"O" At The End Of Sentences In Yoruba, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin English & Various Other African Languages (Online Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on "o" at the end of sentences invarious African langauges. 

This post presents selected YouTube discussion thread comments that are examples of "o" at the end of sentences in various African languages. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/09/o-at-end-of-sentences-in-yoruba-igbo.html  for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents several online excerpts about "o" at the end of sentences in Yoruba, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin English and various other African languages.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREADS 
These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

These comments are given without any explanatory notes/definitions or background information. Read Part I for some information about various types of African Pidgin English.

EXCERPT #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrqYiKM0o4Y Nigerian Pidgin VS Cameroonian Pidgin Challenge by LuvMattaz TV,  Nov 23, 2017 
1. TherisingofSaran, 2018
"I'm confused ohh😂   I was about to say the cameroonean lady is speaking Sierra leonean pigin  english (Krio).  Are you sure she's not mistaking sierra leone for Cameroon?lmao😂😂😂"

**
2. African Child, 2018
"Chasseu Clarisse I notice us Cameroonians don't pronounce our words fully in pidgin. For example I've been to all sorts/kind of palm wine houses= a don waka oh kana kana matango hows dem.

Sis ah don dey see you foh all camer video dem ohhh. A be see ya comment foh "sweet mother" music video.

**
3. lovinna alasa, 2018
"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣am so loving this cameroon pidgin is funny oooooo 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 my 9ja Pple I love una die our pidgin is the best"

**
4. Gaelle Patricia, 2018
"Representing Cameroon here ooh"...

**
5. Julie M, 2018
"Cameroon 🇨🇲 ooooooo"

**
6. Favour Lizzy, 2018
"Nigeria is the best ooooo"

**
7. BIN B, 2019 "Your Pidgin is English o. The nearest authentic pidgin English to Cemeroon is from Sierra Leone"

**
8. Stella Albrektsen, 2019
"Na true ma broda e no really represent we well ei for really broke am down well but not for mboko level ooohh else no man nogo understand dat one....... Ei no really use dat wah Camair words dem fine massa"

**
9. Armelle Kegne, 2020
"I'm a French Cameroonians and I try to improve my level in English oooohh.

Na big palaba !"

**
10. Noela Tabah, 2020
"OMG how can you allow Nigeria to win. I have subscribed oh. It was fun oh

**
11. Meshi tasi delphine Delphine, 2021
"Cameroon pidgin is the best ooooo"

**
12. claire kometa, 2021
"We dey fineoooooooooooooo"

****
EXCERPT #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=C_XkTKoDI18 Yemi Alade - Johnny, published by Yemi Alade, March 3, 2014
1. AusMa _ , June 2015
"Can anyone please write what the guy is saying at the beginning ? I picked up some of it but not everything, thanks"

**
Reply
2. soulblade007, June 2015
"+AusMa _ "My People una welldone O, welcome to another special edition of we don catch am"

 Greetings my people, welcome to another special edition of we have caught it.”…

**
3. Tee Olatunde, 2019

"Yesss Yemii ooo😂😂🙏, they danced the French version of this song in my school in Montreal and they danced it well but as a Nigerian I expected more power in their dance 🇳🇬😂. Love this song"

**
EXCERPT #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6yx4dqOPZM 🇬🇭Gh Top Hits 2021 Afrobeats/Hiplife Mix By Dj Zamani 👑| Vol 6|(KuamiEugene,Sarkodie,,Kidi,Shatta)🇬🇭, published by DJ ZAMANI, May 3, 2021
1. mickey mick, 2022
"Hrrr ur mix deir masa nuh be here ooooZamani 🔥

If u can get across all music platforms"

****
EXCERPT #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgDB0US8Vac Sierra Leone Krio🇸🇱 Vs Nigerian Pidgin🇳🇬, Allthings Tanya, May 7, 2019 
1. Obincl K, 2021
"Babe, you do well ooo. You try well well."

****
EXCERPT #5
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz4sTGlEXPk Chidinma - Kedike (VIO Africa), published by vioafrica Network, Feb 5, 2012
1. Rebecca Ogungbola, 2020
"Miz kedike take it easy oooooooooooo,gud voice and nice combination of dress nt like d person wear purple with purple background.Kedike u too take it easy oooo"

****
EXCERPT #6
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFmZKO35SfQ  Olamide - Bobo (Official Video), published by Olamide Baddosneh, May 7, 2015
1. david anderson, 2018
"olamide nice see u again 4 december ooooo."

****
EXCERPT #7
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQx2O6tDwuE Nigerian Pidgin English Part 1 (with my son ), CubsDen, May 23, 2020 [Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is that vlog's summary: "Here, I share 14 common Nigerian pidgin English phrases. My son will be assisting with pronouncing and guessing what they mean. Which one stood out the most for you? Lets know in the comment section"]

1. ExtraStepsCeo, 2020
"@Cubsden u no go kill person with this ya video.  I just dey roll, your pikin don use American accent injure pidgin for us o. Kudos to him sha, na papa born am."

**
2. Debby Tom, 2020
"He is speaking our pidgin with American Accent 😆😆,that pepper rested sounded strange to me oh,I come reason am,come remember sey some people dey speak am sha,I don comot! Last last Your son try sha"

**
3. GloBrandy, 2020
"When he got num seven,he said am a genius😆 but wait oh my boy,oga genius watin concern  num nine hammer with walk,ok na true cos the guy move is really a sign🤣,ok oh like seriously num eleven have a good night rest wow you are a darling🤣. Abeg CUBSDEN  don't use those words at home oh,u can't coma coma spoil my boy accent ooo. I was actually feeling one kind today but this episode just make me feel energetic,thanks mama and my genius."

****
EXCERPT #8
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QCB9kUEuR8 6Team-EYEN O.mp4, published by Uddy Samuel, Oc. 6, 2012
1. Ekemini Eyoh
"Finally I found this song! Thumbs up guys. Mbok aba mo o???"
-snip-
I'm going to make an exception here to my note that I wouldn't include any explanations.

According to Google translate, "Mbok aba mo o?" is Yoruba for "Maybe I know you?"

Also, notice that the title of this song "Eyen O" is an example of a song that ends with an 'o'. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/08/nigerian-song-eyen-o-by-6team-2012.html  for a pancocojams post about this song. 

****
EXCERPT #9
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8PnpPyQ8yo Mommy Dolarz gives up the Rap battle🙆🏻‍♀️ Invites big ivy to Nigeria🤯😱, published by UNCUT WITH UJU, August 13, 2022
1. shittu abidemi, 2022
"Say no to Studio we want stage Rap ooo Mama Dollar give her Option let them Rap on stage Either Ghana or Nigeria"

**
2. Zion, 2022
"Mama dollarz quiters never win and winners never quit,

You loose fight ooo"

**
3. Sulley Bagna, 2022
"Mama naira don run away oooooh 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"

****
EXCERPT #10
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbxDGJ-Zg70 HILARIOUS: Nigeria's Best Pidgin Proverbs !, BattaBox, March 3, 2015
1. Nwa Eze Nwachukwu, 2016
"e get as e be o"

**
2. TruthIsBitter, 2015
"This your interviewer don dey fine small small oo.. :)"

**
Reply
3. BattaBox, 2015
"Lol  @fuji4real  yes o, no be small fineness."

**
4. Hak Ola, 2015
"anything wey go up must come down depend how far up it went o and at what speed it went"

****
EXCERPT #11
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lZu-6NWZbo NIGERIA PIDGIN ENGLISH VS GHANA PIDGIN ENGLISH II Accent + Language Challenge, published by Chilo talks,April 10, 2021

1. Elvis Offor, 2021
"Chioma your swag here added enough spice. I don laf tire 🤣🤣🤣You too much Jare ✊✊

Na we get am 🇳🇬🇳🇬

Btw "I trust you" = I get faith for you o 😃"

**
Reply
2. Chilo talks,2021
"Na so e suppose be na...omo pidgin without attitude no be am o 😂🤣"

**
3. JAPA WITH DEEWON, 2021
"Omoh, I enjoyed this.

Naija pidgin all the way.

Wetin be: 'What dey wrong you?', hahahahaha"

**
Reply
4. Chilo talks, 2021
"My boss himself 🤣🤣🤣... anywhere wey Dem call us we must rep as always na 😁😁. Omo, I find Ghana pidgin funny too o 🤣"

**
5. Lizo D, 2022
"Chilo...

I like your vibe for here ooo!!! 😁😁"

**
6. dafe ebuoh, 2021
"🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 Nigeria all the way jor...Tule chilo, Tule Nigeria

U too much. Area scatter with Stefan. He try buh make e pay for tuition for ur pidgin 🤭

That "go away" na 'gerrat na' 😂😂😂"

**
Reply
7. Chilo talks, 2021
"Help me tell am oo 😂😂... Something wey em go humble himself make I teach am, he begin wan challenge me 🤣🤣🤣"

**
8. Chidubem Amanda Osuji, 2021
"I trust you well in Naija pidgin can be, I sabi you wella oo"

**
Reply
9. Chilo talks, 2021
"Wooow....that's true o. How come it slipped my mind 😂😂"

**
10. Lizo D, 2022
"English: i am going to Esther's house

Pisgin : Ah dey reach Esta house o..."

**
11. EKENE J ONYENIBEJI, 2022
"I love Chilos vibe mehn and I've never heard Ghanian pidgin it's interesting but I just feel like adding a few things or maybe a little more than a few

I trust you in WARRI pidgin is "I know say you no go fall my hand or I sha know you no go fall my hand"

Meaning what, do you think I have money to waste?- say watin? Na my papa be president?

I am angry- I de vex or my body de hot or my body De pepper me

Wow- MAD oooo

She can sing very well- Omo! That babe Sabi sing die

Why do you want to ruin my mood?- come, why you wan pour sand for my garri or why you wan use your reaga spoil my booz

Who farted that smells like spoilt beans- who con mess wey de smell like beans wey don sawer (sour)

You're really pretty- Omo! See as you set ( this is used when the girl is bountifully endowed not just a pretty face) or Omo! See as you fine ( can be used for both scenerios)

That man is wicked - Kai! That man no get joy o  or that man sha no get joy

I don't want trouble - I no want wahala

Leave me alone please - guy abeg free me na

Don't mess with her - no try am o she be no go area

I want to sleep - I wan crash

Please can you help me with a little money so I can get by - abeg you fit help me with small tin make I take hold body

I know this is a lot but Chilo inspired me, if you think I'm off somewhere please let me know🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬"

**** 
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

"O" At The End Of Sentences In Yoruba, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin English & Various Other African Languages (Online Excerpts)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on "o" at the end of sentences in v arious African languages. 

This post presents several online excerpts about "o" at the end of sentences in Yoruba, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin English and various other African languages.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/09/o-at-end-of-sentences-in-yoruba-igbo_78.html  for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents selected YouTube discussion thread comments that are examples of "o" at the end of sentences in various African languages. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
EXCERPTS FROM ONLINE SOURCES
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From  https://journals.openedition.org/linx/8350 The sentence final particle o in Ikwere
Sylvester N. OSU, « The sentence final particle o in Ikwere », Linx [En ligne], 83 | 2021, mis en ligne le 30 décembre 2021
"Introduction

1 Sentence-final particle (SFP) is used here in place of utterance-final particle (UFP) just as sente (...)

1 The sentence final particle (henceforth SFP)1 o has been identified in several Nigerian languages (e.g., Igbo, Yoruba, Ikwere) extending to the Nigerian Pidgin English. According to Williamson (1972: 350), it is used at the end of sentences in Igbo (Benue-Congo, Igboid, Nigeria) when speaking to someone at a distance; it is also used as a sign of affirmation, or assent to a salutation. Sachnine (1997: 200) reports that it has a slight emphatic function in Yoruba (Benue-Congo, Yoruboid, Nigeria). Faraclas (1996: 116) finds that it has an emphatic marking function and adds meanings of empathy, solidarity and realis modality to the assertion in the Nigerian Pidgin English. Interestingly, the SFP o does exist in other languages outside Nigeria. For instance, Helmlinger (1972: 387) states that it is used in Duala (Benue-Congo, Bantu, Cameroon) for questions or calls at a distance. Furthermore, Singler (1988: 123) suggests that “the sentence-final particle o is a real feature par excellence, extending along the West African coast from Sierra Leone to Nigeria. English-and French-lexifier pidgins and creoles display it as well, not only in West Africa but also in the Caribbean”. To buttress this point, Singler (1988: 123-125) draws examples from Klao, Bassa, Kroumen, Wobe (Kru); Nkonya, Twi (Kwa); Mende, Kpelle, Mano (Mande); Kisi (West Atlantic); as well as Ibibio (Benue-Congo).

 2. Aim

I do not intend to study this particle in all of the languages mentioned above whether individually or cross-linguistically. This article focuses on the SFP o in the Ikwere language2. First, it intends to make a contribution towards addressing the dearth of work on this topic as reported by Singler (1988). He writes (p. 123): “Despite the breadth of o's distribution and despite the frequency of its occurrence within particular languages, its functions have gone largely unexamined”. The investigation in the present article, however, will go beyond the functions of this particle. Second, the SFP o in Ikwere belongs to a subset of nonderived particles that occur in sentence final position in Ikwere. This subset of particles includes kɔ3, o, ʔɔ, nu, ta̰ and we. However, o, we, ta̰ and ʔɔ consistently occur in the sentence final position while the others can occur elsewhere. All these particles in turn can be subsumed under a much larger class that is often referred to as discourse markers in the linguistic literature (see, inter alia, Schiffrin 1987, Hartmann 1994: 2957, Schourup 1999, Paillard 2002)4. See also Ameka (1990) and Dimmendaal (1996) for the study of similar units in some African languages spoken outside Nigeria.5

[…]

Different uses of the SFP o and analysis

4.1. Affirmative sentences

4.2. Negative sentences

4.3. Injunctive sentences

4.4. Interrogative sentences

4.4.1. Yes-no questions

4.4.2. Interro-negative questions

4.4.3. Rhetorical questions"...

****
EXCERPT #2
From https://www.hawaii.edu/satocenter/langnet/definitions/cameroon.html Kamtok (Cameroon Pidgin)
written by Loreto Todd (with help from Martin Jumbam and Herbert Wamey)  [no date cited; retrieved on Septembe 19, 2022]
"Introduction

Kamtok is the pidginised English of Cameroon. This English-related language has been a lingua franca in the country since at least the 1880s. The 35-year period since 1966 has seen dramatic changes in the attitude of speakers towards the language. Speakers have always recognised the usefulness of the language but, in early writings, it was frequently referred to as "Bad English", "Broken English" and "Bush English". Today, due mainly to its extended use in Churches and on Radio and Television, it is becoming known as Kamtok from Cameroon Talk, and is taking its place as a recognised medium of interaction.

It is difficult to distinguish between a widely-used pidgin and a creole. The sociological differentiation, often cited, is that a creole is a mother tongue whereas a pidgin is not. However, this distinction is overly simplistic in West Africa where multilingualism is the norm and where the same language can, at any one time, be a mother tongue, a language of wider communication and a first, second, third, fourth or foreign language. This is the case with Kamtok. It is acquired by many in infancy at the same time as their other mother tongue(s) and spoken at a similar speed and with similar flexibility. Many, including clergymen, traders, travellers, gendarmes, soldiers and prisoners utilise it as the most viable means of communication in a country with two official languages, French and English, and a minimum of two hundred mutually unintelligible vernaculars. Other people, including immigrants and expatriates, learn it with varying degrees of proficiency and a few, albeit a diminishing number, still refuse to speak it because they believe it incapable of civilised discourse.

[…]

Worksong in Kamtok

masa, a wan wohk o!-  Master, I want work.'

na wohk dis o! - This is work.'

masa, yu wan wohk o!- Master, you want work.'

na wohk dis o! This is work.'

o ya ya!

soso dai wohk o! Always killing work.'

mohni no dei o! There's no money.'

o ya ya!

mohni no dei o! There's no money.'

wuman no dei o! 'There are no women.'

o ya ya!

daso dai wohk o! Only killing work.'

na wohk dis o! This is work.'

o ya ya!”
-snip-
I added italics to the English translations for these Kamtok lyrics

****
EXCERPT #3
From https://dailytrust.com/broken-english-pidgin-english-and-nigerian-english Broken English, Pidgin English, And Nigerian English
By Webmaster, Sun, 20 Nov 2011 
"In African languages, it is usual to end sentences with what grammarians call terminal intensifiers. An intensifier is a word that has little meaning except to accentuate the meaning of the word or phrase it modifies.

A “terminal intensifier” is therefore an intensifier that appears at the end of a sentence. Words like “o” in “E don taya me o,” [I’m fed up], “na” in “wia you deyna?” [Where are you?], and “sha” in “Di ting get as e be sha” [That’s really unusual] are terminal intensifiers because they appear at the end of sentences and merely heighten the meanings of the phrases that preceded them. With a few exceptions, intensifiers appear either at the beginning or in the middle of sentences in English. E.g., “Honestly” in “Honestly, this doesn’t make sense to me,” “really” in “I’m really tired.”

Another structural characteristic in Nigerian Pidgin English, which is derived from indigenous Nigerian languages, is “reduplication.” Linguists use this term to describe the deliberate repetition of a word to create plurals or for emphasis. Examples: “Abeg come here quick quick [Please come here quickly], “The omoge fine well well” [The girl is very beautiful], “Di ting deyyanfuyanfu” [There is plenty of it], “Di kontri don jagajaga” [The country is terribly ruined].

[…]

Now, in Nigeria, it is customary to use “Pidgin English” and “broken English” interchangeably. But Pidgin English isn’t broken English because it does not attempt to approximate the linguistic conventions of Standard English. In other words, it isn’t the product of an incompetent attempt to speak or write Standard English; it’s the product of a historically specific, socio-linguistic alchemy of Nigerian languages and English. Additionally, it seems to me that broken English, deformed as it is, is often comparatively more intelligible to monolingual native English speakers than Pidgin English.

Interestingly, Nigerian Pidgin English is now increasingly being creolized especially in Nigeria’s deep south and in such cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic urban centers as Lagos and Abuja. It’s anybody’s guess where this will all end.”…

****
EXCERPT #4
From https://www.legit.ng/534689-why-nigerians-say-o-in-every-conversation.html Why Nigerians Overuse 'O'
August 31, 2015 by Onyinye Muomah
...‘O’; a simple word– rather, letter, with a simple sound. Its usage is so ubiquitous in the speech of an average Nigerian – especially those living in the city – that it is almost always the first thing most expatriates I have known learn when trying to take on the Nigerian swag. When speaking with an average Nigerian, especially in Nigeria, if you don’t hear at least one ‘O’ in a conversation of five short sentences, then be sure you are not speaking to a Nigerian. Take this conversation between two Nigerians for example:

"Good morning o."
"Yes o.
Who is there o?"
"It is me o. Is your husband at home?"
"No o."
"Haba! Where did he go now?" (Now is another overused word I may discuss someday.)
"I don’t know o. Since morning o."
"Ha. That’s not good o. Sha, tell him when he comes back that I came o."
"Ok o. I will o."
"Oya now, bye-bye o."
"O, bye-bye." 

[...]

If you paid attention, you'd notice, that like most Nigerian exclamatory words, "O" connotes more than one idea/reaction. It can be an answer to a call, It can be used in agreement. It can be used to reiterate a point.

As for why Nigerians overuse it, to tell the truth, me,  I don't know o. All I know is that me sef, I use it a lot o, and e tire me too o! 
-snip-
The words given in italics were written that way in this article. 

****
EXCERPT #5

https://www.rogerblench.info/Language/English/Nigerian%20English%20Dictionary.pdf A DICTIONARY OF NIGERIAN

ENGLISH

DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT]

Roger Blench, Mallam Dendo

Cambridge, Sunday, 07 August 2005

[…]

Nigerian /Ghanaian/ West African English

One of the more surprising things about Nigerian English is the extent to which it has a common lexicon and

grammar with other West African Englishes, notably Ghanaian. A guide to Ghanaian English (Kirby 1998)

provides an interesting comparison with the present document and parallel forms are noted2

. I have less

information about Cameroun, Sierra Leone and Gambia and would welcome further insights. However, the

puzzle is the history of some of these forms. Do they go back to the early days of colonial presence on the

coast or are they more recent products of the massive migration of Ghanaians to Nigeria during the oil-boom

era of the 1970s and 1980s? Probably both, but only a detailed scanning of earlier sources will provide

answers.

[…]
O
oo s.t. tag placed at the end of sentences, to soften

the statement or give it slight emphasis I

think I would do it, oo! Go register now, oo [ID
Card poster, March 2003]"
-snip-
The sentence in italics was written this way in that dictionary.

****
EXCERPT #6
From http://bwari.tripod.com/FGGCABUJA/id18.html FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS' COLLEGE BWARI ABUJA PIDGIN DICTIONARY

"Babawilly's Dictionary of Pidgin English Words and Phrases.
...“O!: Placed at the end of sentences for emphasis and effect E.g. I go broke bottle for yua head O!”

****
EXCERPT #7 
From https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/15-nigerian-pidgin-english-phrases-you-need-to-know/ 15 Nigerian Pidgin English Phrases You Need to Know
by Fareeda Abdulkareem, Updated: 21 February 2017
….“Nawa oh!

This is an expression of surprise, similar to ‘wow’. The ‘oh’ ending is a kind of conversational tick that gets added to lots of words and phrases to add emphasis.”
-snip-
Notice that "o" at the end of sentences is sometimes written as "oh". Also, since at least the early 21st century [?], "o" at the end of sentences is sometimes elongated with added "o"s [for example: "oo", "oooo". These elongations strengthen the meaning of "o" at the end of a sentence.

****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.