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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Education / 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly (3700 Views)
10 Grammatical Jargons Often Used By Nigerians. / Some Popular Grammatical Blunders. Every One Has Made At Least Two Times / 10 Grammatical Blunders That Nigerians Make Regularly That Have Become Normal (2) (3) (4)
10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Diffpussies(m): 8:00am On Jan 09, 2021 |
1. Trafficate/Trafficator The correct word is "Indicator", when it's on a vehicle. When you use your indicator, the verb is "to indicate". The word trafficate doesn't exist in English. Trafficator is an obsolete word, used to describe an obsolete device on the side of a motor vehicle. 2. Night Vigil A Vigil means a period of time when people remain quietly in a place at Night. So, really, there's no point adding Night to it when Vigils are known to mostly hold at Night. You may just want to call it a Vigil. 3. On/Off The Light There isn't much to say about this grammatical blunder apart from the fact that each time you make that statement, make sure you add Switch to it. For example; Switch On the light/Switch Off the light. Can be used with any other object that can go On or Off 4. Reverse Back Reverse already means; to change the direction, order, position, result, etc. of something to its opposite. So, if an object is in motion, it can be reversed. And when it is in reverse, it's surely coming back to it's initial position. No point adding Back to it. 5. Next Tomorrow Most Nigerians generally use "Next Tomorrow" when speaking English. Please, stop murdering the English Language. The correct thing to say is; Day After Tomorrow. 6. Cattle Rearer The word; Cattle Rearer does not exist in proper English dictionaries. Instead, you may say Cattle Herder. That's a more appropriate way of referring to people who raise/tend to cattle or other ruminant animals. 7. Convocate Convocate is an archaic English word which means to call together or assemble but Nigerians mostly use it when they're graduating from tertiary institutions. Proper word is Convoke. 8. Plate Number Most Nigerians including traffic law enforcement agents use the word Plate Number, which is very wrong. Number is supposed to come before Plate. So, basically, it is called Number Plate and not the other way round. 9. Barb/Barbing This is very common among Nigerian men. Barb or Barbing does exist in the English dictionary but it has nothing to do with haircuts. You can go have your haircut at the Barbershop but you cannot Barb your hair because Barb means; a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fish hook, or similar objects. 10. Short Knicker Knickers ordinarily mean loose-fitting 'short' trousers gathered in at the knees. The British call it Knickers while Americans call it Shorts. Unfortunately, Nigerians marry the British and American way of saying it together by saying ”Shortknicker Source -- https://res.6chcdn.feednews.com/assets/v2/14104dfedcbd45b68b7a23cd86632606?quality=uhq&format=webp&resize=720 11 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by daddytime(m): 8:20am On Jan 09, 2021 |
"So" and "Therefore"... It is either the one or the other by the Americans and British as the case may be, but the Nigerian will comfortably marry them both in a sentence. E.g " So So therefore". 2 Likes |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by NeoWanZaeed(m): 8:25am On Jan 09, 2021 |
Great |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by alexsoftwork(m): 8:33am On Jan 09, 2021 |
Educative though. But is it ur language? |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by branhampaul: 8:47am On Jan 09, 2021 |
I disagree with your list for several reasons which I have written below. FIRSTLY, the English language as it is, is not a prescriptive language, but rather it is DESCRIPTIVE - in usage and essence. In simple terms, this means that English dictionaries reflect the way the language or words are used and not the other way (telling users how to use a language as if it is mechanical). The way a language or word is currently being used is what is taught in schools and stored in dictionaries. Such is the beauty of English. English is not a mechanical language or a language with serious penalties for new usages. Nevertheless the above, I accept that there are few rules, simple, to aid comprehension when speaking English, and these rules are usually related to concords; hardly are they adjectives or nouns. If a particular region starts the use of a particular word (especially an adjective) in describing, it is very much welcomed and English language will update itself to reflect such speaking. For the "barb" word you talked being wrong which Nigerians use daily, it has been taken by English dictionaries to reflect the way Nigerians use it. See the screenshot I attached below. Further, for the word "trafficator" which you condemned, is obviously in one of the world most popular dictionary (i.e the English Android dictionary). See the further screenshot I attached below to this post. I hope I have been able to educate. For emphasis, let me repeat some of the key points I have made: i. English language is DESCRIPTIVE, not prescriptive. And such is the best way for the language to be and progress, if not it would be static and might die off. Above all, such is its' beauty. ii. New adjectives are created everyday, so you do not condemn an adjective a particular region or people speaking English have adopted. English should and will update itself to reflect such usages. That is it. 22 Likes 1 Share
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Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by The5DME(m): 8:55am On Jan 09, 2021 |
1) wedding ceremony 2)stand up 3)kneel down. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by GodWrites: 9:42am On Jan 09, 2021 |
branhampaul: I prefer to use the word 'dynamic.' Nice input! 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by ebuka10box(m): 9:45am On Jan 09, 2021 |
educative |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Diffpussies(m): 9:49am On Jan 09, 2021 |
branhampaul:nice 1 ,,thanks 2 Likes |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by femi4: 9:58am On Jan 09, 2021 |
branhampaul:No wonder you dey fail TOEFL/JAMB/WAEC 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by cassidy1996(m): 11:33am On Jan 09, 2021 |
femi4:scholar na you sabi pass 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by paulolee(m): 11:52am On Jan 09, 2021 |
nice post.. |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by TruthHurts1(m): 12:03pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
The irony is that you're even asking this question in English, SMH alexsoftwork: 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by joxxy01(m): 12:34pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Diffpussies:But looking at the number 7 on the list.. are you indirectly saying our all our University Dons are Olodos for naming such an event Convocation?? |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Minjim: 12:52pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
femi4: He was referring to Spoken English. There is different between Spoken English and Written English. Spoken English is dynamic, informal and adaptively used while Written English is formal and tends to ,more often than not, follow the Queens Standard of English. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Nobody: 12:55pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
That your number 3 should be " turn on the light" not " switch on the light". 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Minjim: 12:59pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
joxxy01:Convocation is the noun of convocate. It's rightly used by University because it's the process of calling all new scholars together
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Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Minjim: 1:04pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
CalliDora1: That's relative. What if the light has a switch or like someone above pointed out, some people use switch in their region? |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Nobody: 1:06pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Minjim: Yeah it's relative but that is what the British use in that expression. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Goldmaxx(f): 1:19pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
alexsoftwork:it's not, but if you must speak another man's language, speak it well. 2 Likes |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Nobody: 1:21pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Next tomorrow |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Minjim: 1:30pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
CalliDora1:You're right. That's Queens English. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Dubetex96(m): 2:19pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
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Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by JABAIDO(m): 2:53pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
The5DME: 2 Likes
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Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Tocynone(m): 4:21pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
No 5 - Check "Overmorrow" 1 Like |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by spy24(m): 4:25pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Diffpussies: I don't think we have to speak exactly like the britons We can evolve our own language Australian US south Africa speak their own version of English |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Petyr1: 4:40pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Instead of plate number or number plate why don't we use the simple term "licence plate" 2 Likes |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by Oyiboman69: 4:42pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
I going to barb my air cos I have a birthday to attend |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by pegix(m): 4:58pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Even stand up and sit down are no exception of blunders And the phrase ""use to"" dat Doesn't exist in English |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by ikeno(m): 5:00pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
a licence plate should be appropriate because the plate contain both numbers and alphabets |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by sageprime(m): 5:02pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
Nigerians use am instead of I'm |
Re: 10 Grammatical Blunders Nigerians Make Regularly by sweetMichael(m): 5:31pm On Jan 09, 2021 |
the number five is not a day after tomorrow, instead say over moro |
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