Investigating the use and perception of West African Pidgin English among West African university students in Northern Cyprus

Abstract

This study sought to establish the usage of Pidgin English among University students from three West African countries studying in Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus. A sample of 129 students from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ghana was selected and surveyed to determine the use, importance, perception and attitude towards Pidgin English. Findings show that most respondents watch Pidgin English comedy video clips. They speak Pidgin English while conversing on mobile phones and they chat with Pidgin English. In addition, respondents’ perception of Pidgin English was generally positive and a slew of respondents accedes that Pidgin English is important because it is a language with less grammatical rules and it connects West African students together abroad. Furthermore, we found that majority of them agreed that the language is underrated but easy to learn and it is worthy of international recognition.