I would like to know the meaning, the origin and
how the following phrase should be used:
: : 'all protocols observed'
: That's interesting. Having always lived in the UK,
it was utterly unfamiliar to me, and I had to Google
to find examples of its use. Judging by the
contexts I found it in (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa,
Uganda) it appears to be an African way of starting
a formal speech. Now, traditionally the correct
protocol for starting a formal speech is by
addressing everyone in your audience in order of
precedence, e.g. "Your Excellency, Minister, My
Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen". In these and other
African countries it is apparently now customary to
start instead with: "Ladies and Gentlemen, all
protocols observed". Thus the phrase means
something like: "You know who you all are, just
take it as read that I have listed you as corrrect
protocol dictates, OK?"
: Presumably the phrase originated as a way of
avoiding listing your hearers in order of
precedence - either because you don't know
everyone there, or don't know the correct order, or
because there is some dispute over who has
precedence and you don't want to commit
yourself.
: In any country where it is now accepted as the
correct way of starting a speech, it should be used
to start a speech. But not anywhere else!


In addition, 'Protocols' are a system of 'rules', customs and
observances which can govern any sort of activity,
so if 'all protocols are observed' it means the
speaker or writer is claiming that the relevant
niceties have been followed.
1. It is clearly a lie.
In essence you have NOT observed all protocols.
It is just a claim that the necessarily rules of
decorum have been observed but we all know
protocol was overlooked altogether. Consider this,
if you had been asked to pass a vote of thanks,
would you thank one or two people and then
state “All thanks given?”
2. There are other ways to observe protocol
without having to mention each and every
dignitary present.
One way is clustering: You can use a general
phrase to address all that fall within a certain
category – honourable delegates, distinguished
ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, my
Lords etc. That way due diligence is paid.
3. It is a home-grown expression, unrecognised
by the rest of the world.
Other than Kenyans, Nigerians, Ugandans and
some South Africans who have become
accustomed to hearing this, the expression
remains totally alien to the rest of the world. Your
audience will be at a loss as to what you mean;
and as to why you have opted for that ‘short-
cut.’
4. It is not necessary to use that expression
when protocol has indeed been observed.
At times the speaker does indeed take his or her
time to mention the dignitaries in the audience in
order of precedence but spoils it by concluding
the list with “all protocols observed.” If protocol
has indeed been observed then that will be
apparent to the audience and therefore redundant
to include that out-of-place phrase.

noted. but kindly arrange the write up in an orderly manner. Thank u

@ onimcee1,

please I will need some clarifications. in ur write up above u cited clustering as a way of avoiding those lengthy niceties, that I presume u can use when u know the dignitaries present.

what happens when u don't know them?

ok...I just got to learn that "ladies and gentlemen " will do. what's ur take?

Pls arrange your write up . its a good one tho..

Just because we speak it in Africa and the rest of the world doesn't, doesn't mean it's wrong. The most important thing is understanding what is being communicated to you. If the whites had coined this, it would've been genius, we Africans never appreciate our unique minds.

Interesting one... The explanation is valid.

onimcee1:
I would like to know the meaning, the origin and
how the following phrase should be used:
: : 'all protocols observed'
: That's interesting. Having always lived in the UK,
it was utterly unfamiliar to me, and I had to Google
to find examples of its use. Judging by the
contexts I found it in (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa,
Uganda) it appears to be an African way of starting
a formal speech. Now, traditionally the correct
protocol for starting a formal speech is by
addressing everyone in your audience in order of
precedence, e.g. "Your Excellency, Minister, My
Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen". In these and other
African countries it is apparently now customary to
start instead with: "Ladies and Gentlemen, all
protocols observed". Thus the phrase means
something like: "You know who you all are, just
take it as read that I have listed you as corrrect
protocol dictates, OK?"
: Presumably the phrase originated as a way of
avoiding listing your hearers in order of
precedence - either because you don't know
everyone there, or don't know the correct order, or
because there is some dispute over who has
precedence and you don't want to commit
yourself.
: In any country where it is now accepted as the
correct way of starting a speech, it should be used
to start a speech. But not anywhere else!
: (VSD)
'Protocols' are a system of 'rules', customs and
observances which can govern any sort of activity,
so if 'all protocols are observed' it means the
speaker or writer is claiming that the relevant
niceties have been followed.
1. It is clearly a lie.
In essence you have NOT observed all protocols.
It is just a claim that the necessarily rules of
decorum have been observed but we all know
protocol was overlooked altogether. Consider this,
if you had been asked to pass a vote of thanks,
would you thank one or two people and then
state “All thanks given?”
2. There are other ways to observe protocol
without having to mention each and every
dignitary present.
One way is clustering: You can use a general
phrase to address all that fall within a certain
category – honourable delegates, distinguished
ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, my
Lords etc. That way due diligence is paid.
3. It is a home-grown expression, unrecognised
by the rest of the world.
Other than Kenyans, Nigerians, Ugandans and
some South Africans who have become
accustomed to hearing this, the expression
remains totally alien to the rest of the world. Your
audience will be at a loss as to what you mean;
and as to why you have opted for that ‘short-
cut.’
4. It is not necessary to use that expression
when protocol has indeed been observed.
At times the speaker does indeed take his or her
time to mention the dignitaries in the audience in
order of precedence but spoils it by concluding
the list with “all protocols observed.” If protocol
has indeed been observed then that will be
apparent to the audience and therefore redundant
to include that out-of-place phrase.

What if stand on an existing protocol?

Come on! That phrase ("all protocols observed" or "standing on existing protocols" ) is used mainly by subsequent speakers at a function when the first speaker must have acknowledged the presence of all dignitaries.

Besides that it's not a practice in UK or USA does not make it wrong.

Are we not free to decide how we greet ourselves?

In activities here in Uniben, the speaker will politely ask the audience to permit him to stand on already existing protocols, which probably the PRO or someone else has established.

I'd rather say "standing on the existing protocols".

Niyeal:
What if stand on an existing protocol?

you can not stand on existing protocols as none was probably in existence.
below are some definitions of the term"PROTOCOL", none of them defines it as the dignitaries in an event.
1. the official procedure or system of rules
governing affairs of state or diplomatic
occasions.
2. the original draft of a diplomatic document,
especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to
in conference and signed by the parties.
3. a formal or official record of scientific
experimental observations.
4. a set of rules governing the exchange or
transmission of data between devices.

Shelloween:
Just because we speak it in Africa and the rest of the world doesn't, doesn't mean it's wrong. The most important thing is understanding. If the whites had coined this, it would've been genius, we Africans never appreciate our unique minds.

You may be free to use it in the listed African countries where it as become a norm, but avoid using it outside these countries because it is not universally accepted.
It is just one of our performative errors as non-native speakers of the language.

[quote author=menxer post=55182110]Come on! That phrase ("all protocols observed" or "standing on existing protocols" ) is used mainly by subsequent speakers at a function when the first speaker must have acknowledged the presence of all dignitaries.

Besides that it's not a practice in UK or USA does not make it wrong.

Are we not free to decide how we greet ourselves?


[/quote
We as non native speakers, lack linguistic competence. If how you greet we greet ourselves in another man's language is not acceptable by such a man, then we shouldn't do it.
many Africans speak pidgin English, does that make pidgin English acceptable or correct?

onimcee1:

You may be free to use it in the listed African countries where it as become a norm, but avoid using it outside these countries because it is not universally accepted.
It is just one of our performative errors as non-native speakers of the language.

I don't give a damn whether it is Universally acceptable or not. When is a statement considered to be universally accepted? When a hot shot in Europe speaks it? Americans invented their own English, did they wait for universal acceptance before speaking it? The fact that more that one African country use this statement is enough to make it universally acceptable. We shouldn't wait for the whites to accept our shit before we use it in their country because they don't seek our opinion before they shove their shit down our throats. Inugo?

onimcee1:


We as non native speakers, lack linguistic competence. If how you greet we greet ourselves in another man's language is not acceptable by such a man, then we shouldn't do it.
many Africans speak pidgin English, does that make pidgin English acceptable or correct?

You are missing the point of this argument, that we use English language to communicate does not mean we should not or cannot reflect our cultural or societal norms, else what are we communicating?

If and when we address the House of Lords or House of Commons, we will observe the etiquettes applicable there.

onimcee1:

you can not stand on existing protocols as none was probably in existence.
below are some definitions of the term"PROTOCOL", none of them defines it as the dignitaries in an event.
1. the official procedure or system of rules
governing affairs of state or diplomatic
occasions.
2. the original draft of a diplomatic document,
especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to
in conference and signed by the parties.
3. a formal or official record of scientific
experimental observations.
4. a set of rules governing the exchange or
transmission of data between devices.

That's the definition the whites gave you, how does our society define protocol?

protocol
ˈprəʊtəkɒl/
noun

~ the system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at (un)official ceremonies and occasions.
(adapted)

onimcee1:
I would like to know the meaning, the origin and
how the following phrase should be used:
: : 'all protocols observed'
: That's interesting. Having always lived in the UK,
it was utterly unfamiliar to me, and I had to Google
to find examples of its use. Judging by the
contexts I found it in (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa,
Uganda) it appears to be an African way of starting
a formal speech. Now, traditionally the correct
protocol for starting a formal speech is by
addressing everyone in your audience in order of
precedence, e.g. "Your Excellency, Minister, My
Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen". In these and other
African countries it is apparently now customary to
start instead with: "Ladies and Gentlemen, all
protocols observed". Thus the phrase means
something like: "You know who you all are, just
take it as read that I have listed you as corrrect
protocol dictates, OK?"
: Presumably the phrase originated as a way of
avoiding listing your hearers in order of
precedence - either because you don't know
everyone there, or don't know the correct order, or
because there is some dispute over who has
precedence and you don't want to commit
yourself.
: In any country where it is now accepted as the
correct way of starting a speech, it should be used
to start a speech. But not anywhere else!


In addition, 'Protocols' are a system of 'rules', customs and
observances which can govern any sort of activity,
so if 'all protocols are observed' it means the
speaker or writer is claiming that the relevant
niceties have been followed.
1. It is clearly a lie.
In essence you have NOT observed all protocols.
It is just a claim that the necessarily rules of
decorum have been observed but we all know
protocol was overlooked altogether. Consider this,
if you had been asked to pass a vote of thanks,
would you thank one or two people and then
state “All thanks given?”
2. There are other ways to observe protocol
without having to mention each and every
dignitary present.
One way is clustering: You can use a general
phrase to address all that fall within a certain
category – honourable delegates, distinguished
ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, my
Lords etc. That way due diligence is paid.
3. It is a home-grown expression, unrecognised
by the rest of the world.
Other than Kenyans, Nigerians, Ugandans and
some South Africans who have become
accustomed to hearing this, the expression
remains totally alien to the rest of the world. Your
audience will be at a loss as to what you mean;
and as to why you have opted for that ‘short-
cut.’
4. It is not necessary to use that expression
when protocol has indeed been observed.
At times the speaker does indeed take his or her
time to mention the dignitaries in the audience in
order of precedence but spoils it by concluding
the list with “all protocols observed.” If protocol
has indeed been observed then that will be
apparent to the audience and therefore redundant
to include that out-of-place phrase.

Op! One day you'll want us to be thinking in English too because that's how it is done in UK and US.

OP is just ass-licking the whites smh

All protocol duely noted. Back then one of my teacher define English as a "dynamic language". It is true because new "words" and new "meanings" are been added to the English dictionary on a regular basic

OP, you're wrong. Your post should be about the correct use of "All protocols observed" and not advising us never to say it. That phrase should only be used when a particular speaker who has already greeted everyone in the assembly is about to speak again after a while of silence or in the process of interference. But when a speaker is to respond to a direct question, he should just start by saying a thank you to the person asking him the question before he begins his response.

I still want to make bold claims to the correctness of my argument here by further saying that STANDING ON EXISTING PROTOCOLS or ALL PROTOCOLS DULY OBSERVED is colloquial.
It is being used by many doesn't make it correct.
Summarily, it is syntactically correct and semantically wrong.
when a critical semantical analysis is done on this phrase, you will understand better.

ladies and gentleman, permit me to stand on existing protocols (if you like no permit me, you fit boil stone chop)
my name is thundar, and I shall fire anyone with myopia view of our ideologies!
Thank you!

In Igbo settings, same rules applies, when you want to address the elders, instead of calling them out by their titled names one by one, you can say.....nke onye chiri ya zere ya........meaning, to each, let his title be for him.


So I believe that's same thing being observed by Africans when they say all protocols observed.

Op English is constantly an evolving language, remember America develop theirs, that the UK and US have no idea about "all protocols duly observered or standing on existing protocols doesn't make it wrong to me anyway following the consciousness of time, if almost all d country in a continent is aware den y not? its an acceptable phrase to me, na Nigeria English just like America get their own

onimcee1:

you can not stand on existing protocols as none was probably in existence.
below are some definitions of the term"PROTOCOL", none of them defines it as the dignitaries in an event.
1. the official procedure or system of rules
governing affairs of state or diplomatic
occasions.
2. the original draft of a diplomatic document,
especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to
in conference and signed by the parties.
3. a formal or official record of scientific
experimental observations.
4. a set of rules governing the exchange or
transmission of data between devices.

Why is your OP disorganised?

Educative post, though

Dfinex:
noted. but kindly arrange the write up in an orderly manner. Thank u

In other words, you want him to observe all protocols

Dfinex:
noted. but kindly arrange the write up in an orderly manner. Thank u

In other words, you want him to observe all protocols

farem:

In other words, you want him to observe all protocols
In other words, you want him to observe all protocols

exactly. bruh u sabi the thing. .....lol

Stand on existing protocol or all protocols observed seems to be of Nigerian origin and the other African countries mentioned caught the bug.

onimcee1:
I still want to make bold claims to the correctness of my argument here by further saying that STANDING ON EXISTING PROTOCOLS or ALL PROTOCOLS DULY OBSERVED is colloquial.
It is being used by many doesn't make it correct.
Summarily, it is syntactically correct and semantically wrong.
when a critical semantical analysis is done on this phrase, you will understand better.

Standing on existing protocols ,I'm the moniker above,and I have come to request that the owner of this thread gives you and I a critical semantical analysis on this phrase so that you and I can understand better.
Op,over to you.