Nigerian Expressions, English Blessings.

By

Obododimma Oha

The recent entry of some Nigerian expressions into Oxford dictionary of English is welcome but raises a lot of issues about the formal use of the expressions, the commitment of Nigerian linguists to the development of Nigerian English, and Nigeria’s linguistic independence. The Nigerian expresssions that were given a blessing include: agric, barbing, buka, bukateria, chop-chop, danfo, to eat money, ember months, flag-off, to flag off, gist, guber, Kannywood, k-leg, mama put, next tomorrow, non-indigene, okada, to put to bed, qualitative, rub minds(together), sef, send-forth, tokunbo, zone and zoning. A report on this can be found at: https://t.guardian.ng/new/oxford-dictionary-adds-okada-danfo-mama-put-26-other-nigerian-words-expressions/  . Indeed, a similar process of acceptation was created by Merrriam Webster, but Webster’s goes through a process of reaction to submissions over time and later the expression may be included if reactions are satisfactory and if the expression is much in use. To introduce this welcoming ritual for expressions from the Outer Circle of English use (as Braj Kachru lists Nigeria) is a significant thing. So, Nigeria is finally not sliding in to the Expanding Circle, given its notable and widespread poor use of English? The Nigerian scholar, Farooq Kperogi, who, in Letters from Atlanta, has been relentlessly commenting on English in current Nigerian life, would certainly be interested in this. Kperogi’s reaction is important to the discourse and would suggest an important dimension.

While we await Kperogi’s reaction, the following observations are also noteworthy. First, the endorsement by an Oxford dictionary comes at a time that Nigeria’s political direction and lesson notes are also considered worth reading if they are endorsed at Chatham House. This takes one back to Nigeria’s history and makes one feel that Britain is still the determinant of Nigeria’s future, as its “former” colonial master! Incidentally, English is still highly respected in Nigeria and seen as ensuring a professional future. Nigeria is also tremendously multilingual and English benefits from the unhealthy competition, pretending to be the arbiter and language of neutrality. Promoters English linguistic imperialism may use the acceptance of Nigerian expressions (considered poor English) as the bait and evidence that Nigerian English is being promoted at the international level. It is like winning a visa lottery or gaining entrance into Heaven! But, wait, the derogation reserved for the green passport may be extended to the utterance of Nigerianisms out there!

But, thanks to Oxford. At least, you are complementing genuine efforts. A government that cannot repair roads cannot award research grants that seek to promote a Nigerian provincial dialect of English! So, Oxford is helping in a big way. The colonial master would get a wife for the colonized, buy a mat, ask the colonized to lie down on the mat with his wife, and tell the colonized what to with the wife! Is that a Nigerianism? Is it good enough for inclusion and public consumption?

The words accepted are, indeed, popular and common in use in Nigeria. I hope that they are accptable  out there, and would not make me, the user, appear as a comedian.

But the blessing means a lot for those of us who frown at these expressions in formal writing, especially teachers of English. It means that we have to overhaul our tools ans overhaul our thinking, too. It means we can no longer frown at these expressions in formal writing, just we do not have to frown at cattle taking over the runways of airports or cattle routes being established from Paris to London. Who says that we cannot have a bottle of mama-put, without thinking of enclosing the Nigerian words in italics? Is that not also helpful to my carelessness in indicating foreign words as foreign words?

There is hope, just as there is God, or the former is the latter. There is hope, just as I have a dream that one day the Outer Circle can become the Inner Circle. Is somebody articulating “Thirdworldization”? No, even a linguistic “Thirdworldization” of the First World!

Electronic Messaging and the Decline in Greeting Card Business

By

Obododimma Oha

Greeting, a phatic communion in which the main goal is to service and maintain relationship, could be turned to a commodity. Indeed, celebrations or communal feasts do commodify it often. That also means more money, more gain, for dealers of such. In fact, some clever fellows may discover the prospect of making gain through it and so go temporarily into it. Lovers of homemade or customised cards could also amplify the boom. But with the growth in electronic messaging, each holder of an android phone and who is willing to learn navigational skills, changes the game in the card business, causing a decline and exit of some ad hoc soldiers of fortune.

The soldiers of fortune and seasonal dealers on these cards need to be pitied. They have been pushed out of business. But every business person should be ready to move on, or know where and how to move on. The ups and down will surely come. One has to have the heart and be ready to take risks. Let us say the commodification of "Hello" is a risk in the hands of technology. So, one in that business has to tighten the belt. We know that some in that business but constrained by technology have still found ways of tempting people to buy online cards. The mere fact that one can see one's name on the card is just one of such temptations. And falling to the tempting appears enjoyable!

Happy Christmas and happy Sallah and happy New Year, even if these are not "happy" at all and my android phone does not respect copyright. It is a matter of copying and pasting, with little or no editing. One with an android phone is nowhere and everywhere, with everyone and with no one. So, yours is mine and ours belongs to no one. Happy New Year, even if there nothing "new" in the year in spite of deafening fireworks in conversation and cannons that prevent one from worrying about Boko Haram invasion. Happy New Year to electronic card that has thrown someone out of business.

But, of course, electronic culture and technology have also served many well on seasons and card giving. It is not just that many in distant places can be conveniently greeted, some greetings can be personalised and customized to  suit persons and their statuses. So, one is compelled to greet information tech too. You "do well" for people like me who do not have to spend money buying many cards for many people!

This year, let us visit homemade cards to read their faces. We may find something there! I don't like how this decline has affected them, chasing them into uncomfortable silence. Why are not talking? One used to pay extra to have them, hoping that receivers would be full of appreciation and display the cards visibly in the sitting room. Is the define affecting them, too?

But is greeting declining, too? Do we have to carry sacks and rake together the greetings, if we can no longer open our mouths and share pleasantries and service relationship?

But will information tech go free after causing problems for greeting card business? No at all! In the first place, one has got several greetings in a short while and one's memory space is in trouble! Also, one has to keep deleting messages!

A greeting clashes with an important message; they could embrace and quarrel the next minute on that phone, annoying or confusing the user!  In that respect, you also have seasons of electronic greeting trouble, and greetings could stand on or block the ways of holidaying citizens, the same way that great traffic of people during these festivals make the use of the road a miserable thing!

Sorry, greeting card business. Technology has touched you and you have changed, not for the best. You are neither here nor there!