I came to Benin last year as a fluent French speaker, and over the past year, I have become fluent in a new language: Beninese French. Admittedly, linguists would surely classify it as a different dialect, not language, but this dialect of French comes with its own vocabulary, grammatical structures, and rules. More specifically, I should say that I speak the French of northern Benin, which is highly influenced by our local language, Bariba.
Here is a basic primer on Beninese French grammar:
Gender is flexible.
In France: Sara a dit qu'elle va bien. (Sara said she is doing well.)
In Benin: Sara a dit qu'il va bien. (Sara said that he [Sara] is doing well.)
Articles are optional.
In France: Je vais porter une chemise et une jupe. (I'm going to wear a shirt and a skirt.)
In Benin: Je vais porter chemise avec jupe. (I'm going to wear shirt with skirt.)
When ordering something, the quantity is indicated at the end.
In France: Je voudrais 2 bananes et 4 goyaves. (I would like 2 bananas and 4 guavas.
In Benin: Je vais prendre bananes 2 et goyaves 4. (I'll take bananas 2 and guavas 4.)
Some subjects can be replaced with objects.
In France: Il va venir demain. (He is going to come tomorrow.)
In Benin: Lui va venir demain. (Him is going to come tomorrow.)
Subjunctive is rarely (or never?) used.
In France: Il est important qu'il vienne a midi. (It's important that he come at noon.)
In Benin: Il est important qu'il va venir a midi. (It's important that he is going to come at noon.)
Mistakes don't matter! Benin is infinitely easier than France for the non-native French speaker because everyone makes mistakes and no one cares.
Here is a basic primer on Beninese French grammar:
Gender is flexible.
In France: Sara a dit qu'elle va bien. (Sara said she is doing well.)
In Benin: Sara a dit qu'il va bien. (Sara said that he [Sara] is doing well.)
Articles are optional.
In France: Je vais porter une chemise et une jupe. (I'm going to wear a shirt and a skirt.)
In Benin: Je vais porter chemise avec jupe. (I'm going to wear shirt with skirt.)
When ordering something, the quantity is indicated at the end.
In France: Je voudrais 2 bananes et 4 goyaves. (I would like 2 bananas and 4 guavas.
In Benin: Je vais prendre bananes 2 et goyaves 4. (I'll take bananas 2 and guavas 4.)
Some subjects can be replaced with objects.
In France: Il va venir demain. (He is going to come tomorrow.)
In Benin: Lui va venir demain. (Him is going to come tomorrow.)
Subjunctive is rarely (or never?) used.
In France: Il est important qu'il vienne a midi. (It's important that he come at noon.)
In Benin: Il est important qu'il va venir a midi. (It's important that he is going to come at noon.)
Mistakes don't matter! Benin is infinitely easier than France for the non-native French speaker because everyone makes mistakes and no one cares.
Is Peuhl the language of southern Benin? Is French in the south influenced by Peuhl and therefore quite different than French in northern Benin?
ReplyDeleteThis has got to be difficult for someone fluent in French. You have to be on your toes all the time so that you can communicate as well as possible. Even if mistakes are made in Benin there is still the possibility of miscommunication which can cause some tense situations, I would think.
ReplyDeleteJean Ralley
Jean Ralley
The Beninese are very forgiving in communication. No Beninese person has French as their mother tongue, so they are very understanding when something isn't expressed quite right.
ReplyDelete