virago:

But you can not disregard other yardstick of measurement as you would most likely get it wrong. I'll use your logic as an example , we all know mathematical proficiency is low and more people ( at least 8 out of 10 ) are not really maths oriented but would it be wise to judge based on mathematical proficiency alone ?. While English may say something about the environment you grew up ( I'll come to that in a bit ) it shouldn't be used solely as a measure of intelligence.

Yes to a large extent speaking "good" English has a lot to do with where you were brought up , you won't expect a child who grew up in a rural environment to speak better English than one who grew up in Banana Island or even in England but we can not say the child who grew up in Ikoyi is more intelligent than the one who grew up in Aramoko.

obailala:
Haha, you're still missing the point I'm trying to make. I really doubt you have seen the tweet that birthed this conversation. If you see it, you will speak no more! I wonder why the Op didn't post the tweet and for some reason, I can't seem to find it online any more.

English fluency obviously cannot be a used as a yardstick to measure intelligence. But in some bizarre cases like this one, I'm sorry, exceptions MUST be made. Using your example about poor math ability not being a reasonable measure of a person's intelligence, what exactly would you say if you met a GRADUATE who has been through primary school, secondary school and a tertiary institution, but cannot solve 5 x 5? Would you still make this argument about mathematics not being a test of knowledge?

hedonistic:
The more important question to ask is: Is having money a measure of intelligence? Is being broke a measure of lack of intelligence?

Caseless:
that's because it's our official language and, not because it's a measure of intelligence.

Bigfellas:



Yes it is convenient to say that lady is not intelligent. I will accept that but she isn't intelligent not because of her poor use of English language but because an intelligent mind will prefer to stay silent when she/he knows what she/he is about to say makes no sense.

blueskies:
IMO, fluency in English language is not a major proof of intelligence, however we can say it is a proof of exposure

oluwakayode25:


An intelligent mind will know how to express one's self,besides intelligent people win spelling competition's, if you consider her intelligent like some people are saying, shouldn't she be able to participate in spelling bee
I don't see how different this girl is different from Mr spells, probably because this one went to school sha..its pretty easy to tell how smart someone could be by their English, it is also one of the easiest ways to appraise somebody you meeting for d first time..
Imagine this girl trying to write an essay and she is an English student...no excuses for me...she isn't intelligent at all...or maybe she loves arithmetics but guess what,even arithmetics require some use of English from time to time....

Biglittlelois:


I will overlook the insults and innuendos,

Now as you said, there are thousands of languges around the world, true, but i care less about them, the Chinese use an official language yes, but do you know they have different dialects? no you dont, but they agreed to use a particular one to make it official which worked for them till today.

In Nigeria, we have different languages, and some languages e.g. Yoruba, have different dialects, so please, school me if there is, but there is no language of ours that have words for codes and everything as you said, if you want us to start that, you can suggest it to FG to work on it, then they can decide on which language to use officially if other tribes will agree


I am open to other valid points, but to me, English may not necessarily be an 100% measure for intelligence, but it takes a higher percentage of 80%.

hibiscus76:
its not a necessarily a measure of Intelligence, buh in a country where its our linguafranca, its just pertinent that you should, to some extent, know your tenses.

obailala:
Haha, you're still missing the point I'm trying to make. I really doubt you have seen the tweet that birthed this conversation. If you see it, you will speak no more! I wonder why the Op didn't post the tweet and for some reason, I can't seem to find it online any more.

English fluency obviously cannot be a used as a yardstick to measure intelligence. But in some bizarre cases like this one, I'm sorry, exceptions MUST be made. Using your example about poor math ability not being a reasonable measure of a person's intelligence, what exactly would you say if you met a GRADUATE who has been through primary school, secondary school and a tertiary institution, but cannot solve 5 x 5? Would you still make this argument about mathematics not being a test of knowledge?

ifada123:

Did you know that buhari
Was not able to recognize that 97 +5 =100?
And in the case you cited, most people will find it cool if the person decide to us his calculator to compute 5×5,

obailala:
Lol... There was absolutely nothing mathematically wrong with Buhari's 97% and 5% statement. You (and millions of others) just failed to comprehend it. As usual, we Nigerians are more concerned about making jokes.

In maths, it's not everytime you see percentages that you must add the numbers and expect 100%. At least not when comparing exclusive events.

"People from City A gave me 97% of their votes but people from City B gave me only 5% of their votes."

In the above situatiin, do you expect to just add 97 + 5 and expect 100?

virago:



Now you are the one mixing things up , 5 X 5 is basic primary 1 or 2 maths , there is a degree to everything , in your case you would expect any adult or graduate to know basic primary one English or maths. It's akin to saying a graduate who can't spell come , go , book or sit now compare that to graduates who can't solve senior secondary maths and believe me there are tonnes of people like that.

ifada123:

I know that percentage can be more than 100.
But in a population of voters a percentage more than 100 is inconsistent.
Meanwhile it will not make sense if he said the igbos gave 5% of his vote 97% are from Hausa and others.
The sentence will tell if a % greater than 100 is accurate, consistent or otherwise sir

obailala:
Are you sure you read what I wrote?... or did you even bother reading or listening to the statement from Buhari before proceeding to your above conclusions?

This was the statement from Buhari:
"People who gave me only 5% of their votes cant expect to get the same treatment as people who gave me 97% of their vote"

With the above statement, do you still think you should be adding 5 to 97 and expecting 100% ? Now that you know the real statement, do you still think there's anything mathematically wrong or inconsistent with that statement?

MissRaine69:

Brilliance still leans towards academia
Ability and functionability for example if someone can learns how to play a guitar or the piano by simply listening that person is intelligent. If someone can read music as far as I am concerned they are a cut above someone who speaks English well.

SmilingMary:
Articulation has nothing to do with intelligence

Bimboscoo:
There are four types of intelligence. Emotional, Spiritual, Academics and Financial intelligence.
Simply put: English is not a measure of intelligence.
The most advanced countries of this world speak in their mother's tougue. RUSSIA, JAPAN, CHINA, SPAIN, ITALY, FRANCE, GERMANY, ENGLAND.
English is just a means of communication.

pastie:

In other words, you mean to say only intelligent people go to schools.


modified: I apologized, I was high today, couldn't comprehend you initially.

brodalokie:

Intel is military information collected about an enemy's secret plans. [informal]. Get your facts right before you make comments.
The ability to understand English in itself has caused a lot of confusion and trouble.
No wonder when His wanted to stop humans from reaching The heavens, He simply put confusion in their language.
The word Intelligence itself is a way of communication.
Look at it, INTEL

brodalokie:

Intel is military information collected about an enemy's secret plans. [informal]. Get your facts right before you make comments.
The ability to understand English in itself has caused a lot of confusion and trouble.
No wonder when God wanted to stop humans from reaching The heavens, He simply put confusion in their language.
The word Intelligence itself is a way of communication.
Look at it, INTEL

MissRaine69:

Putin never speaks in English but he can speak and why not speak Igbo? It’s inferior somehow? This is what colonisation does to people. A country of many universities and very little actual intelligence.

brodalokie:


Exactly! Your language or slang is your military secret. If I am exposed to it, then I will be able to communicate with you.

War is confusing your neighbour. What God did at Babel is that he caused them to disagree with each other. They had to leave the project unfinished. You can see why have so much unfinished projects or problems in Nigeria. It is because we are uneducated. We have an official language that is not encouraged.

The word military for instance is a short combination of mile and light/lite. Light mile is a term associated with Astrology. This is why military officers are decorated with stars, even the badges have a 5 pointed star.

You will agree that it was a secret to you before but now your are another step wiser. That is what intelligence is all about.

Bimboscoo:
Your knowledge or understanding of the word language excludes your own mother'stongue. Then there is no basis for this discussion. I am sure you understand whatever local language you speak more than English. That's where the confusion lies.
That's why Africa will never move forward. Ig we cannot get it rifht with simple language. We would remain a second fiddle to those that own what we use.