The Nation Newspaper

Tag: English

  • English under siege

    NATIONAL MIRROR Front Page Headline imperfection of July 10 welcomes us this week: “Southern delegates reject 18% derivation for oil producing (oil-producing) states” The wrong extract means that ‘oil, which produces states, is the reject’!

    “Ogun Police nabs (nab) 1,227 suspected criminals”

    “Ours is not a race where a money bag (sic) comes and says he is a political leader” Mirror Roundtable: a moneybags

    Finally from the Views Page of National Mirror under review: “…in the absent (absence) of well grounded (well-grounded) educational system.”

    “Military siege on the press” (DAILY Sun Front Page EDITORIAL Headline, June 13) The Voice of The Nation: siege of the press

    Wrong: stab someone on the back; Right: stab someone in the back

    “Sanusi saga: Police end siege to (of) Emir’s palace” (The PUNCH Front Page Banner, June 13) I think the confusion over the usage of ‘siege’ has to do with the expression, ‘lay siege to something’.

    “They described him as one of the moving force (forces) of the ruling party during the Second Republic.” (THE GUARDIAN, July 7)

    DAILY SUN of July 7 politicized the English language on so many occasions: “Osun poll: APC decries delayed release of permanent voter’s cards” Get it right: voter cards or voters’ cards

    “Man bags 6 months (months’) jail for excessive speed”

    “25 convicted over (of/on) sanitation offences”

    “Israel arrests six suspects over (for)…”

    “…including looters and employers who fail to remit monies deducted from their employers (employees).” (DAILY Sun EDITORIAL)

    “HASAL MFB customer wins expense-paid trip to Brazil 2014” This way: all-expenses-paid trip

    “The scheme is designed to move the youths (youths or the youth) from unemployment to empowerment within available resources….”

    Still on DAILY SUN: “Agency accused of misappropriation over (of) World Bank financial aid

    “Disclamier (sic): This is to notify the general public (the public) that Mr…. and Mr….whose pictures appears (how?) above are no longer staff (employees/workers/on the staff/on the employ) of Chisco Group of Companies.”

    ‘SSAEAC TO BPE: No more excuses, pay up workers (workers’) entitlements”

    “He commended the governor for flagging off (inaugurating) the construction of the three….”

    Lastly from the Back Page of DAILY Sun under review: “To the dead, may they find peace and rest in the bossom (bosom) of the Lord.”

    “Zenith Bank’s $500m Eurobond over-subscribed” (The PUNCH Front Page Headline, April 15) ‘The most widely read newspaper’: oversubscribed (no hyphen).

    “Rainstorm displaced (displaces) 3,000 in Ogun, says NEMA” (The PUNCH Headline, April 15)

    “How Enugu over-burdens its High Court judges, by CLO” (THE GUARDIAN Headline, April 15) Again: overburdens

    “Syria (Syrian) troops claim Christian town of Maalula” (Source: as above)

    “That the Nigerian authorities have raised alarm (the alarm) over the outbreak of the deadly disease….” (The Guardian Editorial, April 15)

    “Accused subsidy fraudster escaped (escapes) to Canada—EFCC” (The PUNCH Headline, April 11)

    SATURDAY SUN of April 26 goofed once: “My dad was the greatest influence in (on) my life.”

    SATURDAY PUNCH OF April 26 toes SATURDAY SUN: “The Jonathan government has failed us woefully (abysmally).”

    “I was very good at (in) Literature, Latin, English language and the rest.” Can you see the ‘goodness’?

    The Guardian Front Page of April 26 disseminated two offences, among other pages: “The relaxation of stop and search exercise on major roads….” Saturday edition: stop-and-search exercise

    “…the deployment of policemen and traffic wardens to (in) main intersections of roads….”

    “He said since the February and March multiple blasts, there has (had) not been any major attack on residents.”

    “Eko Signature debuts (noun—not verb) amidst (amid) fanfare”

    “True story: Senior pastor’s wife impregnated by young pastor in same (the same) church” Armageddon or rapture is knocking!

    “…the economy from all indication (indications) is not doing well….”

    DAILY SUN of April 21 over-sighted some fundamentals: “ASEPA arrests man over (for) attempt to dump refuse in unauthorized place in Aba” What a wordy headline!

    “Like (As) he would say….”

    “Suswam pledges more attention on (to) critical infrastructure”

    “I cried each time I see (saw) my mates with their children.”

    “Northern governors wives forum condemn blast…” Middle Belt today: Northern governors’ wives’ forum condemns blast

    Next on the line-up is The PUNCH of April 21: “…was killed in his Sports Utility Vehicle by a policeman attached to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.” Murder as pastime: Sport-Utility Vehicle or simply SUV!

    “US groups write (write to) Jonathan, seek action against B’Haram”

    “This insurance covers accidents and injuries that can occur during electioneering campaigns….” ‘Electioneering’ encompasses ‘campaigns’ and should stand alone. We can say political campaigns but not the extract.

    “Happy Easter celebration to all our esteem (esteemed) customers” (Full-page advertisement by Bedmate Furniture)

    THISDAY EDITORIAL of April 21 slipped: “…the blood of several innocent Nigerians are (is) being spilled almost on a daily basis.”

    “Banks raise investment on (in) e-Banking channels”

    “FAAN assures adequate security” Who did the agency assure? Certainly not ‘adequate security’! Therefore, FAAN assures Nigerians of adequate security

    SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of May 3 joins the infamy list with the following testaments: “NPC boss condoles Sambo over brother’s death” Either condoles with or consoles

    “Royal father commends Uduaghan over (for/on) road project”

    “Horror in Bornu as Boko Haram dismembered (dismembers) 10”

    “Some back to school quotes and reminders for you” Young gems: back-to-school quotes

    “…he never discussed same (the same) with me”

    “Questions trail TB Joshua’s new prophesy (prophecy)”

    “In this interview with…she speaks on (about/of) her….”

  • World Cup: Marketers subtitle Spanish adverts in English

    TO appeal to bilingual consumers, marketers are airing  Spanish adverts with English-subtitles in the ongoing World Cup.

    Marketers have been tiptoeing into this space with Spanish phrases or slogans included in adverts, said David Wellisch, founder and managing partner of Latinum Network. But running an advert entirely in Spanish on an English network is novel.

    Mr. Wellisch said: “It’s very innovative. Companies are exploring and experimenting across the board. It’s all driven by the growing influence of this consumer segment.”

    J.C. Penney scooped up advert time for its Spanish-language spot, “Pulse,” on NBC, ABC and Fox, after the advert performed well on Univision. A promotional offer added to the spot will have an English voiceover. The spot is part of a push meant to position J.C. Penney as the department-store destination for Hispanics.

    “Hearing the Spanish language with subtitles will be a compelling disruption that should cause the commercial to disrupt better than if it was translated. It’s also a great way to cast a wider net and capture the more acculturated, bilingual millennials that may be tuning into other networks outside of Univision during the World Cup.”

    Dish Network is embracing the approach with its campaign, El Juego Bonito, or “The Beautiful Game.” An ad featuring a scantily clad dancer promotes the ability to watch multiple views of a soccer game with Dish’s Hopper set-top box — with multiple views of said dancer. The ad aired on late night shows, including “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report.”

    Hyundai has also been airing a subtitled ad as part of its “Because Futbol” campaign that features a baby boom nine months after the World Cup.

    As recently as the Super Bowl, Coca-Cola was the subject of a consumer backlash for airing an ad that featured a variety of languages. As such, Mr. Wellisch said there’s certainly a possibility marketers airing Spanish-language ads on English networks could upset some consumers. But generally, he added, World Cup audiences are more “progressive, urban, and more culturally open and engaged.”

    “You have to place some bets and take some risks,” Mr. Wellisch said. “If you’re a Latina mom, watching in the office on an English network, and [J.C. Penney] is speaking to you, you will remember.

  • The problem with entrance exams

    The problem with entrance exams

    The problem with school entrance exams is that they are focused on one thing – the students that are good in Mathematics and English- the end.

    So you can draw? We don’t care, just solve that equation.

    So you are a great actor? Who cares, just read that Shakespeare story and answer the comprehension questions at the end.

    So you can run and jump very high? Who cares, just calculate the trajectory range of this projectile.

    That’s how Education sees students, as little dots of English and Mathematics.

    But what if we diversified the way our entrance exams are carried out?

    We start off the day with the traditional Mathematics and English exams. After which the candidates are ushered into a theater where they have to do a 1-2 minute solo performance showcasing their musical or acting talents.

    And for lunch? You get to make your own lunch from a packet of noodles where it gets tasted by a set of judges who leave just enough for you to feed yourself.

    And then right after lunch everyone gets ushered into the art studio to draw, it could be a ball, an animal, an abstract painting from their head…anything.

    After all the studio/classroom activity is done, they go outside and then the athletics begins. We want to know how fast they can run, how high they can jump and how much stamina they have and particular sports they are good at.

    At the end of the day their scores are accumulated and the best students in each category as well as best across the categories are selected. Won’t that be cool? It would ensure educational diversity, give chance to others that are not particularly good academically but are good in other things.

    But it won’t happen, not even a slight variation, because there is no SSCE grade for being a great actor or for running fast. And that’s what most schools are interested in, the grades; the students who can make them look good … so that more parents can bring their children to their school.

    So they focus only on the Mathematics and the English.

     

  • How to improve your diction

    How to improve your diction

    Diction is an act of speaking in a distinctive way, the choice of picking words, pronouncing correctly, and the level of articulation. Speaking in the right diction and pronouncing each word according to its sound helps in improving your diction.

    A diction instructor, Drew Company Concept, Mr. Andrew Bini highlights ways to improving your diction.

    1. Don’t speak local dialect more than English

    There is every tendency that if you speak too much of your local dialect and less of English language, it is necessary that the first language be spoken often and also when pronouncing certain words that are dialect based, if care is not taken, the way we pronounce our dialect based words are the same way we will transfer it to the words that are of English background. So it is necessary we speak less of our dialect and try to change words you are used to pronouncing in your dialect to English.

    2. Focus on what you speak and don’t be distracted

    Most times people tend to make jest of others that pronounce words better than they do or in a different way or sound differently from the normal tradition. So whoever wants to work on his diction should not be bothered about what people say, as they would make jest or laugh at you but if you must attain what you want, you should not consider what they say rather what is right.

    3. Constantly use a pronouncing  dictionary

    It is important to know that when you are conversant with your dictionary, you can always look up words, get the meaning and pronunciation. If you are able to use it frequently or check up words apart from the fact that it will build the level of your lexicon, it will also help to pronounce words correctly with the transcription given against each word.

    The pronouncing dictionary is a type of dictionary that helps the user pronounce given words. So, the English pronouncing dictionary is one that helps the way you pronounce words correctly with the correct stress pattern. Certain words in Nigeria are not pronounced correctly but with a pronouncing dictionary you will be able to tell where the stress is placed.

    4. Work on your rise and fall intonation

    The intonation is also another part that helps you to correctly say words the way they should be. A question should fall at the beginning and rise at the end. For instance:

    Are you going?
    Fall         rise
    Working on your intonation doesn’t only help you to be a better speaker but helps to also convey your message correctly.

    5. Working on your /ei/ sounds

    This has to do with working with words usually called ‘a’ as Nigerians when it should be /ei/. Getting good intonation starts from working on your basic /ei/ sounds. The sound is paramount because that is one of the easiest ways a person will know if your diction is improved or not. For starters, pronounce words that end with ‘ay’ with the /ei/ sound. Play /pleI/, Stay /steI/, Day /deI/ e.t.c.

    6. Never copy others

    Never copy others in word pronunciation; sometimes individuals may have difficulty in pronunciations. Other people ignorantly pronounce the ‘ph’ in the word ‘shepherd’,  as /f/ instead of /p/. That an individual speaks with a foreign diction or pronounces words in a different way does not necessarily mean that the person is correct. You may not need to copy others and if need be, then, you need to confirm from your dictionary first to be sure you are copying the right pronunciation.

    7. Practice what you’ve learnt

    This is very important. Note that if you learn something and don’t use it, there is every tendency of forgetting or not even knowing it anymore. Whatever you’ve learnt put it into practice. When you do, it will stick or become a part of your sub-conscious mind that even when you are woken up at the middle of the night, you would always speak correctly. Continuous practice they say makes perfect.

    8. Attend trainings and seminars

    This is a necessity as it enables you know the basics and fundamentals of speaking good English and becoming a good speaker. From the greetings, letters of the alphabet, the vowel and consonant sounds, place and manner of articulation for each sound, training helps in providing the foundation for diction. At the training, participants have the opportunity to record whatever the speaker says so as to enhance good learning.

  • BRAZIL PROSTITUTES LEARN ENGLISH FOR EAGLES FANS

    BRAZIL PROSTITUTES LEARN ENGLISH FOR EAGLES FANS

    NIGERIAN football fans attending the Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup in Brazil will not bargain for sex in difficulty as the country’s prostitutes are getting some English lesson to serve their clients with better communication.

    The Super Eagles fans0 will be the first Africans to experience the good customer service of the Brazilian sex pros as they will play in the Confederations Cup next month.

    Brazilian authorities are giving English lessons to prostitutes so they can give a warmer welcome to tens of thousands of football fans headed here for June’s Confederations Cup, as well as next year’s World Cup.

    Belo Horizonte’s 80,000 sex workers are counting on brisk business as authorities predict 40,000 tourists will be in town next month for a total of three matches June 15-30.

    A whopping 140,000 are expected to follow for the 2014 World Cup.

    With that in mind, the Association of Prostitutes has been offering free English classes to its members at a local mall since March.

    “We teach basic expressions but also have demonstrations with erotic paraphernalia so they can learn the names, how to use them and propose them,” said Igor Fuchs, a volunteer who also teaches Spanish and French.

    The goal, says association president Cida Vieira, is to provide prostitutes with communication skills to keep clients who don’t speak Portuguese happy – both during the upcoming sports extravaganzas and beyond.

    “We deal with ‘gringos’ (foreign men) daily on the streets and in discos,” Vieira said.

    “We want to train the girls so they can better serve them.”

    So far, 300 prostitutes have signed up.

  • English students donate washing machine to health centre

    The English Language Student Association, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo chapter, has donated a washing machine to the College, health centre.

    Presenting the washing machine to the Director, College Helath Centre last Friday, the outgoing President of the association, Mr Femi Akinmusire, said the association decided to present the washing machine to serve as encouragement to the staff of the health centre and for other students to emulate the kind gesture.

    Receiving the washing machine, the Director, College Health Centre Dr. Adekunle Ogunmosin, said he was overwhelmed by the gesture of the students describing it as deviation from the usual practice of students.

    He added that students are fond of hauling abuses on the staff of the health centre and appreciated them for the gift noting that it would be judiciously utilised by the centre.

     

  • Fayemi teaches English for 35 minutes

    •Governor gives pupils 300 dictionaries

    Mud houses are found in small towns and villages. Such houses too are either round or rectangular in shape. The round ones have roofs with a window each but the rectangular ones have mostly old rusty roofing sheet. Modern houses in the south are of different shapes and sizes”, this is part of the passage read by Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to pupils of St. James’ Anglican Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday as he inaugurated the maiden edition of the Reading Parent organised by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    The programme is designed to improve the reading skills of primary school pupils.

    Reading a comprehension passage on “Types of Houses in our Country” from page 79 of the Macmillan New Primary English, Book 5, Fayemi engaged Primary 5 pupils for 35 minutes and asked them questions on the passage.

    When the English period was over, he handed out 300 copies of the New Modern English Dictionary to the pupils and urged them to look up the meaning of words in the dictionary.

    Speaking on the performance of the pupils, the governor said it shows that the education sector has improved considerably, adding that the investment of his administration in the sector has not been a waste.

    He expressed confidence that the pupils would perform well in next year’s Common Entrance examination, given their response to the comprehension passage.

    Restating his administration’s commitment to the provision of affordable and quality education, Fayemi said quality education is the right of all school-age children and should not be seen as the privilege of the rich, who can afford private education.

    He said public school education has produced more quality products and explained that education is a tool to banish poverty as it facilitates innovation for development.

    Fayemi said the reading programme would be sustained, adding that commissioners, directors and headteachers, among others, would be going to schools to encourage pupils and teach them how to read.

    One of the pupils, Adeyanju Ayobami, thanked the governor for spending time with them.

    She said his presence was an encouragement for them to study harder so that the government’s investment in education would not be wasted.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Kehinde Ojo; SUBEB Chairman Prof. Modupe Adelabu and some parents were at the programme.

    Ekiti State produced the best Primary School in Nigeria in last year’s President-Teacher Award.

     

  • No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    • Hails Gaya for support 

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has declared that there is no deal with English Premier League side Newcastle United over the release of Shola Ameobi for the Nations Cup, neither is there such an arrangement with English Championship side Millwall on the release of towering defence ace, Daniel Shittu.

    Super Eagles spokesman, Ben Alaiya, quotes Keshi as saying; “I never entered into any deal with any manager and will not because the two players in question are international stars and the rules are very clear about when they should be released for international assignments if their country so desires them”.

    There were wild speculations in the Nigerian media over the two players’ release for the championship with the respective managers claiming to have had an agreement with an unnamed Nigerian official over when to release them. Keshi’s declaration has now put all speculations to rest with National Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor, declaring that the two club sides were written to on time and the onus is now on them to release the players as and when due.