by Hammed Sonny | Jul 18, 2022 | Africa
The Hausa Language is vital to the west and central African language system, being the lingua franca within these regions. It is spoken by the Hausa people and is part of the Chadic language family.
Language status
Hausa is an incredibly wide spoken language. It is estimated that 47 million people speak it as a first language, with a further 25 million adopting it as their second tongue. Out of the 47 million around 19 million of the native speakers reside in Nigeria alone. It is in fact, one of the largest scale languages in Africa.
Hausa is used richly within business and commerce settings, as well as through the media and government. In terms of education, Hausa is used within lower education settings, but higher educational facilities will typically use the English language.
As time passes, more and more media outlets, such as newspapers are beginning to distribute exclusive Hausa material.
Where is it spoken?
Hausa people mainly reside in regions such as Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Sudan, Congo and Benin- these are the areas in which you will typically find the language being utilised.
Historical background
Nobody is 100% certain on the definitive origins of Hausa and its people, however there are multiple theories that provide an explanation on the derivation of the dialects.
One theory suggests that Hausa people once resided exclusively near Lake Chad, but due to a drop in water levels, the residents were forced to move. The language was then developed over many years, with the result now being a hugely popular language for many African people.
Varying dialects
As with any language, there are different dialects that account for the Hausa language. Despite its status as a largely spoken language, there is only a small number of dialects which are based upon region.
Eastern: Kano, Katagum and Hadejiya
Western: Sokoto, Katsina, Gobirawa, Adarawa, Kebbawa and Zamfarawa
Northern: Arewa and Arawa
The standard Hausa language is based on the Kano dialect, which is the most widely spoken variation within Nigeria. This is the type most typically heard on the television and radio.
Final Thoughts
Hausa is an extremely popular and historical language which has evolved over the years. The Hausa people have been present for centuries, and now have a vital place within the rich culture of Africa.
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by Hammed Sonny | Jul 12, 2022 | Creole
Creole languages develop initially as a mode of communication between speakers of different languages, initially in the form of a pidgin language. In the cases of some of the languages mentioned in this article, like Jamaican Creole or Nigerian Pidgin, the need for this form of language arose from the colonisation of the Caribbean and Africa by the British Empire and France. Unlike pidgin languages, creole languages are typically spoken as a first language and become official languages, with specific grammatical rules and structures, as well as changes in syntax and pronunciation.
Nigerian Pidgin
Despite what its name might suggest, Nigerian Pidgin, also known as Naijá, is a creole language. In fact, it is one of the most widely spoken creole languages in the world, with 30 million Pidgin speakers worldwide. Although Nigerian Pidgin doesn’t have an official status, it is used by the BBC online and for news broadcasts as part of BBC News Pidgin. There are several different Nigerian Pidgin dialects, such as Lagos Pidgin, Delta Pidgin, Cross River Pidgin, and Benin Pidgin. The language also shares some similarities with the Krio creole language spoken in Sierra Leone and Cameroon Pidgin. Nigerian Pidgin also shares some similarities with other creole languages, such as the use of the word “dey” (“is” and “are”) in both Haitian Creole and Nigerian Pidgin. It also features compounding, the process of combining words form other languages to make new words. For instance, the Nigerian Pidign word “boku-bai” combines French and English words to create a new word meaning “wholesale”.
Here are some useful phrases in Nigerian Pidgin:
- How you dey? – How are you?
- I wan chop – I want to eat
- I dey fine – I’m fine
- Notin spoil – All is well
- Abeg – Please
- I Sabi – I understand
Haitian Creole
Originally spoken by West African slaves and French settlers in Haiti, Haitian Creole has developed into a language with a variety of different linguistic influences, such as French, Kwa languages, Bantu languages, Wolof, and Éwé. Haitian Creole is the official language of Haiti and is also a recognised minority language in the Bahamas. Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. One example of the influence of French on Haitian Creole is the process of agglutination (combining of words) and the impact it has had on words borrowed from French. For instance, the word “river” in Haitian Creole is “larivyè”, from the French “la rivière”. Other examples include the word “tèt (head)”, similar to the French “tête” (head), as well as the word “vyann” (meat), which bears a similarity to the French word “viande” (meat). Haitian Creole is written using a Latin script and with a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order. There are two primary Haitian Creole dialects, known as Fablas, and Plateau Haitian Creole.
Here are some useful phrases in Haitian Creole:
- Byen venu – Welcome
- Bonjou – Hello
- Sak pase? – How are you?
- Koman ou rele? – What’s your name?
- M rele… – My name is…
- Ki kote ou sòti? – Where are you from?
Jamaican Patois
Also known as Jamaican Creole, Jamaican Patois is an English-based creole language that originates from the 17th and 18th century. There are 2.6 million Jamaican Patois speakers in Jamaica, and an estimated 3 million speakers globally. In addition to this, there are significant populations of Patois speakers in Costa Rica, where there are 55,100 speakers, and 268,000 speakers in Panama. Like Haitian Creole, the Jamaican Patois language has been influenced by African languages, such as Akan, Igbo, and Wolof, as well as English. Jamaican Patois shares some similar pronunciations with English, such as the word “sumadi” (somebody), “moni” (money), and “ier” (hear). The language also features the use of compounding, for instance, “yeye-wata” (literally meaning eye water, or tears). Some Jamaican Patois words that have been borrowed from Akan include “duppy” (meaning a malevolent ghost or spirit) and “anansi” (spider). Like English, Jamaican Patois uses a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order and a Latin script.
Here are some useful phrases in Jamaican Patois:
- Waa gwaan – What’s going on?
- Wah yuh name? – What’s your name?
- Mi deh… – I’m from…
- Nice fi meet yuh – Nice to meet you
- Gud mawnin – Good morning
- Gud luck – Good luck
Kituba
Kituba is a creole language of Central Africa with French, Lingala, Zaire Swahilli and Portuguese influences. Most Kituba speakers live in the Democratic Republic of Congo and there are approximately 5.5million native speakers world-wide. It developed from the trade language, Kimanyanga, which was used within the trade routes that extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The workers who constructed railroads in the 19th century were hired from all over central Africa, adding their own languages to the mix and creating a new vernacular, Kituba. It is now one of the four major indigenous languages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is spoken in urban centres.
Here are some useful phrases in Kituba:
- Mbote – Hello.
- Zina na nge nani? – What is your name?
- Zina na mono… – My name is…
- Mono ke longuka Kituba. – I am learning Kituba.
- Ebwe nge? – How are you?
- Mono kea be ve – I don’t understand.
Betawi
Betawi, also known as Betawi Malay is spoken by over 5 million people, mainly in Indonesia. It is an informal language developed from 19th century Malay-based Creole. During the era of the Dutch East Indies, Jakarta was called Batavia, which is where Betawi gets its name. It is a combination of Malay, Hokkien, Arabic, Portuguese, and Dutch. Betawi is divided into two main dialects, the more popular Kota and Udik which is concentrated in the suburbs. Betawi is the basis for most slang in Jakarta.
Here are some useful phrases in Betawi:
- Apa Kabare? – What’s up?
- Mo Kemane? – Where to go?
- Begimane Kabarnye? – How’s it going?
Antillean Creole
Antillean Creole is based on French but incorporates Carib and African languages and is spoken mainly in the Lesser Antilles. As English becomes more widespread, the number of people speaking Antillean Creole deteriorates, however, there are certain efforts to maintain its use. Each year at the end of October, St. Lucians celebrate their pride in their Creole language and identity through the festival of ‘Jounen Kweyol’. Furthermore, there has been a literary revival using Antillean Creole in the past few decades due to writers such as Monchoachi. Antillean Creole originated during the era of slavery. Slaves from different parts of Africa were forced to communicate despite not knowing one another’s languages or that of their French slave owners. The combination of these languages become Antillean Creole and spread across the Caribbean.
Here are some useful phrases in Antillean Creole:
- Bonjou – Hello.
- Souplé –
- Mèsi – Thank you.
- Eskizé mwen – Excuse me.
- Jodi-a sé an bel jounin. – Today is a beautiful day.
- Ka ou fè? – How are you?
Concluding Thoughts
Creole languages encapsulate a contentious area of history from the perspective of the colonised and those forced into labour. These individuals have adapted to rapidly changing cultural environments to sustain a semblance of their identity while communicating with a vast number of new people. In modern times these languages are often a point of pride, celebrated as a symbol of unity and survival. To learn one of these languages is to overtly analyse an array of interactions between cultures in every word. Should you require a Creole / Krio interpreter or translator, visit Crystal Clear Translation for a quote.
by Hammed Sonny | Jun 16, 2022 | Africa
Edo, also known as Bini, is part of the Niger-Congo language family and is spoken primarily in Edo State, Nigeria, notably in the capital of Edo State, Benin City. The language is spoken by 1.64 million people in Nigeria and globally by an estimated 1,641,670 speakers, by Edo people in the UK, the US, and Canada.
In addition to this, the Edo language is spoken throughout Nigerian society. It is taught in primary and secondary schools and used in different media such as television and radio. The Edo language is mainly used as a spoken or oral language, although it is used as a written language in textbooks, dictionaries, historical texts, and for a translation of the Bible. Edo is also the de facto language of provincial identity spoken in the Edo, Delta, and Ondo states.
Linguistic Features of the Edo Language
The Edo language is written using a Latin script and alphabet and utilises a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order. For instance, the sentence “Uyi is reading a book”, would be translated as “Uyi ti` Ebe” (Ebe is the Edo word for “book”). However, an object-subject-verb (OSV) is used in the Edo language for emphasis.
The alphabet of the Edo language is comprised of 24 vowels (a/e/ẹ/i/o/ọ/u) and consonants. Verbs in the Edo language start with a consonant, and often end using a vowel. For example, the verb “ka” (“to count”) and the verb “tue” (“to pour”). Also, pitch and intonation are a crucial aspect of the Edo language. High and low tones are indicated using different marks, such as “òwè” and “ówé”. The accents in the word “òwè” indicate a low intonation, which change the meaning of the word to “leg”. The same word pronounced using different accents, “ówé”, which indicates a high intonation, instead means “broom”.
The Edo language has influenced the Portuguese creole language spoken in the Gulf of Guinea, such as São Tomé, Príncipe, Annobon, and Angolar Creole. According to a study at the University of St Andrews, the Edo language is the key African language that has been used in the foundation of the Portuguese creole languages spoken in Guinea. In fact, 35% of words used in São Tomé Creole and 65% of words used in Príncipe Creole derive from the Edo language. The influence of Edo on the Gulf of Guinea creole languages can be observed in the use of article agglutination, which is used in Edo in the form of prefixes attached to nouns.
Key phrases in Edo
“Ób’ókhían” – Welcome
“Kóyo” – Hello
“Vbèè óye hé?” – How are you?
“Ób’ówie” – Good morning
“Ób’ávàn” – Good afternoon
“Ób’ ótà” – Good evening
“Ù rú èsé” – Thank you
The History of the Edo Language
The Edo language remains true to its traditional routes to this day. The Benin kingdom is thought to have been established in the eight century, when a group of migrants relocated from the Nile river to Nigeria. Much of the rich cultural history derives from political and religious status within the kingdom of Benin. As more and more migrants began to come into Nigeria, the kingdom flourished, with the birth of the Edo language. Although the language has developed since the early days of the formation of the kingdom, the Edo people are very set in the ways of tradition.
The Edo People
Sometimes known as the Benin people, the Edo group of people are most commonly found in southern Nigeria. In terms of faith, the majority of Edo people are Christian, however a small number are Muslim. Most of the Edo live in very small settlements, such as towns and hamlets. Within these settings, the people live traditionally, keeping livestock and crops whilst living off the land.
Young male residents in each village are divided into age categories, with the younger groups attending school. Teenage males are typically workers, contributing to the community by completing maintenance jobs such as general cleaning of the outdoor areas. Once they reach adult status, they are expected to take on larger jobs like building and roofing.
Another interesting fact to note about Edo life is the presence of a village headsman. Typically, this will be the oldest man in the village- he will also serve as the community priest. The Edo people respect this figure highly, as they would a king.
In Conclusion
Edo is a language of rich cultural background and influence. From what began as a small settlement, it has grown into a widely spoken tongue with millions of speakers, not just those of Nigeria but worldwide. As the language begins to develop, sacred traditions are still upheld within the communities. With the extensive Edo population thriving and the spread of the language, there is a definite need for interpretation and translation. Should you require an Edo interpreter or translator, visit Crystal Clear Translation for a quote.
by Hammed Sonny | May 27, 2022 | Languages
(Written by Callum Madle)
With user numbers of language learning apps like Duolingo up 67% globally and up 132% in the UK in the last few years, more and more people are accessing the chance to learn a language through an app. Unlike more traditional language learning methods, language learning apps are more easily accessible, flexible, and quite a lot cheaper compared to their offline equivalents. But can language learning through an app really provide the same experience and benefits that come with traditional language classes? What other disadvantages might language learning apps present? Let’s find out!
What are the pros of language learning apps?
Flexible schedules
Rather than worrying about being able to make time for an in-person or online language class, mobile apps provide their users with a lot more flexibility. With a class that relies on a teacher at a specific set time, you might have to make time in your schedule which could impact on your downtime. On the other hand, when using an app, there aren’t these same problems, as you can simply open the app and complete a language learning activity for 10-15 minutes in your own time and move on with the rest of your day. In addition to this, you are in control of what you learn via an app, whereas a teacher sets the curriculum, and you would not have the same level of control.
Apps can be used anywhere
Unlike in-person or online classes, a language learner can use their app wherever they like! You could be at home, on your break at work, maybe even in the queue at the shops. As long as you have decent connection to the internet, you can access a language learning app wherever you want to and at whatever time you like, removing a lot of the time pressures that can arise from equivalent language learning classes.
Using an app is cheaper
Although some apps like Babbel are only free for a limited time, there are completely free versions of apps like Duolingo and Busuu. Even when you might have to pay to use a language learning app, the price of a premium version is significantly cheaper than an in-person language class. If pricing is a concern for a new language learner, then an app might be a significantly more practical way to start learning a language.
What are the cons of language learning apps?
No feedback from teachers or human interaction
In a language class, you can get feedback from your teacher and specific solutions to problems you might be facing when learning a language. When it comes to learning a language thorugh an app, there isn’t the same chance for feedback which greatly inhibit your ability to learn consistently and efficiently. Unlike a teacher, when a learner gets a question wrong on a language learning app, the app will inform only the learner that they have answered a question wrong, but not specifically why their answer is wrong.
Switching apps for books, music, or TV when learning a new language
It might sound strange, but another potentially more efficient way to learn a language is through consuming media in another language, acquiring language skills through a comprehensible input. According to the linguistic Stephen Krashen, when a language learner is exposed to comprehensible input (reading, listening, or viewing material), they understand the meaning of what is being said, rather than focusing on structure or grammar. However, Krashen argued that the material you read, view, or listen must be compelling to the language learner, referring to students who made improvements in learning Mandarin after finding stories they wanted to read in the language. When it comes to app-based learning, it’s possible that a language learner might be provided with content they aren’t interest in, and subsequently lose interest in learning the language at all.
No interaction with native speakers
Language learning apps don’t provide the opportunity to talk to someone who is a native speaker of a language. Bernhard Niesner, the founder of one of the most popular language learning apps, Busuu, admitted that “the best way to learn a language is to be in the country, and be fully able to speak with native speakers”. Unlike an app, talking to a native speaker of a language can help a language learner to practise their accent and pronunciation by listening to the native speaker, and listening to the specific way that they pronounce words in a way that can’t be replicated with an app. This process, known as “shadowing” uses repetition, by getting the language earner to repeat what the native speaker is saying, which could potentially help improve one’s fluency, by reinforcing the speech patterns and pauses in the way a native speaker communicates.
Completely dependent on the internet
Many language learning apps are connected to stable servers, which are very unlikely to go down suddenly. However, if your home Wi-Fi internet connection crashes, your experience with using an app might be greatly affected. Moreover, if you have poor internet connection in your home in the first place, you might not be able to consider using language learning apps at all.
Concluding Thoughts
There are some obvious benefits to language learning via an app, such as the lack of time constraints, flexibility, and the vast difference in price between teacher-based classes and subscribing to the premium version of a language learning app. If you are choosing to learn over a long period of time, or just to learn a few language basics then app-based learning might be preferable. However, learning a language through an app won’t provide the same person-to-person interaction that comes with classes, or talking to a native speaker, and will be unable to provide the same immersion that comes with consuming media in a foreign language.
by Hammed Sonny | Apr 27, 2022 | Turkic
The Turkic language family, a part of the Altaic language family, consists of 23 different languages, spoken by close to 200 million people, throughout Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, as well as many Asian regions. The earliest written example of the Turkic language were inscriptions found in Mongolia, near the Orhon River, dating from the 8th century, written in Old Turkic. Six Turkic languages have been officially recognised as the official language of their country (Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Turkmen, Uzbek, Turkish, Kyrgyz).
The different Turkic languages can be categorised by their geographic location into six different groups: Oghuz (Southwestern), Kipchak (Northwestern), Karluk (Southeastern), Siberian (Northeastern), Oghur and Arghu. Some of the languages spoken most prominently in the six different groups are Turkish, Turkmen, Azeri (Oghuz), Tatar and Kazakh (Kipchak), Uzbek and Uyghur (Karluk), and Yakut (Siberian).
Similarities
There are numerous similarities between the Turkic languages. Most of the Turkic languages have a shared vocabulary, phonology, morphology, and syntax. One such illustration of the similarities between the Turkic languages is their similar vowel harmony. Turkish and Azeri vowels, to give an example, consist of a,e,ı,i,o,ö,u,ü (Turkish) and a,e,é,ı,i,o,ö,u,ü (Azeri).
Regarding syntax, all the Turkic languages use the SOV (subject-object-verb) word order, however if an adjective is used to describe a noun, it precedes the noun in the order of the sentence. For example, the Turkish proverb “Ağır kazan geç kaynar” (“the heavy cauldron takes longer to boil”, meaning “great things are done slowly”) ends with the verb “kaynamak” (to boil) and begins with the adjective “ağır” (heavy) followed by the subject of the sentence “kazan” (kettle). The translation of this proverb in other Turkic languages, like Azeri, Turkmen or Kazakh, follows the same word order rule: “Ağır qazan gec qaynayar” (Azeri), “Agyr gazan gic gaýnar” (Turkmen), “Awur qazan keş qaynaydi” (Kazakh).
Turkic languages are also agglutinative languages. This means that some words in the Turkic languages are formed through the morphological process of agglutination through which different words are combined to express a single meaning. In the Uzbek language, one might hear or see an agglutination like “tushunyapsizmi”, which translated to English literally means “understanding-you-do-?”, or “Do you understand?”. The compound phrase “tushun-yap-siz-mi” is formed by the combination of the morpheme “yap” (“-ing”), the verb stem “tushun-“ (to understand”), the singular informal pronoun “siz” (“you” ) and the question mark, “mi”.
Another good example of the shared similarities between the Turkic languages is their shared vocabulary. For example, this can be observed in the words for the numbers one to five in the Turkic languages:
Azerbaijani: bir, iki, üç, dörd, beş
Kazakh: bir, yeki, üsh, tort, bes
Kyrgyz: bir, iki, üch, tort, besh
Turkish: bir, iki, üç, dört, beş
Turkmen: bir, iki, uch, dört, besh
Uzbek: bit, ikki, uch, tort, besh
Differences
A primary example of the differences between the Turkic languages is the script and alphabets the languages use. Over the course of time, the scripts, or alphabet, used for the Turkic languages have differed. For instance, after many countries in which the Turkic languages were spoken became adopted Islam as their primary religion, the Arabic script was utilised by all Turkic-speaking people.
However, when many Turkic speaking countries became part of the Soviet Union in the 1920s, the Soviet government pursued a policy of Latinisation of the Soviet countries. This led to the introduction of the New Turkic Alphabet, which was used for a period during the 1920s and the 1930s, in the non-Slavic regions of the USSR, such as Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. By 1936, as part of the new Constitution of the Soviet Union, the Cyrillic alphabet was instead made the official alphabet of the Turkic languages, replacing the Latinised alphabet.
The Turkish language also underwent many different alterations as part of the reforms introduced by Kemal Atatürk, the first President of Turkey. Starting in 1928, the Turkish script, influenced by Persian and Arabic, was latinised and replaced with a new Latin alphabet which now constitutes the Modern Turkish language. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, some of the former Soviet countries such as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan have used the Latinised Turkish alphabet as the basis for the Latinisation of their languages.
The Oghuz, Karluk and Kipchak languages, such as those spoken in Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, all utilise a Latin script. Nonetheless, there are variations in the different scripts used within the different language groups. In the Oghuz group, the Azerbaijani language uses a Perso-Arabic alphabet instead of Latin. Moreover, in the Kipchak group, the Kyrgyz language uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Contrastingly, the Siberian Turkic languages, which are mainly spoken in Russia, use the Cyrillic alphabet.
Another example of the differences between the Turkic languages is the distinction between Common Turkic and Bulgar Turkic. The Common Turkic languages are those spoken by the majority of the Turkic language speaking population. However, around 1.4 million people in the Volga region of Russia speak a language known as Chuvash, the only surviving language from the Oghur branch of the Turkic languages. The Chuvash language uses a Cyrillic script, like Kyrgyz and the Siberian Turkic languages, but is classified as a ‘r’ language, whilst the Common Turkic languages are ‘z’ languages. This is the result of a linguistic phenomenon called rhotacism, which changes the speech sound from ‘z’ to ‘r’. Consequently, the letter ‘r’ is used for words in the Chuvash language, which in languages like Turkish use the letter z instead. For example, the Chuvash word for the number nine is “tăxxăr”, and the same word in Turkish is “dokuz”.
In Conclusion
The Turkic languages share some mutual intelligibility through similar vocabulary, a shared syntax order and other phonological similarities, like vowels, but it would be wrong to assume that every Turkic language is the same, especially if you are an interpreter or translator. One should recognise that within each Turkic language there are individual characteristics, such as different scripts, like Arabic, Cyrillic or Latin, or different historical contexts or influences, such as the influence of the USSR on Soviet Turkic languages. If you require translation or interpreting services in any of the Turkic languages, or any other language, you can get a quote here from Crystal Clear Translation.
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