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- THE "NIGERIAN ENGLISH" SYNDROME
There are two kinds of English language are recognized in the world today – The British English and the American English. Nigeria, being colonized by Britain is supposed to speak the British English by default. But today we have found ‘our own way’ of communicating among ourselves with almost total disregard for the rules of the language. Some even boast about it, calling it the “Nigerian English.” Below is a list of some words/phrases we imported into the English language that are not (and will never be) recognized internationally. This distinction
is important for mutual intelligibility in international communication in English.
Complimentary Card: This is what we call a “business card.” This phrase is very senseless because the word “complimentary” simply means “free,” (example: “the artiste gave me a complimentary copy of his new CD”). So a “complimentary card” will simply mean a “free card” and therefore has nothing that denotes business or work.
Upliftment: This is a word so common among the Nigerian populace. We use it to mean “improvement.” We invented it as a forward-formation from “uplift.” But in Standard English, “uplift” is both a verb and a noun. For instance, we say, “my
foundation will ensure the moral upliftment of the society,” but it should actually be, “my foundation will ensure the
moral uplift of the society.”
Working Experience (as used in CVs): This is another phrase which I don’t know where it was imported from. So many Nigerian graduates prepare their CVs with the phrase “Working experience” when it should actually read, “Work experience.” May be ‘the experience’ in question is actually a human that is working, pooh!
Disvirgin: This word is used on a daily basis across all sector of the Nigerian society, when they intend to say that a woman has lost her virginity or that they are using something for the first time. The correct word to use, however, is deflower, because “disvirgin” is not even a word.
Cross-carpeting: Ask a Nigerian politician or political analyst about a politician who have dumped his political party for another party, usually a rival party and the first word you are surely going to hear from his mouth is “cross-carpeting”. The right words to use when describing this scenario are “crossing the floor,” “party switching,” and “defection” and not “cross-carpeting.”
Plumpy: Nigerians really have a way with words. The word “plumpy” in used in Nigeria to describe someone who is plump or slightly fat. It was gotten from the combination of the words “plump” and “chubby.” The correct expression is “plump”
Yesteryears: This old fashioned word, which is sometimes used for literary effects, has no plural in Standard English. It remains “yesteryear” whether it is in used a singular or plural context.
Installmentally: This word is a favorite of many Nigerians especially, between traders and customers but, sadly, it simply does not exist in any standard dictionary. It is used to denote a bit by bit payment for item and commodities. The correct rendition of the word is “in instalments” or “by instalments.”
Cunny: This is a word which Nigerians use to describe someone that is being deceitful or crafty but it is not a word in Standard English. The correct term to use is “cunning” and not “cunny.”
Outrightly: In Standard English, these word is an adjective and not an adverb, and as such, it does not take the “-ly” form in the sense of “beautifully,” “utterly,” etc. And I think someone should tell Nigerians this.
On/Off the light: Still on the confusion of parts of speech, we sometimes use expressions like “off the light,” “on the light,” etc as if “off” and “on” were verbs. How dare you say that? (I can almost hear someone say that) But “Put/switch off/on the light” is the preferred alternatives in
Standard English.
Wash a negative: This phrase is common among photographers in Nigeria. “Develop a film” is the preferred way to say this. Films, (photographs and videos) are “developed” not “washed”
Wake-keeping: “Wake-keeping” exists only in the imagination of a few English speakers. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as “wake-keeping or “wake-keep.” The correct word is “wake.” Both “wake-keeping” and “wake-keep” are both ungrammatical.
Tout- this word as been misused many times! Some one who disturb the peace of other people ,naughty, or behave in a silly way ,someone with bad character is called A Lout Nt a tout
food seller-it is called food vendor not "food seller"
Indomie-its a brand name its is calle "noodles" golden penny noodles can not be called indomie unless you want to get INDOMIE NOODLES all is not indomie
"birds of tHE same feather...." it is BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
fish seller-it is fish monger
"provision container"-it may not be a container but it is called KIRK
PROPERTIES-it is property it can not be properties
garium- its is called garri nt garium
machine-there are many machine not only the one use for transport but for the one use for transport it is "motor bike"
st james's-its wrong (st james')correct
baaf-it is bath
quaya-very wrong it is called choirRadionic-does repairing radio tv etc are also known as engineers
flit- some also called all insecticide "raid" its wrong
anniversary-is been misused "YEARLY ANNIVERSARY" IS wrong anniversary is a yearly event ,no need of adding yearly
an european man" it is wrong it is "a european man" the pronunciation is "jeuro" nt "euro" in oral english
ma-clean- is a kind of tooth paste brand name so its informal to be use for all kind me tooth paste
extra tire- its wrong (spare tire)correct
junior/senior-you can only have junior or senior in school ,work place etc siblings can be YOUNGER /OLDER
JANZ-CALLING DRUM set such name is wrong
Globe-its called "bulb" . Calling it globe is very wrong
fannimorous-this is not an english words ,so its incorrect. it was just a slang invest in nigeria in which up coming generation are now using
"......press my cloth"-to iron a cloth is not to press it this is incorrect
ragolise-this is also wrong ,it is called "table water" also known as bottle water
hold up/go slow-both were incorrect its "bad traffic" when the tGlobe-its called "bulb" . Calling it globe is very wrong
fannimorous-thisraffic is good then its good
toast- its impossible to TOAST a girl.it was not also correct to be used in such sitation.the word toast as many meaning,eg toast-bread ,you can only woo a girl
gala-gala is a brand name of a "beef /susage roll" and their many type of all this snack type so to call it in general it is a beef-roll
minerals-its not possible to drink MINERALS,THEY are harmful substance eg petrol kerosine etc also minerals resource like gold /silver its is calle BEVERAGES nt minerals
Read math-some student do make mistake of this ,you can only work out math
ear piece-its called ear phone,why some people thought "ear piece" is different but this is wrong its not
drop-this word is always been misused it is impossible for "human being to drop from a vehicle" you can "get off the car"
escort-this is also been misused "to escort a friend of yours out" is wrong ,you are not a security agent only security agent do escort.you can accompany him/her out
kid- this is informal to be use for human being its mostly use for goat young ones !
Charging point- its called "charging port"
"in my bed" -you can't be in the bed it is "on my bed"
garage-this is also been misused ,GARAGE is a place where vehicle are park in a specific building or house,while MOTOR PARK is where u can get a bus or car when travelling
miss call- "i saw your miss call" is very wrong! Who miss the call? Was it not you? Then why saying "your" it is I SAW MY MISS CALL,THEN i NOTICE IT WAS YOU"
Radionic-does repairing radio tv etc are also known as engineers
flit- some also called all insecticide "raid" its wrong
anniversary-is been misused "YEARLY ANNIVERSARY" IS wrong anniversary is a yearly event ,no need of adding yearly
an european man" it is wrong it is "a european man" the pronunciation is "jeuro" nt "euro" in oral english
ma-clean- is a kind of tooth paste brand name so its informal to be use for all kind me tooth paste
extra tire- its wrong (spare tire)correct
junior/senior-you can only have junior or senior in school ,work place etc siblings can be YOUNGER /OLDER
JANZ-CALLING DRUM set such name is wrong
Globe-its called "bulb" . Calling it globe is very wrong
fannimorous-this is not an english words ,so its incorrect. it was just a slang invest in nigeria in which up coming generation are now using
"......press my cloth"-to iron a cloth is not to press it this is incorrect
ragolise-this is also wrong ,it is called "table water" also known as bottle water
hold up/go slow-both were incorrect its "bad traffic" when the tGlobe-its called "bulb" . Calling it globe is very wrong
fannimorous-thisraffic is good then its good
toast- its impossible to TOAST a girl.it was not also correct to be used in such sitation.the word toast as many meaning,eg toast-bread ,you can only woo a girl
gala-gala is a brand name of a "beef /susage roll" and their many type of all this snack type so to call it in general it is a beef-roll
minerals-its not possible to drink MINERALS,THEY are harmful substance eg petrol kerosine etc also minerals resource like gold /silver its is calle BEVERAGES nt minerals
Read math-some student do make mistake of this ,you can only work out math
ear piece-its called ear phone,why some people thought "ear piece" is different but this is wrong its not
drop-this word is always been misused it is impossible for "human being to drop from a vehicle" you can "get off the car"
escort-this is also been misused "to escort a friend of yours out" is wrong ,you are not a security agent only security agent do escort.you can accompany him/her out
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© UNIBEN GOSSIP 2018
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