THE EFFECTS OF HAUSA-FULANI ENGLISH ACCENT ON BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN KANO METROPOLIS

Abstract

English language is a global language which is used to perform
communicative function at different forums all over the world. Because
of its contact with many other first languages, it has produced various
dialects and accents all over the world today. Nigeria recognizes English
as official, and a language of business in its cities, including Kano
Metropolis. The Hausa-Fulani who are the main occupants of this
metropolis have their accent of English, which they must use in doing
business with partners from other parts of the world. This study is set
to investigate their accent of English and how their performance in this
regard affects the business communication in the metropolis. To carry
out this investigation, the researcher adopts the Labovian theoretical
framework by recording some educated indigenous Hausa-Fulani
business people in the metropolis, and testing same on selected nonindigenous business partners. The data, as presented in tables, show
that communication did not flow freely between the Hausa-Fulani
business people and their partners because of their inaccurate
articulation of some English sounds, particularly the fricatives. The
study enjoins the people to make conscious efforts to attain an
appreciable accent of English for the purpose of successful business
communication.