Such words as gush and fur sound like gosh and for, and the vowel sounds of bake and toe are commonly the single vowels /e, o/, not diphthongs as in RP.

The consonants /θ,ð/ are generally realized as /t, d/, three of these being pronounced ‘tree of dese’. Intonation is influenced by the tonal systems of West African languages, and because there is a tendency towards syllable-timing, the schwa in unstressed syllables is usually replaced by a full vowel, as in ‘stu-dent’ and ‘quiet-ness’ for student and quietness. WAE is non-rhotic, and /r/ is often trilled. Speakers in the five countries generally understand each other well, but there are differences inside and between countries. It is typically acquired as a second, third, or fourth language, and the line between English as used by a small élite and the more general WEST AFRICAN PIDGIN ENGLISH is difficult to draw. English as used in West Africa the official language of NIGERIA, GHANA, SIERRA LEONE, GAMBIA, and CAMEROON. WEST AFRICAN ENGLISH, short forms WAfrE, WAE.

West african pidgin