English-igbo(Engl-igbo), the people and the art

I am from the Igbo extract of the Southern-Eastern part of Nigeria. I speak Igbo and English languages fluently. The topic I want to bring to you today studies on how English language was infused into our local language and resulted into a lingual sensation that has spanned over a century in Nigeria.

From the stories documented by our great grand folks, Engli-Igbo was an attempt to create a friendly lingual mixture that showed a person's early exposure to the European colonial masters in the year 1905. The act of interpretation of English language to the village chief brought about putting together English word that will match with the local language to convene or pass a message that will be understood by the both parties, the local chief head and the colonial masters. it was a perfect sense of fairness exhibited while seeking for a solution to language barriers during those days.

Example of this language art is, 'cooluo down' which simply means cool down. The Igbo coil in the word 'cooluo' makes the word wear an emphatic stress that is generated only in pronouncing certain words in Igbo language. Another example is 'cutu godi that mango for me' this simply means cut that mango for me. Although these examples are recently refined ones we can hear people of our generation speak. A long-ago examples of engl-igbo are bible - baibulu, ball - boolu. The reason for Engl-Igbo was to directly translate speeches that will make the speaker (English speaker) to follow up by at least hearing some part of the words he/she used in his/her narration. Example: (English Speaker) - I want to introduce you and your community to a new faith called Christianity.
(Engl-Igbo interpreter) - o choro e introduce gi na ndi community gi n' okwukwe Christianity.
By hearing the three key words in that interpretation, the speaker is assured of a related message been passed across.

Today we have Engl-igbo of these natures: kedu odi nonsense I na ako di ifaa( what sort of nonsense are you talking about)
Ichoo ka m take i gi unaware( you want me to take you unaware)

In general, this brand of language has made English so part of us that it's eating deep in the fabrics of our mother tongue, Igbo language. Although it's fun when we converse on Engl-igbo, it brings us together even when you don't understand Igbo language.

English-Igbo language is not classified as broken English because it was gotten from the mix-twists of Igbo and english languages.