06/10/2019
*Some "Funny" English By The Ghanaian*
*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 teach the young ones whose desires are to learn something better. *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? *Talkative* is an adjective and throughout my education on adjectives I was never taught adjectives 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. To say names of *talkatives* is 100% wrong! Please let us say *names of talkers* or *names of talkative students* 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, *"Abraham please call me Linda";* 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. However, 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.
*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* or *from today onwards*.
*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. Wives ought to say *house-keeping 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. Please the correct thing is I am going for my hair to be shaved, trimmed or barbered or I'm going to have my hair shaved, trimmed or barbered. Again, 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.
*Iced 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*
Also, phrases like inter-houses, inter-classes, inter-schools and many others are incorrect. 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.
Thanks for your audience.....
