Nigerians Embracing British Accents: Mastering the Art of Speaking with a UK Inflection

In Nigeria, some individuals are enrolling in extra classes to learn how to speak with a polished British accent, despite already being fluent in English. Elizabeth Stephens, who typically teaches diction and phonetics to the children of Abuja's elite, is now holding Zoom classes for adults during the school vacation. These adults want to refine their accents to appear more refined and classy. Most Nigerians are multilingual, with English being their second language, which influences how they speak. The students in Stephens' class hope to eliminate these peculiarities from their speech. During the Zoom sessions, participants pay 10,000 naira ($13) and have the opportunity to acquire a British accent after six months of diligent training. Stephens demonstrates the correct pronunciations, emphasizing the first syllable and excluding certain sounds, like the 'w' in "vowel." The students then attempt to mimic these pronunciations, seeking approval from Stephens. Stephens explains that Nigerians often lack intonation in their pronunciation, resulting in a flat delivery. Linguists have observed that speech tempo in Nigerian English is typically slower than in British English, with stress falling on the second syllable. The phonological systems of different Nigerian languages also impact pronunciation; for example, hard H sounds are common among Yoruba speakers, and the letters P and F influence how some northern Nigerians pronounce certain words. Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a linguist, believes that accents cannot be taught in a classroom setting, as language is acquired through everyday interactions. He argues that one's accent is part of their identity and adopting another accent is an identity crisis. However, Judith Onwuzurike, a phonetics teacher, suggests that making an effort to speak like the British is a sign of respect. Many elite Nigerians prioritize their children learning the British accent, and private schools hire teachers like Stephens and Onwuzurike to prepare students for international experiences. However, the demand for these services has led to increased competition, reducing the profitability for teachers. Nigerian English has evolved over the past six decades and is now considered a fully formed language. Nigerian-English words have even been added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Some argue that striving to speak like the British is unnecessary, as Nigerian and American English can be mutually intelligible. In the end, I join Stephens' class and attempt to speak with a British accent. Thankfully, most students have left, leaving me, Stephens, and one other student. As someone who has never prioritized perfect pronunciation, it comes as a relief. Nevertheless, there is a demand for learning the British accent in Nigeria, even if it raises questions about identity and linguistic diversity.