Hey guys! Welcome to another episode of SPEAK RIGHT WITH SAKEENAH'WRITES. Thank you for being a loyal and consistent audience.😊💚 Do you know that the word "INSTALLMENTALLY" which is commonly used by many does not exist in the dictionary? Do you? Find out in today's conversation between SHOMOLU AND ME to know WHY.
SHOMOLU: Hey, big boss, how are you? Where are you heading to, because I was on my way to your place now sef?
ME: I'm good jare. I want to go and get something for my sister's wedding at Twins Faja supermarket. We can go together if you are not in a haste.
SHOMOLU: Why not, let's go.
ME: Ehn, Ehn, before I forget, you said you wanted to get a new laptop, have you gotten one, and where did you get it from?
SHOMOLU: Oh yes! I bought one at my boss's place at Ikeja, and I told him I will pay installmentally. That day eeehn, go-slow wan finish me, and I spent all my cash buying snacks and cold water on the road.
ME: When will you repent from speaking bad English? Which one is installmentally and go-slow bayii(with a bombastic side eye).
SHOMOLU: And there she goes again, okay please correct me.
ME: Shomolu, just like we live in a world where abnormalities are now regarded as normal, likewise there are many words today that are abnormal and wrong but have been considered normal by many, especially Nigerians. However, permit me to tell you that many of these abnormally recognised words are NONSTANDARD and do not exist in the English dictionary. Let me explain some of them.
1. INSTALLMENTALLY: This “word” is a favourite of many Nigerians, and is widely used by many during transactional activities, however it does exist, and you won't find it in any reputable or standard English dictionary. The correct thing to say instead of “INSTALMENTALLY” is "INSTALMENTS" or "BY INSTALMENTS".
2. PLUMPY: This is another word commonly used by many, especially Nigerians, and it is used to describe someone who is chubby or slightly fat, however it doesn't exist in the dictionary. The correct word instead of "PLUMPY" is "PLUMP."
3. DISVIRGIN: This particular “word” is used severally on a daily basis, especially by Nigerians to show or explain that a lady or woman had been DEFLOWERED or has LOST her VIRGINITY to a guy. The correct word to use, however, is DEFLOWER, because the word “dISVIRGIN" DOESN'T EXIST.
4. CROSSCARPETING: This is a favourite Nigerian term used in politics. Politicians use it when they want to say that a politician has dumped his political party for another party, usually a rival party. The correct terms to use when describing such scenario are party switching, defection and crossing the floor and NOT “CROSS-CARPETING ” or “CROSSCARPETING.”
5. GO-SLOW: The word GO-SLOW exists, but not in the way many, especially Nigerians use it. A “go-slow,” in the peculiarly Nigerian context, is a situation in which road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues, or accidents on the road.
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. While GO-SLOW in the English language generally means, "Slowdown." In summary, 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. OPPORTUNED: This is another widely used word, but the truth is, 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" without an "ED." 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.
Ouch, Shomolu, it's almost noon, I need to be on my way home. We will continue when next we meet. Bye!
SHOMOLU: Ok boss, goodbye.
My name is Sekinah Alawiye, also known as Sakeenah'writes. I am a certified and award-winning value-driven content writer, writing coach, teen coach, corporate compere, and skilled communicator.
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