The rapid-fast world of text messaging has led to the coining of new words-well, new slang words, perhaps. And these days a slang word is more likely than ever before to stick around.
Over the years, Nigerians have developed peculiar words and slang that can only be understood by a bonafide Nigerian-born and bred! Examine the phrase, ‘Well done.’ In Nigeria, that phrase is a form of salutation for someone who is busy at some form of tasking duty. ‘Well done’ have no such parallels in Western climes where such a term would rather imply thoroughly cooked food or meat or as an expression of applause for achievement synonymous with a ‘bravo.’
Another word is ‘Sorry.’ We have ingeniously altered the word’s original native English meaning from a mere exclamation to indicate an apology into an exclamation to express concern for a misfortune. Worse off, we use it whether or not we are responsible for the said misfortune.
Do you recognize any differences between the terms, sending forth and sending off? When we host our office parties to send off long-serving staff members, do we also issue them red cards?. Perhaps we should start learning how to send our people forth instead of off the pitch!
And how come Nigerian women are the only women in the world who take-in? I mean, become pregnant! The English phrasal verb to take in actually implies to absorb information, or to deceive or support. Acceptable examples include: “The lecture was rather boring and I didn’t take in much of what the lecturer said.”
Next, be wary of where you use the terms, ‘Flasher’ or ‘Flash me.’ In both British and American English, a flasher is someone, mostly a man, who has a compulsive desire to expose his private parts in public! So, instead of ‘flasher,’ why don’t you say ‘buzzer’?
Instead of saying ‘Disvirgin,’ (shhh…) Hello…? You can say ‘Deflower.’ The list is endless.
Perhaps you have some pet words of your own that you would love to add to my list? Thanks….?
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD BASIC TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS HERE
Over the years, Nigerians have developed peculiar words and slang that can only be understood by a bonafide Nigerian-born and bred! Examine the phrase, ‘Well done.’ In Nigeria, that phrase is a form of salutation for someone who is busy at some form of tasking duty. ‘Well done’ have no such parallels in Western climes where such a term would rather imply thoroughly cooked food or meat or as an expression of applause for achievement synonymous with a ‘bravo.’
Another word is ‘Sorry.’ We have ingeniously altered the word’s original native English meaning from a mere exclamation to indicate an apology into an exclamation to express concern for a misfortune. Worse off, we use it whether or not we are responsible for the said misfortune.
Do you recognize any differences between the terms, sending forth and sending off? When we host our office parties to send off long-serving staff members, do we also issue them red cards?. Perhaps we should start learning how to send our people forth instead of off the pitch!
And how come Nigerian women are the only women in the world who take-in? I mean, become pregnant! The English phrasal verb to take in actually implies to absorb information, or to deceive or support. Acceptable examples include: “The lecture was rather boring and I didn’t take in much of what the lecturer said.”
Next, be wary of where you use the terms, ‘Flasher’ or ‘Flash me.’ In both British and American English, a flasher is someone, mostly a man, who has a compulsive desire to expose his private parts in public! So, instead of ‘flasher,’ why don’t you say ‘buzzer’?
Instead of saying ‘Disvirgin,’ (shhh…) Hello…? You can say ‘Deflower.’ The list is endless.
Perhaps you have some pet words of your own that you would love to add to my list? Thanks….?
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD BASIC TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS HERE
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