Is the tonal aspect of the Nigerian Pidgin language system considered a minor or significant characteristic?

The tonal aspect of the Nigerian Pidgin language system is considered a significant characteristic. While Nigerian Pidgin draws much of its vocabulary from English, its phonology, including its tone system, is significantly influenced by the substrate languages of Nigeria, such as Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, which are tonal languages. This means that the meaning of a word in Nigerian Pidgin can change depending on the tone with which it is pronounced. This tonal feature distinguishes it from English and gives it a distinct character. The tone is crucial for understanding the intended meaning in Nigerian Pidgin and thus is not a minor aspect.