Pidgin, Nigerian

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
pcm
Alternate Names
Anglo-Nigerian Pidgin, Broken English, Brokin, Brokun, Nigerian Creole English, Nigerian Pidgin English, Pidgin, Pijin
Autonym
Naijá
User Population

120,650,000, all users. L1 users: 4,650,000 (2020). L2 users: 116,000,000 (2020).

Location

Widespread.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Evolved as a result of language contact with the British colonists in 1800. Lingua franca across Nigeria.

Classification
Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio
Dialects

Lagos Pidgin, Delta Pidgin, Cross River Pidgin, Benin Pidgin. No unified standard. Dialects may be very different from each other. Partially intelligible with Krio [kri] of Sierra Leone and Cameroon Pidgin [wes].

Language Use

Increasing in importance and use. A creole with native speakers; also a pidgin between Africans and Europeans, and Africans from different languages. All domains. Used as L2 by Abanglekuo [bzy], Abanyom [abm], Bete-Bendi [btt], Cakfem-Mushere [cky], Dadiya [dbd], Dza [jen], Efutop [ofu], Ekajuk [eka], Esan [ish], Iceve-Maci [bec], Kibaku [ckl], Nde-Nsele-Nta [ndd], Ndoe [nbb], Nikyob-Nindem [kdp], Nkem-Nkum [isi], Nnam [nbp], Ogbah [ogc], Olulumo-Ikom [iko], Ron [cla], Utugwang-Irungene-Afrike [afe].

Language Development

Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2018.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pidgin, Nigerian
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 2002.