The Positive Use Of "Too Much" Or "Too + An Adjective" In West African Pidgin English

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post highlights the positive, highly complimentary use of the adverbial phrase "too much" or the adverbial phrases "too + an adjective" in Nigerian Pidgin English and Ghanaian Pidgin English.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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BACKGROUND: NEGATIVE MEANINGS OF "TOO MUCH" OR TOO + AN ADJECTIVE IN STANDARD ENGLISH
From https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/too_much
"Adverb
too much (not comparable)

To a greater extent than is wanted or required; excessively.
You talk too much.
To a sufficiently strong degree to prevent some other action from happening.
I'm not leaving now ... I'm enjoying myself too much!"

-snip-
"Too much" can also have negative meanings in West African Pidgin. Here's an example that I found on
http://www.nairaland.com/835696/nigerian-pidgin-english-meanings
"Re: Nigerian Pidgin English And Their Meanings by freecocoa(f): 4:19pm On Jan 03, 2012
"you dey talk plenty=talking too much"
-snip-
"dey"= "is/be" [definition from another commenter on the same page of that discussion thread]

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POSITIVE DEFINITION OF "TOO MUCH" - NEW ZEALAND ENGLISH
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=too%20much
"better than the best [ above ___] ; [ extremely ----] = a high compliment; the best of the best
too much
Kiwi (New Zealand) slang for very impressive:
That new white convertible is too much bro!

#awesome#cool#great#wicked#fantastic
by Matt Bleck March 12, 2008

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POSITIVE DEFINITION OF "TOO MUCH" - NIGERIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH SITE
From http://www.naijalingo.com/words/too-much
"Too much
Definition: use to say ,when one is please with a job done by someone eles.use to complement someone Example: 1. Madam cook,you too much.
2. Dr. ,you too much if not for you,the boy for still lie down for bed.Thank you o!
Synonyms: Good,perfect"
-snip-
Here's my attempt at providing other positive [standard English] definitions for "too much": "the greatest"; "incomparable", "the best of the best"; "extraordinary".

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POSITIVE DEFINITIONS OF "TOO + AN ADJECTIVE"
Here's my attempt at providing positive definitions for too + an adjective (as used in in West African
Pidgin")*

"too" = "very" [or "exceptionally"; or "really" or "so"] + an adjective

*Disclaimer- I don't claim to be a speaker of West African pidgin. The little West African Pidgin that I know is from reading online articles and comments and watching YouTube videos.

Besides, I'm not sure if these adverbial phrases that are showcased in this post are actually examples of West African Pidgin.

Information and corrections are welcome.

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EXAMPLES OF THE POSITIVE USE OF "TOO MUCH" IN YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS OR OTHER ONLINE WEBSITES
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
The idea for this post came to me after reading the comments in videos that I had radomly selected as part of my periodic habit of searching YouTube for videos of contemporary African singers.

I wouldn't be surprised if some other recent YouTube discussion threads for other highly regarded contemporary West African singers (and possibly contemporary singers from other regions of Africa) would probably also yield some examples of these "too much" or "too + an adjective" comments.

I'm interested in knowing if the West African (and other African regions?) linguistic usage of "too much" or "too + an adjective" as a superlative that I've documented in this post is recent, and, if so, when did if first occur? I'm also interested in knowing whether these usages are commonly found in Nigerian Pidgin English, and/or in Ghanaian Pidgin English, or elsewhere in Africa.
-snip-
Added October 10, 2017:
The Twi word "paa" highlighted below in Excerpt #2, example 2 is defined as "proper, really, very well, very good". Did the positive use of "too much" in these contemporary African music comments occur because commenters were translating Twi to English, and not because commenters were consciously changing the usual negative meaning of that English language adverbial phrase to something positive?
-end of October 10, 2017 addition-

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These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

The "too much" phrases are given in italics to highlight them in this post.

Excerpt #1:
From http://tyglobalist.org/onlinecontent/blogs/ghanas-pidgin/
..."Among friends you might hear the phrase “Komot for der”, translated into English it means “Go away/Vamoose!” but it is not as harsh as it sounds, it’s merely said in jest. Pidgin softens tones and commands; “Ohh make u horry ” does not quite carry the same imperativeness and commandeering tone as “Hurry up!” Even among educated people who speak English perfectly well, Pidgin is often spoken and preferred to English. It has a way of incorporating camaraderie that is hard to translate into words. But this is especially true of males, for it is much more common to find males speaking in Pidgin than females as it is not considered lady-like to speak Pidgin. I won’t go as far as calling it a case of gender inequality, but boys do use it to exclude girls from conversation as there is an assumption that we girls “jus no dey barb” (don’t understand) some phrases. But since Pidgin currently features prominently in our local music and in Ghanaian and Nigerian movies, we girls are catching on! So when we hear “Dis shoddy be fine paa/ She be betta girlie” (translates to – “The chick is really hot”) we know what they are saying.”...
-snip-
comment from emo, June 6, 2011
"Chale,u be too much.. This article make ma eye get roff. U be serious chick…lol

I’m really proud of u."
-snip-
"Chale" = "friend" [from "Ga" language in Ghana]

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Excerpt #2:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svWzGhiBic4
Bisa Kdei - Atomesu feat. Paa Quesi (Official Video); BisaKdeiOfficial, Published on Mar 28, 2015
-snip-
Note: Bisa Kdei is a contemporary Ghanaian male singer.

1. Shismeck Dacosta, 2017
"Eeei ablekuma,anyaa & awoshie paa serious too much kdei keep it blazing"
-snip-
"paa" = adv. proper, really, very well, very good
"Twi" http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/English/Ghana%20English%20dictionary.pdf

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Excerpt #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3BO-2b8IdQ
Bisa kdei - Brother Brother (Official Video), BisaKdeiOfficial, Published on Nov 9, 2015
1. Kingsford Paul, 2016
"BISA,wo 3y3 too much

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2. Evelyn atweri, 2016
"Ei!!!! Bisa you are too much"

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3. puokyiene john, 2016
"i'm in love with dis song too much.

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4. philip nduom yorke, 2016
"music too much"

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5. Fred Gaster, 2016
"love this song bisa toooooooooomuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch"
-snip-
The additional letters strengthen (increase the intensity) of the word or words.

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6. Portia Frimpomaa, 2016
"Bisa u be tooo much"

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7. Naturally bea, 2016
"you are tooooo much bisa. I love u saaaaaaaaa. nice song and beautiful video too. u are wow😘😘😘"

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8. Mezzack Boateng, 2016
"Nice one, bisa u are too much, keep the fire burning."

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Excerpt #4:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwn_rfQD4Ew
Bisa Kdei - I Love You (Official Video), BisaKdeiOfficial, Published on Jan 20, 2015

1.Patience Ama Boakyewaa, 2016
"infact this guy is too much mwaaa"
-snip-
"This guy" = Ghanaian contemporary singer Bisa Kdei

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Added October 10, 2017 [afternoon]
Excerpt #5:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8
Aye - Davido (Official Music Video) by DMW HQ, Published on Feb 7, 2014
1. Emmanuela Ezekwemba, 2017
"I love my country i a Nigerian ,una to much"
-end of addition October 10, 2017

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Excerpt #6: Added October 10, 2017 [evening]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17vC8qZILJE
P-Square Ft. Akon, May D - Chop My Money [Official video], officialpsquare, Published on Feb 23, 2012
1. FOXY J Eboyan, 2014
"EVER REIGNING MUSIC ,, AKON U ARE TOO MUCH"

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2. wasco rappa, 2014
"tooooooooo much"

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3.
Ultra Violet, 2014
"This song is really for naija and ghana girls. Lol We like money too much oooh!"

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4. vicxsto1, 2014
"d love i get for u na jakichan, este cancion me canta mucho, i miss 9ja 2 much"
-snip-
American actor Jackie Chan had a cameo appearance in this P-Square music video.
-end of additions October 10, 2017 [evening]

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EXAMPLES OF THE POSITIVE USE OF "TOO + AN ADJECTIVE" IN YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS OR OTHER ONLINE WEBSITES
These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

The "too + an adjective phrases are given in italics to highlight them in this post.

Excerpt #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws6xCV3En_M
Chidinma - Fallen in Love [Official Video]; Chidinma Ekile, Published on Nov 16, 2016
-snip-
Note: Chidinma Ekile is a contemporary Nigerian female singer.

1.Khaddy Olukosi, 2017
"her smile and beauty can safe life 😍"
-snip-
"Her" = Nigerian Afro-Beat singer Chidinma

Another commenter“ asked if “safe” was supposed to be “save”. I think so.

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Reply
2. Berlinda Debrah, 2017
"yes too great"

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3. libgurl01, 2017
"Her beautiful voice and that extreme natural beauty. We African women are beautiful!"

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Reply
4. Joseph Gatehi, 2017
"libgurl01 you are beautiful in an extra ordinary way, go girl."

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Reply
5. Nadia ADOUOBO, 2017
"libgurl01 African women are really beautiful!"

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Reply
6. Sari rosei, 2017
"libgurl01 yahhh we are tooo beautifull ppl with reall love from Eritera"

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7. Karl Mackinza, 2017
"libgurl01 yes too beautiful"

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3BO-2b8IdQ
Bisa kdei - Brother Brother (Official Video), BisaKdeiOfficial, Published on Nov 9, 2015
1. Renee Nyako, 2016
Bisa is too live!! on repeat constant

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2. Gilbert Gadzekpo, 2016
"someone pls help delete my replay button. the beat is too soothing and addictive.

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3. nauti312, 2016
"Kdei dammmmnnnn...... u r toooo gud.. very creative .... God bless U
-snip-
"gud"= "good"

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4. Christopher Aryeh, 2016
"wow Kdei u are too gud

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5. Oluwatobi Fatumo, 2017
"THIS IS JUST TOO NATURAL, TRULY AFRICA"

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Excerpt #3: Added October 10, 2017 11:03 PM
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17vC8qZILJE
P-Square Ft. Akon, May D - Chop My Money [Official video], officialpsquare, Published on Feb 23, 2012
1. maureen charles, 2014
"I like this song toooo badddd"
-end of addition October 10, 2017

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Excerpt #4: Added October 11, 2017 [morning]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=WKdh7YD-QS0 RANDS and NAIRAS - Emmy Gee ft AB Crazy & Dj Dimplez : OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Teamtalkless, Published on Jan 20, 2014
1. collo kiplangat, 2017
"i was teary after 00:20 like Africa we made it ... way too dope...mob love from kenya"

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Excerpt #5: Added October 11, 2017 [morning]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=WKdh7YD-QS0 RANDS and NAIRAS - Emmy Gee ft AB Crazy & Dj Dimplez : OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Teamtalkless, Published on Jan 20, 2014
1. ANDREW OJOK, 2014
"tooo baddas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
-snip-
Note: This is a Hip Hop collaboration between artists from Nigeria and South Africa.WARNING: This video includes profanity.

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2. gab uza, 2014
" "i know the money's coming i can feel it in my soul" #too fresh....."

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3.
KrinO RoxX, 2014
"I gotta say this joint is f&&kin'* awesome.....ah the video is too dope"
-snip-
*This word was fully spelled out in this comment.

Commenters in this video's discussion thread used the African American Vernacular English word "dope" [meaning "very good"] far more than any other superlative.

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Excerpt #6 Added October 11, 2017 [morning]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZN1obx0lR8 RANDS and NAIRA REMIX - Emmy Gee ft Ice Prince, Cassper Nyovest, Phyno, ANATII,Dj Dimplez,Ab Crazy
Teamtalkless, Published on Oct 23, 2014
1. Valli Yantolo, 2015
"Ice Prince went in too hard. hayi he is nice"
-snip-
Saying that someone "went in too hard" would probably be considered a negative in the USA, although "being hard" is something good in African American street culture, and by extension, other American urban cultures. However, the commenter following that statement up with "he is nice" shows that this is "went in too hard" is a compliment.

"Hayi" is a Xhosa word. In the context of this comment, I think it means "nevertheless" or "but". https://glosbe.com/xh/en/hayi. [Please correct this English translation if this is wrong.]

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2. Nkosinathi Ngele, 2015
"Anatii, too dope"
-snip-
Anatli was one of the rappers who was featured on this track.

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3. Chris Bonty, 2017
"ice prince is too much"
-snip-
Note: This is a Hip Hop collaboration between artists from Nigeria and South Africa.WARNING: This video includes profanity.

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