There are several things that make spoken Nigerian Pidgin difficult for the untrained ear to comprehend. There’s the speed at which it’s spoken. There’s the variation in pronunciation (accents). There’s the variation in style and choice of words (register). There’s a lot of code switching involved. There’s also elision, which we’re going to discuss in this article.
Elision is the omission of one of more sounds in a word or phase. When the words are pronounced individually, all the syllables are usually enunciated. But when used in speech, certain syllables may be left out. It’s important to learn to detect elisions in order to improve your listening comprehension. Native speakers who want to improve their Nigerian Pidgin writing would also benefit from understanding and spotting elisions.
Below are some common elisions in Nigerian Pidgin:
want vs wan’
When want is followed by another word, the /t/ sound is usually omitted. When want terminates a sentence, the /t/ is pronounced.
Examples:
- I wan’ chop rice. / I want chop rice.
- I want to eat rice.
- Na rice I want.
- It’s rice I want.
hold vs hol’
The /d/ sound in hold is usually omitted.
Examples:
- Na only 50k I hol’. / Na only 50k I hold.
- I have just 50k left.
- Mek yu hol’ im hand o.
- You should guide him.
dat vs da’
The /t/ sound in dat is usually omitted.
Examples:
- Wich kind yeye question be da’? / Wich kind yeye question be dat?
- What kind of stupid question is that?
- Da’ woman too sabi. / Dat woman too sabi.
- That woman is very knowledgeable.
get vs ge’
When get is followed by another word, the /t/ sound is usually omitted. When get terminates a sentence, the /t/ is pronounced.
Examples:
- E ge’ something wey I want show yu. / E get something wey I want show yu.
- There’s something I want to show you.
- Wetin yu want get?
- What do you want to get?
just vs jus’
The /t/ sound in just is usually omitted.
Examples:
- Dis guy jus’ dey vex me. / Dis guy just dey vex me.
- This guy is making me angry.
mek I vs m’a
Mek I contracts to m’a.
Examples:
- M’a no see yu for dis house again o. / Mek I no see yu for dis house again o.
- Don’t come to this house anymore.
mek we vs m’o
Mek we contracts to m’o.
Examples:
- M’o find something chop. / Mek we find something chop.
- Let’s find something to eat.
kind/kind of vs kin’
The /d/ sound in kind and kind of is usually omitted.
Examples:
- I no dey like dis kin’ thing. / I no dey like dis kind thing.
- I don’t like these kinds of things.
- Wich kin’ car yu get? / Wich kind of car yu get?
- What kind of car do you have?
fit vs fi’
When fit is followed by another word, the /t/ sound is usually omitted. When it terminates a sentence, the /t/ is pronounced.
Examples:
- Oga, yu fi’ find me urgent 2k? / Oga, yu fit find me urgent 2k?
- Boss, could you borrow me 2k naira? It’s urgent!
- Bro, I no fit.
- Bro, I can’t.
find vs fin’
The /d/ sound in find is usually omitted.
Examples:
- Abeg fin’ something wey yu go chop. / Abeg find something wey yu go chop.
- Please find something to eat.
- Na money I dey fin’. / Na money I dey find.
- I’m looking for money.
leave me vs li’me
Leave me contracts to li’me.
Examples:
- Abeg li’me o. / Abeg leave me o.
- Please leave me alone.
I déy vs a’dé
I déy contracts to a’dé.
Examples:
- A’dé kankpe my brother. / I déy kankpe my brother.
- I’m good bro.