The controversy rages
even as some school of
thoughts insist, and of
course the purists and
masters of the language
also concur, that the word ‘evidenc-
es’ cannot fly when we are forced
to present mounts of true or valid
information to establish facts in a
legal investigation or argument. By
way of interpretation and for clarity
purpose, the two-syllable word ‘evi-
dence’ a noun is the information one
supplies showing whether some-
thing is true or facts acceptable as
testimony in a law court.
However, attempts to pluralize
‘evidence’ seems to be waning and
has indeed been established that
‘evidences’ sound odd and there-
fore should be thrown away and in
its place ‘pieces or mass of evidence’
takes over if indeed we are present-
ed with several facts to back up our
argument in the law court or even in
normal discourse or friendly chats.
From the outset we did argue that
English language is eccentric (odd) es-
pecially so for the learners and those
who depend on English as a second
language. Study and follow the trend.
After all, what is permanent is change
rather than indulge in denials and living
in the past while the rest of the people
march on.
So, when we are moved or excited
with fresh facts to pursue our case to
a logical conclusion simply write and
speak “pieces of evidence before me
shows that my client did not commit
the allege crime he is being accused of.”
You will be right if you frame it in an-
other way “mass of evidence before me
shows that my client did not commit
the crime he is being accused of.” From
now on never speak or write ‘evidences’
to prove that you have enough informa-
tion to nail the suspect or argue the case
in the law court. My learned friends, I
am addressing you directly, because of-
ten times many speak about tendering
sufficient ‘evidences’ to back up their
argument before the presiding judge to
see reasons to pass judgement in their
favour.
We should also note that the expres-
sion ‘pieces’ or ‘mass’ of evidence adds
not so much to what we want to say but
serves only to stress or emphasize loads
of facts in our kitty to establish our ar-
gument. Otherwise we can make do
with ‘evidence’ to put it plainly rather
than engage the tongue-twisting phrase
‘pieces’ or ‘mass’ of evidence if we must
pluralize it.
Our English lesson for this piece will
focus on pronunciation as a remind-
er. Many a times I cringed whenever
I listen to some people one considers
sophisticated enough to be familiar
with pronunciation of the words figu-
ratively murdering them. Public speak-
ers should be mindful of these nerve
tasking words and correctly pronounce
them to avoid being shot down or shut
out by your listeners, for the discern-
ing minds especially. Words such as
‘sycophancy,’ ‘surety,’ ‘dilemma,’ ‘Grand
prix,’ ‘epitome,’ ‘genre’ and more, as I
will identify them in my subsequent
lessons, have made even the higher in-
stitution teachers to be looked down on
as far as pronunciation of the words are
concerned.
Now make efforts to get right the pro-
nunciation of the words listed here; ‘syc-
ophancy’ correctly pronounced si-kuh.
fancy and not sai-kuh.fancy as plenty
of people would pronounce it. I have
heard it severally and blame it on un-
preparedness by some public speakers
and on-air personalities before mount-
ing the stage pick up the microphone to
address the listening audience. ‘Surety,’
shooti is what many people are famil-
iar with in vocalizing the word, wrong
though. Pronounce it right ‘shoo-riti.’
So we also have it ‘dilemma,’ ‘Grand
prix’ for sports lovers, ‘epitome,’ ‘genre,’
are correctly pronounced di:lem-muh
(British) not dai:lem-muh (American,)
‘Grand prix- Gron pree,’ ‘epitome-ip-
ituh-mi,’ ‘genre-zhon-ruh.’ Note them
and if you can memorize, stay clear of
the self-inflicting embarrassing mo-
ments you could possibly stir up when
you fail to do your home work. Pick up
the dictionary or any good reference
material that could aid your pronunci-
ation.
Do remember to download the
e-Book English for Communicators:
Pitfalls and Blind Spots direct. Here
is the link to the book store: https//
www.englishforcommunicators.
com/boo-store/ You can also connect
the link to your facebook, twitter and
Google Chrome. Or go to Amazon.
com KDP and on Kobo click on mike
echi account and download.
