Nigeria is an African country that is developing at a fast pace. Many people agree to this as there is a huge change in the market. Functioning in this market can be challenging and in this multilingual and multicultural country, using the right language is important to operate well in the target region.
Let’s see and find out more about Nigerian languages:
History of Nigerian Languages
There’s plenty of history and also politics involved in the formation of the languages of Nigeria. It is interesting to know that Nigerians have English as an official language and this is a result of former colonial rule. English language is highly used for education and by the government and it is spoken as a second language by some 60 million Nigerians. However, in the northeast, only 1% of the population speaks Nigeria’s official language.
In terms of native speaker numbers, they are huge and belong to various dominant languages in Nigeria. Also, Nigeria’s history has led to the evolution of Nigerian Pidgin, which is an English-based creole. Nigeria’s hundreds of native languages can be sorted into just these language groups:
● Afroasiatic Language Group
● Niger-Congo Language Group
● Nilo-Saharan Language Group
● Indo-European Language Group
Nigeria ten years ago is not the same as its present state and with its development, there has been a huge change in the languages as well.
Official Language of Nigeria
English is the official language of Nigeria. When it is about language used in schools or government, English holds major importance. English has been Nigeria’s official language for decades and 50% to 70% of Nigerians speak English. It also has a distinctive form known as Nigerian Standard English and has Nigerian Pidgin that is used for day-to-day interactions in many parts of Nigeria.
However, less educated Nigerians who live in rural areas speak other languages, like Hausa, Kanuri Fulfulde, Bura, Shuwa Arabic, Marghi, Kare Kare, and Bachuma. When we talk about the hearing impaired citizens, they use Hausa, Nigerian, or Busa Sign Language.
Languages Of Nigeria
Nigeria is home to more than a hundred native languages and from which many of them have been around for several years. Here are the commonly known languages that are spoken in Nigeria:
a)- Hausa – With more than 60 million speakers, it is spoken largely by Nigeria’s Muslim population who resides in the Northern part of the country.
b)- Igbo – It is increasingly spoken in Equatorial Guinea by Nigerian migrants and has approx. 44 million speakers.
c)- Yoruba – There are 40 million speakers and Nigerians have spread the around the world and made it a popularly spoken language globally.
d)- Fulfulde – With 15 million speakers, it is spoken mainly in northern Nigeria by the Fulani diaspora.
e)- Kanuri – Kanuri has two main dialects and three tones and 5 million people speak it regularly.
f)- Tiv – Tiv have up to 4 million speakers and it is the largest of the Tivoid group of languages.
g)- Ijaw – The language speakers count up to 3 million speakers and it is traditionally spoken by the people in southern Nigeria.
h)- Edo – Edo is spoken in Edo State and dates back to Igodomigodo and currently it has 2 million speakers.
i)- Arabic – The Shuwa Arab community speaks Arabic in Nigeria and you’ll find 1 million speakers in Nigeria.
j)- Igala – Approx. 1 million speakers speak Igala in Kogi State. It is also spoken in bordering 10 other states as well.
k)- Annang – Annang is also called Western Ibibioa and has more than 1 million speakers in southern Nigeria.
Various Nigerian languages are left to mention and these ethnic languages are valuable in themselves. These carry the essence of a particular culture but the majority of them are under threat of extinction.
Ethnic Languages of Nigeria And Their Relevance
There are various languages in Nigeria and each ethnic language holds a valuable position as it is attached to a particular culture or the way of life. For so many years, English has been the popular language of Nigeria and this has put the other language under threat of extinction. There is also Pidgin English which is known as Nigerian English and although it is the most popular language, it is still not native to ethnic groups and considered the only medium that everyone can understand.
There are huge regional variations contributes to the Nigerian languages and here is the list of the language spoken region wise:
● North Central- Kambari, Nupe, Dibo, Gbagyi, Gbari, Gade, Jarawa, Eloyi, Agatu, and Alago,
● Northeast Nigeria- Hausa, Kanuri, Fulfulde, Bura, Shuwa Arabic, Marghi, Kare Kare, Bachama Mandara, Kibaku, Higgi, Mafa, Kilba and English.
● Northwest Nigeria- Hausa language holds highly dominant status.
● Southwest Nigeria- Yoruba, Izon, Edo, and Esan
● South East/South- IgboIzon, Ibibio, Edo, Igala, Tiv, Bjagham, Samba, and Bokyi
Nigeria is home to languages that have yet to be classified and various languages are spoken in different regions. Hence, if your business is thinking about establishing itself in this market, it will be best if you look out for an agency offering high-grade translation services in Nigeria. Only expert translators with in-depth knowledge about the region and language can ensure to deliver of promising translation solutions.
Conclusion
Nigeria can provide fascinating study from a linguistic perspective. Though English has as official status, sometimes it is important to incorporate local regional languages making it easier to reach out to people from different backgrounds. Getting a professional translation agency can help you when your business is dealing with the Nigerian market. We have native language speakers who hold strong knowledge of the language and promise to deliver top-notch translation solutions with ease.
If you are interested to know more about us, contact us at +91-8527599523 or quickly send us a instant quote.