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Word for the Travel Wise (01/04/07)
Don't ask me why I picked this word today. I just did. Maybe someone out there will want to woo a pretty Nigerian woman with a broken English and Yoruba poem or just shout it out loud as the only word they know. However, the last reason really should not be the case as I've provided a good handful of words to get you started if traveling in the country and looking to speak some of the native tongues. Today's word is a Yoruba word used in Nigeria:
yemoja - goddess of the river
English is the official language of Nigeria, which means any traveler should be able to converse and navigate their way from Lagos to Jigawa with ease. (Unless you don't speak English.) The country's three main languages include: Yoruba, Ibo (Igbo), and Hausa. Each of the three main languages are named after the people they belong to and carry several dialects within themselves. Motherland Nigeria has an incredible intro to the three languages, Nigerian slang and even a few examples of common Pidgin English spoken. Some audio samples are available as well.
Past Nigerian / Yoruba / Igbo words: ikun, feran, kedu, odabo, gabdun, jo, joko, ewa
Filed under: Learning, Africa, Nigeria, Foreign Language
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
George Junne Jan 5th 2007 6:15AM
It is unfortunate that Neil Woodburn in "Disappointing Troy" relied on someone else's description rather than going there. Yes, the wooden horse is cartoonish. Also, poking around ancient archaeological ruins is not for everyone. However, I'm glad that I spent a couple hours there going to the various excavations in the NINE layers called Troy, the earliest dating back to 3,000 BC. There is also a museum that has some of the finds and does have an understated display on the man who finally located it (Schliemann) that usually incites laughs or gasps. If you want to see restored homes and temples, Troy is not for you. If you want to see current work conducted by people from around the world and understand the historical significant of the nine cities of Troy, you will be quite pleased.
George