This time, the writer gives more examples of wrong usages and explanations to help you hone your skills communication in English language.
Addition
In Nigerian English, we equally say โI know fully wellโ instead of โI know full wellโ. โFullโ is correctly used here as an obscure adverb, that is, an adverb that has the structure of an adjective. It is notional or grammatical over-generalisation to conclude that all words ending in โ-lyโ are adverbs; or that adverbs always take โ-lyโ. For example, as we have natural obscure adjectives like โFatherlyโ, โHeavenlyโ, โCowardlyโ, etc., that is, adjectives having the shape of adverbs, we also have natural adverbs called obscure adverbs (without โ-lyโ), e.g., โLowโ, โHighโ, โHardโ, โLateโ, โWideโ, etc., that have the shape of adjectives. It is their usage in an expression that usually marks the difference between adjectives and adverbs, e.g. โHe came lateโ (adverb); โHe usually arrive in late hoursโ (adjective); โHe opened the door wideโ (adverb); โThere road is wideโ (adjective); โHe always work hardโ (adverb); โThe book has a hard coverโ (adjective).
Further analysis
Most Nigerians also interpret the expression โNo love lostโ to mean that the love between two people is intact. This idiom actually means that two people involved hate each other, that the love does not exist in the first place not to talk of it getting lost. One of the ex-Super Eagles players was asked about his relationship with another ex-Super Eagles player on a radio sports programme two years ago, he replied that that their relationship was intact and also used the idiom โNo love lostโ to emphasise it. What a self-contradiction! In the same vein, the expression โPlay the Devilโs advocateโ is misinterpreted in Nigerian English. The dictionary meaning is: โto pretend to disagree with somebody in order to have good discussion about somethingโ. But in Nigerian English, it is wrongly used to mean that somebody is defending an offender, like an advocate or lawyer.
Conditional clauses
Also, another area where the problem of over-generalisation of rules manifests in Nigerian English is in the area of conditional clauses. Most Nigerian speakers use the second type of conditional clauses called โTheoretical Possibilityโ in almost all situations because they think conditionals clauses are always in the past, e.g., โIf we supplied the goods tomorrow, they would pay usโ. Conditional clauses are basically divided to three types. The first type is called โOpen Possibilityโ. This refers to possible actions, e.g., โIf we have money tomorrow, we shall go thereโ.
The second type is called โTheoretical Possibilityโ. This is used for actions that are no longer possible, except in theory, e.g. โIf I were you, I would buy the carโ. This is in the past because it is no longer possible for the person to be another person. The third type is called โDenied Possibilityโ, e.g. โIf I had been given a chance, I would have beaten the manโ. There is a minor one which is a combination of one part of Type Two and one part of Type Three, e.g. โIf the crisis had stopped, there would be peace everywhere now.โ
CAREER/BUSINESS IMPLICATION
Just imagine an organisation telling its numerous foreign customers โIf we had goods tomorrow, we would call youโ! This practically means it is impossible to call customers because it is impossible to have goods. The Open Possibility type should have been used, โIf we have goods tomorrow, we shall call youโ.
Inconsistency/overgeneralisation of rules of English
… Apart from blaming Nigerians for errors of over-generalisation of rules of English, Standard British English itself is also blamed for lack of consistency of rules here. For instance, โFormalโ is the opposite of โInformalโ but โValuableโ and โInvaluableโ are not opposite words. โFlammableโ and โInflammableโ are also not opposite words. While โProprietressโ is the opposite of โProprietorโ, โGovernorโ is not the opposite of โGovernessโ. While โUselessโ is the opposite of โUsefulโ, โPricelessโ is not a negative word with the meaning โWithout a priceโ, but โToo valuable to be pricedโ. Also the Standard British English word โOffhandโ means to say something from the memory. This series of inconsistency of rules makes most Nigerians wrongly use โOffheadโ for โOffhandโ because they believe hands are not involved. They also think โInvaluableโ is the opposite of โValuableโ; or โInflammableโ is opposite of โFlammableโ, etc.
Special areas
While conceptually-plural noun phrases like โThe Underdogโ, โthe youthโ, โthe faithfulโ, โthe poorโ, โthe offspringโ, โthe folkโ, โThree dozenโ, โTwo aircraftโ, etc., are acceptably used without โSโ, we surprisingly have structurally-plural but conceptually-singular nouns like โA speciesโ, โA crossroadsโ, โa bellowsโ, โa meansโ, โa summonsโ, etc., starting with the indefinite article โAโ and still ending in โSโ. This inconsistency on the part of Standard British English misleads most speakers of Nigerian English into committing errors of overgeneralisation of rules by removing the final โSโ to convey singular.
More information
Also, the expression โHow do you do?โ is correctly replied with โHow do you do?โ But most speakers of Nigerian English wrongly reply โFineโ. The expressions โWhatโs moreโ and โI hope you are okayโ do not take a question mark. But speakers of Nigerian English overgeneralise by even adding a question mark in writing. Though, Standard British English is also blamed for lack of consistency here. Also present-tense expressions used in the past-tense form tagged unreal-past such as โI would rather you went there tomorrowโ, โIt is high time we went home nowโ, โI wish I met my mother at home tomorrowโ, etc., pose the problem of usage in Nigeria. This problem is also blamed on Standard British English for tense inconsistency of using past tense to convey present.
Other examples of Nigerian English errors
Most speakers of Nigerian English wrongly say โThank you for your patronageโ (American English) instead of โThank you for your customโ (British English). They also wrongly say โIt is taskingโ instead of โIt is taxingโ; โIt is a lost battleโ instead of โIt is a losing battleโ; โWarm your way into somebodyโs heartโ instead of the correct Standard British English version โWorm your way into somebodyโs heartโ. They also wrongly say โHe is a Godsentโ instead of โIt is a godsendโ; โAs at when dueโ instead of โAs and when dueโ; โI will lay ambush for himโ instead of โI will lie in ambush for himโ.
Additional examples
Most speakers of Nigerian English wrongly say โThe president has commissioned the new roadโ instead of โThe president has inaugurated the new roadโ; โHe always speaks big grammarโ instead of โHe always uses high-sounding vocabularyโ; โI am a staff of this organisationโ instead of โI am a member of staff of this organisationโ. In Nigerian English, it is common to hear the wrong expression โYou that is not seriousโ while referring to one person, instead of โYou that are not seriousโ. Speakers of Nigerian English wrongly say โI that is not afraidโ instead of โI that am not afraidโ; โNight vigilโ instead of โVigilโ; โWake-keepingโ or โWake-keepโ instead of the correct version โWakeโ. It is also common to hear โDoctorate degreeโ instead of the correct version โDoctorateโ or โDoctoral degreeโ; โElectioneering campaignโ instead of โElectioneeringโ. Speakers of Nigerian English wrongly say โWe boast of good staffโ instead of the correct version โWe boast good staffโ; โThe new manager will resume tomorrowโ instead of โThe new manager will assume duties tomorrowโ.
Last set of examples
They also wrongly say โI have scaled throughโ instead of โI have sailed throughโ; โHe is maturedโ instead of โHe is matureโ; โIt seems as ifโ instead of โIt seems thatโ; โThat your friendโ instead of โThat friend of yoursโ; โIt is pepperishโ instead of โIt is pepperyโ; โGrinded pepperโ instead of โGround pepperโ; โBinded copyโ instead of โBound copyโ. Most speakers of Nigerian English also wrongly say โWhite elephant projectsโ instead of โWhite elephantsโ; โIn the company premisesโ instead of โOn the company premisesโ; โIn the busโ instead of โOn the busโ. They wrongly say โNext week Tuesdayโ instead of โTuesday Next weekโ; โNext year Octoberโ instead of โOctober Next yearโ.
General business implication
Just imagine the kind of response your organisation will get from investors or (prospective) business partners outside the country if you send a business proposal or correspondence containing these misused Nigerian English words! This linguistic incompetence becomes worrisome especially that English is necessary for competing in the global marketplace and is the most widely spoken language in the world today! Or better still, imagine how foreigners who visit your corporate website will feel about your corporate level of formal education after reading these misused words, especially that English Language has become an instrument of gauging oneโs height on the socio-intellectual ladder! I will advise individuals and corporate organisations to avoid use of the so-called Nigerian English which can impede career or business prospects because it easily leads to communication breakdown.
GOKE ILESANMI, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and International Certified Management Consultant is Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.
Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com
โEnglish itself is also blamed for lack of consistency of rules here. For instance, โFormalโ is the opposite of โInformalโ but โValuableโ and โInvaluableโ are not opposite words. โFlammableโ and โInflammableโ are also not opposite words. While โProprietressโ is the opposite of โProprietorโ, โGovernorโ is not the opposite of โGovernessโ. While โUselessโ is the opposite of โUseful.โ
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