Words change not only their meanings but also their functions: Nouns become Verbs, e.g. to Veto, to auditions; Adjectives become adverbs, e.g. fast; prepositions become parts of phrasal – Verbs, e.g. to put up with; phrasal – Verbs become nouns, e.g. a break – down. There are changes in Vocabury which require Vigilance and awareness. Yes, words change their meanings and their functions with usage.
These current tendencies in and influences on current usage must be of main concern of any User of English. Change is the only permanent thing in the world. Nothing is permanent except change. Even change has changed, for it now occurs faster and faster.
Shocker of the month
The most stupid politician living in Nigeria today is Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. – Reader, +2348104639252. When I received this text message last Sunday, I rank – Xeroxed it to my good, old friend, Ebere Wabara, because I was shocked beyond words. The sender, an Igbo guy, said the Igbo elders don’t like Dr, Kalu. Given Kalu’s social, political and economic contributions in Nigeria, West African. Africa and the whole world, does he deserve this unkind and unappreciative gesture and remarks? No! let’s appreciate his help.
Was titled or was entitled?
A Whats App post shared by Sola Adeniyi, the Executive Director of Natural Nutrient Limited, was “titled” (entitled): “Attention: India gari being sold in Nigerian Supermarkets”. The discovery of “garri” (gari) imported into the country is especially scandalous because cassava, which is processed to make the staple is produced in 24 of the country’s 36 States.
Ultimately, what the imported “garri” (gari) scandal further shows is that the country needs an agricultural revolution, which won’t happen by merely talking about it. – THE NATION MAIN EDITORIAL, March 1, 2017.
White elephant projects or white elephants?
Whether as sources of water or irrigation for mechanized farming, the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAS) have remained under utilized, with their gigantic facilities turning into “white elephant projects” (white elephants or useless projects), instead of platforms for revolutionary agriculture. – THE NATION SECOND EDITORIAL, March 1, 2017. Special notes on grammar and usage: “Entitled”, meaning “named or called”, is preferred to “titled” in Editorial English. I repeat, “entitle /entitled” is Verb while “titled” is an adjective, e.g. a titled lady.
It is “gari” (not “garri”). Please note the spelling.
“White elephant project: projects”, like “wake keep / keeping”, is English Made In Nigeria.
The statement titled or entitled?
The statement “titled” (entitled): “Response to This day false news report” added that the former Lagos state governor (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu) was neither planning a team nor holding consultations with the intention of planning any presidential campaign. – THE NATION, March 1, 2017. Note on usage: “Entitle / entitled”, meaning “name / named or call /called”, is preferred to “title/ titled” in modern usage.
On the order or on the orders?
Nothing illustrates better the conceptual ambiguity, moral ambivalence and legal quandary in which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s ongoing war against corruption in Nigeria is trapped than the recent triumphal reture to the country of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former governor of Delta State, following his release from prison on the “order”(orders) of a court in the United Kingdom, where he had pleaded guilty to gargantuan charges of corruption at the expenses of the Nigerian State and the people.
Titled or entitled?
Waring almost lyrical, the vice President of the Penecoastal Federation of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francise Awomakpa, who led other pastors in presiding at the Thanksgiving Service held at the First Baptist Church, Oghara –Efe, offered a perception of Chief Ibori that must certainly reflect the thinking of the latter’s teeming supporters. In his sermon “titled (entitled) “Knowing The Gift of God”, Bishop Awomakpa described Chief Ibori as a worthy son of Delta State and Nigeria as a whole, indeed an unappreciated gift of God.
Waterloo or waterloo?
And it was the agitation by this same group through their lawyer, Kayode Ajulo that as far as 2007 compelled the initial investigations that ultimately proved to be Ibori’s “waterloo” (Waterloo).
Potentials or potentialities?
This offers a ray of hope that in the battle against the culture of graft that so badly hobbles the “potentials” (potential or potentialities) of Nigeria, a commitment to elevated standards of intergrity and morality can trump narrow and stultifying communal justifications of corrupt enrichment. – THE NATION, February 18, 2017. Notes on grammar and usage: “on the orders of” is Briticism while “on the order of” is Americanism, a piece of Americanism!
I repeat, “titled”, meaning “having a title that shows noble rank”, is an adjective (e.g. a titled lady, the late Mrs. Margaret Thatcher); “title” is noun and its corresponding verb is “entitle / entitled”, meaning “call /called” or “name/ named”. E.g. The book is entitled (not “titled”) Ultra – Solutions. HOW TO FAIL MOST SUCCESSFULLY (by Paul Watzlawick).
Another note: Only the Americans use “titled”, an adjective, as a verb!
“Waterloo” is a city, hence “To meet One’s Waterloo” (or to meet one’s match) means “to be finally defeated or finally suffer defeat”. E.g. “The tennis champion met his Waterloo when he played the younger player”. The world champion racing driver met his match at Le Mans when his car spun off the track and was damaged beyond repair”.
Another special note: Napoleon was defeated for the last time at Waterloo by Wellington.
“Potential”, meaning “possible; that may develop into the thing specified”, is an adjective, e.g. “that hole in the road is a potential danger to motorits” and its corresponding noun is potentiality /potentialities and the adverb is “potentially”.
Congratulate–for or on?
I congratulate the government and the good people of Abia State “for” (on/upon) this landmark.
Mr. Ekundayo Akinleye said the coordinators of Osoko Mass Movement(OMM) at the local levels would be meeting weekly to get numbers of people in their polling units and register them to know the numbers of the “electorates” (electorate or electors) voting in each of the wards.
Lay clear example or set clear examples?
We must begin to “lay” (set) clear examples because we cannot have governors, rich senators, rich members of the House of Representatives and rich ministers who have simply become rich because they are in public office and for you to expect any fundamental change in the way and manner Nigeria is today.
–THE NATION POLITICS page, March1, 2017.
Notes on usage: We congratulate the president on/upon his good health and return to Nigeria.
We set examples- good or bad; we set precedents, good or bad. We don’t somehow “lay” examples or precedents! Nigerian English (NE), you cannot trump—you cannot win!
Amidst or amid?
Labour’s first reminder to the government was during the 2016 May Day, “amidst” (amid) heightened concern about the recession, which began in mid-2014.
The organized private sector, which will also be affected by a new minimum wage, is “savaged” (ravaged) by economic bad weather as well.
Therefore, what is required now is for all hands to be “on deck” (to the pumps) to revive the economy and put it in a better stead to carry and raise the existing wage burden.-The PUNCH EDITORIAL, January 30,2017. Special notes on usage; All hands to the pumps”, meaning “everybody must help” is a formal (fixed) idiom. “All hands on deck” means “everybody must be on duty”.
Confide on or in?
We members of coalition of Civil Society groups in Nigeria, have passed a vote of confidence “on” (in) the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). We also stand “with” (by) Buhari and Emefiele.- The PUNCH, Febr1,2017.
Usage Note: We confide in our bankers. We have confidence in their ability to revive the economy. We have confidence in our bankers.
Christian wake keep or Christian wake?
Exit of an icon. Pa Samuel Idowu Adebiyi.
Funeral arrangement: “CHRISTIAN WAKE KEEP” (CHRISTIAN WAKE OR WAKE): 23rd February, 2017 by “5.00pm” (17:00 hours).- A full page advert by Chief Victor Olaoye and Mrs. Fouke Abgenike, THE NATION, February 19,2017.
Wake-keeping or wake?
Fneral ceremony of our dear parents and great grandparents of Florence Orebayo and Reginald Orebayo, who slept in the Lord on 17th and 19th December, 2016. Thursday, 9th February, 2017. Friday, 10th February, 2017: “WAKE-KEEPING” (WAKE). – Full page obituary notice by Foundation of Youth Assembly, The PUNCH, February 8, 2017. Note: “Wake” is the correct word.
