Learning a Nigerian accent?

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:03 pm

I searched the webbertubes and this forum, and came up with http://www.uwandiigbo.com which gives you tutorials on some african language the name of which escapes me, and a few youtube videos of people speaking with a nigerian accent, which i may be able to imitate.

But i was wondering if anyone had any links for a proper accent tutorial site/program? I found a few for an american/english accent, so if worst comes to worst i can listen to the youtube videos and come up with the phonemes on my own.

I just think it would be a cool accent to be able to do, not just for the obvious scambaiting benefits but also the fact that i'm about as white as you can possibly get, and it would be funny to look on a nigerians face when i start talking in their accent.

Any ideas?

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:28 pm

Good luck. There isn't exactly a lot of demand for learning a non-native English accent.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:35 pm

GeneralAbacha wrote:

Good luck. There isn't exactly a lot of demand for learning a non-native English accent.

I thought they did speak english in nigeria as a native language? Although to be fair, you wouldn't have thought so from reading the lads emails.

EDIT: according to wikipedia english is the only official language of nigeria.

Would anyone be interested if i came up with a set of nigerian phonemes? I reckon it would take me a few hours of work maybe, and although i'd probably do it for myself, it might be done quicker if other people were interested in aquiring a nigerian accent for whatever reason...

EDIT #2: I'm going to start work on it anyway. It may never get finished, but if i do finish it i'll upload it on some free hosting somewhere.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:42 pm

What the good General said.

I doubt there are many "Speak English like a Nigerian" tutorials for beginners out there, since the standard model accent for learners is British RP or the American equivalent.

Another source of info might be some analyses of Nigerian speakers of English published in linguistics journals, but speaking as a former linguistics student I can guess without even seeing them that they will be chock-full of terminology that looks like it's designed specifically to scare off non-linguists.

Best thing? Get recordings of genuine speakers of the target accent, and study. Pay particular attention to the vowels, as that is where the majority of difference between accents lies.

EDIT: I'd be interested in a list of Nigerian English allophones that you produced, yes.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:43 pm

Yeah, I suppose you are correct. Nonetheless, it is not the sort of accent anyone (aside from baiters) would have an interest in learning. But in all seriousness, if you can come up with a list of phonemes that would be quite usefull. I'm interested, it is a hard accent to immitate.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:54 pm

As far as a 'Nigerian' or other west African accent is concerned, if you need to talk on the phone to a lad, just listen to a few of the phone calls in the 'Audio, Video, and Other Media' forum. Given the quality of overseas phone links, ten minutes' practice will give you all the accent you require.

When I am baiting as a woman, I seldom find it is necessary even to disguise my voice. And if you've ever heard my voice, you'll agree that it is just about the least convincing fake female voice ever spoken in the history of fake female voices.

If you are concerned with native languages, just google 'nigerian languages' or 'igbo phrases' or whatever and just drill down. I started to do so less than a week ago and already I've fooled a native Igbo speaker. Similarly, pidgin was not an issue. Just put yourself in the mindset of a scammer. They'll accept you readily enough.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:22 pm

http://web.ku.edu/idea/index.htm

I'm afraid they only have one Nigerian example, but as a resource for world accents and dialects it is quite formidable.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:24 pm

@ Jen Derbender -

That's actually a very good idea, and i'm ashamed i ddin't think of it.

However, the problem i have is that not many of the phone conversations specify where the scammer is from. All the african accents sound the same to me. And i don't want to end up teaching people to speak in a ghanian accent, for example.

I found a site where you can watch amateur nigerian comedy/drama online though, so all is well.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:24 pm

From what I have heard in the audio forum it could be accomplished quite easily by popping a handful of marbles in your mouth and speaking as quickly as you can. Laughing

Master Baiter Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 170

A little off topic, but this thread just gave me a brilliant idea for my new modality. I'm originally from Brazil, so my characters will all be recent immigrants to the US from Brazil. And I think that any time I get pissed at a lad, I'll go on a rant in portuguese.... Trust me. I know some VILE imprecations in portuguese.... They'll all be wasted on a lad, but it'll give me some stress relief.... Laughing

Learning a Nigerian accent?	View next topic View previous topic