₦airaland Forum

OP, what is the meaning of jargon?

gimmehear:
10 grammatical jargon often used by Nigerians.



In Nigeria, people use a lot of grammatical jargon daily and most this jargon are/were/is believed to be correct when view in the English man’s way, but interestingly, most of this jargon often have no sensible meaning when searched for in the dictionary.

Below are some compiled words.

(1)Installmentally:

This “word” is a favourite of many Nigerians, but, sadly, it simply does not exist. You won’t find it any reputable dictionary. The correct thing to say when “installmentally” comes to your mind is in instalments or by instalments.

(2)Plumpy:

Nigerians use “plumpy” when they want to say that someone is chubby or slightly fat. The correct expression is plump.

(3)Disvirgin:



This particular “word” is used severally on a daily basis, especially by Nigerian men when they intend saying that a woman has lost her virginity to a guy. The correct word to use, however, is deflower, because “disvirgin” is not a word depicting that meaning.



(4)Crosscarpeting or cross-carpeting



This is a favourite of Nigerian politicians and political analysts alike. They use it when they want to say that a politician has dumped his political party for another party, usually a rival party. The right terms to use when describing this scenario are party switching, defection and crossing the floor and not “cross-carpeting” or “crosscarpeting.”
Go-slow: The word go-slow exists, but not in the way Nigerians use it.

(5)A “go-slow,”

in the peculiarly Nigerian context, is a situation in which road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues. However, go-slow in the English language actually means an industrial tactic used by employees whereby they intentionally reduce activity, productivity and efficiency in order to press home some demands. When this happens, you say that work in the office, factory or organization is at a go- slow. The correct terms to use when road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues are traffic jam, traffic congestion, gridlock, and (less technically) hold-up, not “go- slow.”



(6)Cunny

“Cunny” is not found in authoritative dictionaries, but it can be found in some slang dictionaries. Over there, it is a slang used to refer to a woman’s v**ina. The correct term to use is cunning (which is used to describe someone that is being deceitful or crafty) and not “cunny.”

(7)Opportuned

There is nothing like “opportuned” anywhere in the English language, but that has not stopped its blatant use by all and sundry in Nigeria, including journalists and writers. The correct word is opportune. The word opportune is an adjective; therefore it has no past tense. An adjective has no past tense. However, some verbs can function as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. These verbs are called participles and they do have past tenses. They are not pure adjectives. Examples of participles are fattened, amused, disgusted, mystified, overwhelmed, upset and bored. Be that as it may, opportune is a pure adjective and not a participle, therefore it has no past tense. Opportune means appropriate or well- timed.



(Alright

“Alright” is a misspelling of the term all right. All right is used when you want to say that something is adequate, acceptable, agreeable or suitable. To hardcore English language linguists, “alright” is not a word. However, its usage is gaining traction and it’s increasingly becoming acceptable. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary – which is considered the gold standard among American English speakers – has recently drawn a lot of criticisms for its permissiveness when it began indexing some otherwise colloquial and street language terms, including “alright.” Most linguists disagree with the gradual acceptance of “alright” as a word by the public and even the media, while those in the minority are “alright” with it.



(9)Wake-keeping

“Wake-keeping” exists only in the imagination of a few English speakers. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as “wake-keeping.” The correct word is wake and not even “wake-keep.” Both “wake-keeping” and “wake-keep” are ungrammatical.



(10)Screentouch: This bad grammatical expression gained currency in Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with the influx of made-in-China stylus pen touchscreen not- so-smart phones in the mid 2000s. It was a novelty then; many in Nigeria had not seen it – or even thought such advanced technology was possible – before. So, they looked for a name to call it and “screentouch” came to mind, after all you just touch the screen and it starts working. In case you’ve still not figured it out yet, the correct thing to say is touchscreen and not “screentouch.

So there you have it, 10 English language “words” Nigerians love to use that are not found in the dictionary. Feel free to add yours;
https://www.gbetutv.com/10-grammatical-jargon-often-used-by-nigerians/

Lalasticlala

These are not jargons. You may talk about solecism, erroneous or improper usage. Jargons are technical terminologies unique to particular subjects.

gimmehear:
10 grammatical jargon often used by Nigerians.



In Nigeria, people use a lot of grammatical jargon daily and most this jargon are/were/is believed to be correct when view in the English man’s way, but interestingly, most of this jargon often have no sensible meaning when searched for in the dictionary.

Below are some compiled words.

(1)Installmentally:

This “word” is a favourite of many Nigerians, but, sadly, it simply does not exist. You won’t find it any reputable dictionary. The correct thing to say when “installmentally” comes to your mind is in instalments or by instalments.

(2)Plumpy:

Nigerians use “plumpy” when they want to say that someone is chubby or slightly fat. The correct expression is plump.

(3)Disvirgin:



This particular “word” is used severally on a daily basis, especially by Nigerian men when they intend saying that a woman has lost her virginity to a guy. The correct word to use, however, is deflower, because “disvirgin” is not a word depicting that meaning.



(4)Crosscarpeting or cross-carpeting



This is a favourite of Nigerian politicians and political analysts alike. They use it when they want to say that a politician has dumped his political party for another party, usually a rival party. The right terms to use when describing this scenario are party switching, defection and crossing the floor and not “cross-carpeting” or “crosscarpeting.”
Go-slow: The word go-slow exists, but not in the way Nigerians use it.

(5)A “go-slow,”

in the peculiarly Nigerian context, is a situation in which road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues. However, go-slow in the English language actually means an industrial tactic used by employees whereby they intentionally reduce activity, productivity and efficiency in order to press home some demands. When this happens, you say that work in the office, factory or organization is at a go- slow. The correct terms to use when road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues are traffic jam, traffic congestion, gridlock, and (less technically) hold-up, not “go- slow.”



(6)Cunny

“Cunny” is not found in authoritative dictionaries, but it can be found in some slang dictionaries. Over there, it is a slang used to refer to a woman’s v**ina. The correct term to use is cunning (which is used to describe someone that is being deceitful or crafty) and not “cunny.”

(7)Opportuned

There is nothing like “opportuned” anywhere in the English language, but that has not stopped its blatant use by all and sundry in Nigeria, including journalists and writers. The correct word is opportune. The word opportune is an adjective; therefore it has no past tense. An adjective has no past tense. However, some verbs can function as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. These verbs are called participles and they do have past tenses. They are not pure adjectives. Examples of participles are fattened, amused, disgusted, mystified, overwhelmed, upset and bored. Be that as it may, opportune is a pure adjective and not a participle, therefore it has no past tense. Opportune means appropriate or well- timed.



(Alright

“Alright” is a misspelling of the term all right. All right is used when you want to say that something is adequate, acceptable, agreeable or suitable. To hardcore English language linguists, “alright” is not a word. However, its usage is gaining traction and it’s increasingly becoming acceptable. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary – which is considered the gold standard among American English speakers – has recently drawn a lot of criticisms for its permissiveness when it began indexing some otherwise colloquial and street language terms, including “alright.” Most linguists disagree with the gradual acceptance of “alright” as a word by the public and even the media, while those in the minority are “alright” with it.



(9)Wake-keeping

“Wake-keeping” exists only in the imagination of a few English speakers. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as “wake-keeping.” The correct word is wake and not even “wake-keep.” Both “wake-keeping” and “wake-keep” are ungrammatical.



(10)Screentouch: This bad grammatical expression gained currency in Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with the influx of made-in-China stylus pen touchscreen not- so-smart phones in the mid 2000s. It was a novelty then; many in Nigeria had not seen it – or even thought such advanced technology was possible – before. So, they looked for a name to call it and “screentouch” came to mind, after all you just touch the screen and it starts working. In case you’ve still not figured it out yet, the correct thing to say is touchscreen and not “screentouch.

So there you have it, 10 English language “words” Nigerians love to use that are not found in the dictionary. Feel free to add yours;
https://www.gbetutv.com/10-grammatical-jargon-often-used-by-nigerians/

Lalasticlala

Good write-up, but you are guilty of the same mistake "GRAMMATICAL JARGON" This is wrong.

Grammar means the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language.

Jargon means the Language used for a particular activity or by a particular group of people.
A jargon doesn't mean wrong. E.g Medical Jargon.

Therefore that phrase (grammatical jargon) is confusing.

It should be grammatical errors. They make mistake not following the rules.

chuksville:
OP you forgot to add
Short knicker = Short OR Knicker
Indigene = indigenous
Night Virgil = Virgil
Barbing salon = Barbershop
Running Nose = Runny Nose
Traveling bag = Travel Bag OR Travellers Bag
Borrow Me = Lend Me
Crack Your Brain = Rack Your Brain
Lacking Behind = Lagging Behind
Exercise Patient = Be Patient
Uplifting = Uplift
Complimentary Card = Contact Card OR Business Card
Luxurious Bus = Luxury Bus
Air-Conditioner = Air-Condition
Plate Number = Number Plate
Insultive = Insulting
Mannerless = ill-mannered
Over-speeding = Speeding
And Many More............

Some of your corrections are actually wrong.

darfay:
What I see here is nothing but inferiority complex.

First of language is dynamic and as such changes over time, you can't expect us to not be innovative with our official language regardless of wherever it came. Brazilians have their own Portuguese vocabulary as those Mexico, chile, Argentina which differs to some extent from colonial Portuguese and Spanish. So if they can why shouldn't we?

If it were new Americana slang, them know born the Brits not to include and recognize it in their dictionary but since it's us now

what about spanglish

adun99:
Good one. Also there is nothing like 'severally' you may want to correct that in your write up

Welldone

There is severally. But I think he/she used it wrongly.

OP, you left out 'dash' which the Nigerian speaker uses to say that something was given for free or without cost, e.g. I will dash you some money.

However, dash means to break, destroy, move quickly or swiftly, e.g. The boy dashed across the road.

2RUTHHURTS:
The one wey dey vex me pass Na "PENALITY" instead of Penalty

It is penarity joor

Ogbeni.....

There is a word like cunninglingus or cunnilingus any of those two, and its an xrated word, at times i want to question the etymology of some of this English words, probably from it latin or greek derivatives, because cunning contradict the lingus itself, that apart Dis- at times is a diverse expression probably ethical when coming with moderate words like discord, disproportionate, dis-allow, disarm etc, dis- its a prefix itself, when added to already existing word it change it meaning so take a chill pill and allow the inventors of disvirgin revel in it usage, crosscarpeting is mostly a street slang 4 cultism

This list is incomplete without "expantiate" . The English word misspelled and mispronounced by many naija folks is "expatiate" - its correct pronunciation is "iks-pei-shi-et". When you hear anyone use "expantiate", correct them - the error is so widespread.

JJOF:
Some of your corrections are actually wrong.

E.g barbershop instead of barber's shop.

Alright you try, let me come and be going.�

chubinwa:
Alright

Alright bro

Guy, Your thought is a replica of my thought

MoIbrahim:
I agree with you.

Though, words like disvirgin and go-slow are our own inventions and should be respected too.

What is in a language and who decides what should be accepted or not? People choose their languages to suit their purposes. The Americans started it now they have their own accepted mode of speaking the language why can't Nigerians do same?
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery........

BananaTree:
People like you don't learn. You find a way to justify mediocrity. Language being dynamic doesn't mean it has no rule. If you must speak English, speak properly.

Thank you! Every time a post like this comes up, people will make excuses and try to justify bad grammar/incorrect usage instead of taking correction

Accepting new words/ constructions in a language is not the same as making mistakes and trying to cover them up

Greennotes:
OP, you left out 'dash' which the Nigerian speaker uses to say that something was given for free or without cost, e.g. I will dash you some money.

However, dash means to break, destroy, move quickly or swiftly, e.g. The boy dashed across the road.

"Dash" is pidgin English and its correct in its own right. It doesnt have any connection with that meaning you wrote, they are just homophones

JJOF:
Some of your corrections are actually wrong.

Please indicate the wrong ones, I'm learning also

gimmehear:
10 grammatical jargon often used by Nigerians.



In Nigeria, people use a lot of grammatical jargon daily and most this jargon are/were/is believed to be correct when view in the English man’s way, but interestingly, most of this jargon often have no sensible meaning when searched for in the dictionary.

Below are some compiled words.

(1)Installmentally:

This “word” is a favourite of many Nigerians, but, sadly, it simply does not exist. You won’t find it any reputable dictionary. The correct thing to say when “installmentally” comes to your mind is in instalments or by instalments.

(2)Plumpy:

Nigerians use “plumpy” when they want to say that someone is chubby or slightly fat. The correct expression is plump.

(3)Disvirgin:



This particular “word” is used severally on a daily basis, especially by Nigerian men when they intend saying that a woman has lost her virginity to a guy. The correct word to use, however, is deflower, because “disvirgin” is not a word depicting that meaning.



(4)Crosscarpeting or cross-carpeting



This is a favourite of Nigerian politicians and political analysts alike. They use it when they want to say that a politician has dumped his political party for another party, usually a rival party. The right terms to use when describing this scenario are party switching, defection and crossing the floor and not “cross-carpeting” or “crosscarpeting.”
Go-slow: The word go-slow exists, but not in the way Nigerians use it.

(5)A “go-slow,”

in the peculiarly Nigerian context, is a situation in which road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues. However, go-slow in the English language actually means an industrial tactic used by employees whereby they intentionally reduce activity, productivity and efficiency in order to press home some demands. When this happens, you say that work in the office, factory or organization is at a go- slow. The correct terms to use when road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues are traffic jam, traffic congestion, gridlock, and (less technically) hold-up, not “go- slow.”



(6)Cunny

“Cunny” is not found in authoritative dictionaries, but it can be found in some slang dictionaries. Over there, it is a slang used to refer to a woman’s v**ina. The correct term to use is cunning (which is used to describe someone that is being deceitful or crafty) and not “cunny.”

(7)Opportuned

There is nothing like “opportuned” anywhere in the English language, but that has not stopped its blatant use by all and sundry in Nigeria, including journalists and writers. The correct word is opportune. The word opportune is an adjective; therefore it has no past tense. An adjective has no past tense. However, some verbs can function as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. These verbs are called participles and they do have past tenses. They are not pure adjectives. Examples of participles are fattened, amused, disgusted, mystified, overwhelmed, upset and bored. Be that as it may, opportune is a pure adjective and not a participle, therefore it has no past tense. Opportune means appropriate or well- timed.



(Alright

“Alright” is a misspelling of the term all right. All right is used when you want to say that something is adequate, acceptable, agreeable or suitable. To hardcore English language linguists, “alright” is not a word. However, its usage is gaining traction and it’s increasingly becoming acceptable. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary – which is considered the gold standard among American English speakers – has recently drawn a lot of criticisms for its permissiveness when it began indexing some otherwise colloquial and street language terms, including “alright.” Most linguists disagree with the gradual acceptance of “alright” as a word by the public and even the media, while those in the minority are “alright” with it.



(9)Wake-keeping

“Wake-keeping” exists only in the imagination of a few English speakers. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as “wake-keeping.” The correct word is wake and not even “wake-keep.” Both “wake-keeping” and “wake-keep” are ungrammatical.



(10)Screentouch: This bad grammatical expression gained currency in Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with the influx of made-in-China stylus pen touchscreen not- so-smart phones in the mid 2000s. It was a novelty then; many in Nigeria had not seen it – or even thought such advanced technology was possible – before. So, they looked for a name to call it and “screentouch” came to mind, after all you just touch the screen and it starts working. In case you’ve still not figured it out yet, the correct thing to say is touchscreen and not “screentouch.

So there you have it, 10 English language “words” Nigerians love to use that are not found in the dictionary. Feel free to add yours;
https://www.gbetutv.com/10-grammatical-jargon-often-used-by-nigerians/

Lalasticlala

Bro.. it's not jargons.... It's part of our words in Nigerian English Variants.

These are what make it specific to Nigerians

FromZeroToHero:
You forgot to add the most popular one "Let me come and be going"

and "I cant come and kill myself"

(3)Disvirgin:



This particular “word” is used severally on a daily basis, especially by Nigerian men when they intend saying that a woman has lost her virginity to a guy. The correct word to use, however, is deflower, because “disvirgin” is not a word depicting that meaning.

[/quote]

All these may be correct, but my own be say, to get and/or make money no be by speaking Queen's or King's English jare.

Anyways Op u also forgot to add:
Incorrect: Am going to barb my hair
Correct: Am going to cut/barber my hair

Many Nigerians, just like the OP have come to associate the word JARGON with senseless, meaningless, and gibberish talks...

Whereas, the word JARGON is not only positive, it does not mean senseless talk.

JARGON refers to special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand.
"legal jargon, medical jargon"

It is also called REGISTER.

NOTE: Jargon is an UNCOUNTABLE Noun so do not say JARGONS (incorrect)

Interesting �

Op is making this not so correct, corrections in the light of American English, While some are on point others are not. This words Plumpy and Alright are correct. we use the Queen's English Hence the disimilarities in the Words Centre, Saloon etc Conversely the Americans spell it as center, Salon...

Alaye... The correct spelling is still alright

It is so funny that the OP also made a grammatical blunder in the title of the post. There is nothing like jargons in English language. It is an uncountable noun, so it shouldn't be pluralised. Jargon is Jargon.

Plumpy is good .like I like it plumpy and curvy .something tells me thats how ishilove will be