body-container-line-1
19.02.2018 Opinion

Some 'Funny' English By Ghanaian

By Musah Abdul Razak
Some 'Funny' English By Ghanaian
19.02.2018 LISTEN

By Musah Abdul Razak
In 1471, the first European, that is the Portuguese arrived in Ghana. Around 1650, the last Europeans, that is the Danes also arrived in Ghana. In 1874, the southern states of Ghana were colonized by the British. The defeat of the Asantes in the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900 by the British made the Northern states of Ghana a British protectorate in 1902.The British then introduced English as a formal language into their colonies. This has facilitated communication among countries.

When you come to Ghana for instance, English is very essential. It is used in schools, at homes and workplaces. It can even be noticed that a person who fails English finds it difficult to be enrolled in some institutions. Parents therefore are compelled to coerce their children to learn English. No wonder some parents want personal English tutors for their children. In the field of communication the Ghanaian can never do without English. People who cannot speak English are seen by their colleagues as barbarians and of no use.

Now, as if the introduction of English into Ghana was not enough, I have been hearing some funny utterances on the radio, in schools and at workplaces all in the name of speaking English. Interestingly, when you try to correct them, they become furious. What baffles me are my educated elites in whom we believe and emulate but who even use these 'funny' phrases. But who am I to correct you for making mistakes when the so-called educated elites are not even perfect. Without wasting much time, I would want to set the ball rolling.

Invited Guest
Mr chairman, Panel of Judges, Invited Guests...I have been seeing this in books written by professors who are role models to the young ones. Teachers who passed through education but education didn't pass through them also teach the young ones whose desires are to learn something better. God saves the young ones. Guest is simply an invited visitor so does it sound well if one says invited guests?The correct thing however is invited personalities or distinguished guests. Please let us not repeat this.

Names of talkatives
When I was in JHS, a teacher would tell the class prefect to write names of talkatives. Quite often I still hear teachers telling students to write names of talkatives. Also, students go to teachers with sheet of papers that they have written names of talkatives. Is the teacher really teaching the child well? Who is our saviour? Talkative is an adjective and throughout my education on adjectives I was never taught adjectives have singular and plural forms. Maybe all the English teachers I have met have 'untutored' mind since they didn't teach me that adjective have singular and plural forms. One would say it is talkatives because they are many. Do we say beautifuls when they are many?Saying talkatives simply means we can say beautifuls, handsomes, Nices and many others. How funny it is! To say names of talkatives is 100% wrong. Please let us say names of talkers to avoid any disgrace.

Call me Linda
This is used when one wants you to call them another person. I remember back at school a teacher once called me and said, 'Razak please call me Linda. 'This teacher has completed his tertiary education and look at how he messed up. Oh my God! But this teacher was called Mr Frederick, why did he want me to call him Linda, a female's name? Maybe he knew what he was doing. The correct thing he should have said was call Linda for me or call for me Linda. I believe you have learnt something here?

Too known
How funny the Ghanaian can misuse words. We will say a person who always wants to show off is too known. If a person is too known, it means they are too famous. The correct thing however is too knowing and not too known.

Sorry
I once wrote on my status that I was sick and needed prayers. People after seeing this started texting to me that they were sorry. I asked them whether they were responsible for my sickness and they said no. But why were they sorry?Sorry simply means regretful for an action. I therefore urge all my readers not to say sorry for an action they are not responsible for. Rather say it's a pity or poor you to avoid any shame.

From today going
Whenever I hear this phrase, I begin to laugh uncontrollably since it is very funny. The question is, where is today going and has never reached? Please today cannot move as you presumed it to be. Rather say from today forward.

Chop money
I would tell my mother to give me my chop money anytime I was ready for school but little did I know we don't chop money but we spend. To avoid any disgrace, simply say pocket money and leave Mr. chop money alone.

I am going to barber my hair/barbering shop
The Ghanaian will say 'I am going to barber my hair' as if they are going to shave themselves. Meanwhile they will rather go and sit for a barber to shave them. Ei mother Ghana! Please the correct thing is I am going for my hair to be shaved, trimmed or barbered. But why do we call the place barbering shop? Barbering is the process of shaving and the place where barbering takes place is rather a barber shop and not a barbering shop.

Ice water
It is only the Ghanaian who would want water to be solid and liquid at the same time. Hahahaha. Ice is when the water is in it solid state and water is when it is in the liquid state. Have you now seen you are not as perfect as you see yourself to be? Be humble. Just say chilled water and stop saying ice water since it is impossible.

Inter-classes
My headache starts anytime I hear phrases like inter-houses, inter-classes, inter-schools and many others. Hmmmmm.If a headmaster can boldly say 'the following week is inter-schools' and the teachers will also stand like 'Egyptian Mummies' and nod their heads as if the headmaster has made no mistake then what knowledge are they imparting onto the students? God guides us. The correct thing however is interclass, interschool, intersection, etc.

Chop bar
This phrase has now become part of our English. Please eatery is the correct word to use here.

We are not all perfect, these are some common mistakes I have noticed from a lot of Ghanaians and as a citizen, I want us to correct them before it's too late. It is not only the work of teachers but all of us. My dear students, please read wide so that you can learn new things. English is indeed dynamic.

Musah Abdul Razak
0246783212

body-container-line