E get several things wey dey make spoken Naija Pidgin difficult to comprehend for person wey neva train im ear. Variation in pronunciation (accents) déy. Variation in style and choice of words (register) déy. Code switching déy plenty. Elision, wey we go discuss for dis article, déy too.
Elision na wen dem omit one or more sounds for word or phrase. Wen dem dey pronounce all di words individually, dem go enunciate all di syllables. But wen dem dey use am for inside speech, dem fit leave out certain syllables. E déy important sey mek yu learn to detect elisions so dat yu go fit improve yor listening comprehension. Native speakers wey want improve dia Naija Pidgin writing go benefit too if dem fit understand and fit spot elisions.
Some common elisions for Naija Pidgin déy below:
want vs wan’
Wen anoda word dey follow want, dem dey usually omit di /t/ sound. Wen dem dey use want end sentence, dem dey pronounce di /t/.
Examples:
- I wan’ chop rice. / I want chop rice.
- Na rice I want.
hold vs hol’
Dem dey usually omit di /d/ sound for hold.
Examples:
- Na only 50k I hol’. / Na only 50k I hold.
- Mek yu hol’ im hand o.
dat vs da’
Dem dey usually omit di /t/ sound for dat.
Examples:
- Wich kind yeye question be da’? / Wich kind yeye question be dat?
- Da’ woman too sabi. / Dat woman too sabi.
get vs ge’
Wen anoda word dey follow get, dem dey usually omit di /t/ sound. Wen dem dey use get end sentence, dem dey pronounce di /t/.
Examples:
- E ge’ something wey I want show yu. / E get something wey I want show yu.
- Wetin yu want get?
just vs jus’
Dem dey usually omit di /t/ sound for just.
Examples:
- Dis guy jus’ dey vex me. / Dis guy just dey vex me.
mek I vs m’a
Mek I dey contract to m’a.
Examples:
- M’a no see yu for dis house again o. / Mek I no see yu for dis house again o.
mek we vs m’o
Mek we dey contract to m’o.
Examples:
- M’o find something chop. / Mek we find something chop.
kind/kind of vs kin’
Dem dey omit di /d/ sound for kind and kind of.
Examples:
- I no dey like dis kin’ thing. / I no dey like dis kind thing.
- Wich kin’ car yu get? / Wich kind of car yu get?
fit vs fi’
Wen anoda word dey follow fit, dem dey usually omit di /t/ sound. Wen dem dey use fit end sentence, dem dey pronounce di /t/.
Examples:
- Oga, yu fi’ find me urgent 2k? / Oga, yu fit find me urgent 2k?
- Bro, I no fit.
find vs fin’
Dem dey omit di /d/ sound for find.
Examples:
- Abeg fain something wey yu go chop. / Abeg find something wey yu go chop.
- Na money I dey fain. / Na money I dey find.
leave me vs li’me
Leave me dey contract to li’me.
Examples:
- Abeg li’me o. / Abeg leave me o.
I déy vs a’dé
I déy dey contract to a’dé.
Examples:
- A’dé kankpe my brother. / I déy kankpe my brother.