Persona non grata, the Latin word, I’m certain, the majority of us are acquainted with, is among the plethora (many) foreign languages that the compilers of the dictionary borrowed to enrich phraseology. For the sake of the learners of the expression, or for beginners, the noun persona non grata, Chambers 21st Century Dictionary explains, is unacceptable person. It could also be someone rejected or expelled from a group or association for committing an unpardonable offence that could be injurious to the corporate existence of such a group or association. Compare with persona grata, the exact opposite of the phrase, persona non grata; here, the person is liked or favoured, one who is diplomatically accepted by a foreign country; for example, there are legions of these vocabularies to remind us that no nation or individual exists in isolation.
We need one another to make the world a better place for all. Again, cultural and linguistic boundaries are shrinking by the day, and so, the language would naturally be expanded to accommodate the new nations’ dialect. We are all waiting to see this happen. For the main time, Latin, French, German and to a smaller scale, Danish and Swiss takes a larger portion of borrowed words that make up the English dictionary. Where is Africa, nay Nigeria, in all this? You may ask. Is Africa still the dark continent, yet to experience civilisation to be considered a place in the composition of the English dictionary? I submit here that; the answer is no; I rather think more of racial bias that may have influenced the composers of the dictionary believed to contain about 500,000 words.
The seeming neglect of Africa and other developing nations in the scheme of things, notwithstanding, it takes nothing away from us following the scintillating and stimulating vocabularies appropriated from other developed countries of the world languages to complete the reference book, though it is still regarded as work in progress as more nations clamour for a slot in the standard and modern dictionaries, that may likely be updated or revised to address these gaps. Let’s remind ourselves again of some of the foreign languages that could improve our knowledge of the language and increase our word power. We listed some of them before now. Among them, the French language that is heavily accommodated with several entries. Let’s just take a few of them, for instance, and be educated in the rich French vocabulary. It is never a dull moment to speak and understand French.
Here we go; ‘a la monde, the adjective indicative of fashion and being fashionistic; a fashion enthusiast; ‘a la carte- the French are noted for their exotic meals. The adjective, ‘a la carte talks about restaurant, yet, another French word, with each dish priced and ordered differently, Chambers 21st Century Dictionary states. Another French entry often engaged by writers, journalists and reporters is the noun, cache, a hiding place, for example, where weapons are kept. Carte blanche, a noun, means complete freedom of action or discretion. Cartel, a noun many of us may not know is derived from French because it is often cheaply used on the News at regular intervals.
But the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary put it plainly; “a group of firms that agree, especially illegally on similar fixed prices for their products.” Little wonder, we have several cartels in the different sectors of the economy fixing prices at will, increasing the pains of the average Nigerian who is already traumatised with the anti-people programmes and policies of an uncaring government. For now, enough of French entries; let’s switch to Latin. We see Latin as the most generous contributor in expanding the English grammar, bringing it to where it is today. The Latin word bona fide, pronounced (bona faidi), occupies a pride of place among the known Latin addition to the English grammar. Let us assume that every lettered individual is familiar with the adjective, bona fide, but for the beginners, the four-syllable word, bona fide means that which is genuine or sincere.
Something done or carried out in good faith. For lawyers, who also rely so much on Latin to mesmerise the lay people while arguing in court, the Latin word, sine qua non, according to the reference book, is interpreted as an indispensable pre condition to be met without which favour may not be granted (emphasis mine). Let’s leave you with this, which is German Swiss contribution to English language; putsch. Putsch is a noun, explained by the dictionary as a secret or planned attempt to remove a government from power; also, coup d’etat, meaning to knock or thrust. Follow us as we feed you with those exciting foreign languages that add up to making the dictionary what it is currently.
