roots and move on.
Unless you want to stay in underdeveloped erosion-ridden south yeastern area of Nigeria you do not need Igbo.
Abuja, Lagos and Ph are the active places in Nigeria and you don't need any local language to go through.

1 Like

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by MicroBox: 10:58am On Apr 08, 2019
That is not US style of writing.
Go learn igala

3 Likes

Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by Oluwakaysblog55: 10:59am On Apr 08, 2019
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Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by ken6488(m): 11:01am On Apr 08, 2019
None if you wanna survive here
Re: As A Nigerian-american, I Would Like Insight On Which Language To Learn by RTSC: 11:01am On Apr 08, 2019
You are igbo - a major language in Nigeria.
And you are asking which language to learn?

I am igbo, but some of the most stupid people I have seen in my life are igbo.

A Yoruba can never ask a question like this.

5 Likes

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