How often do we peddle and
sustain the colloquialism
“He is not on seat,” a phrase
that is not only un-English
but another Nigerian coinage that has
unfortunately gained currency over
time. We hear and say it at every given
opportunity, especially in the office en-
vironment when we mean to tell some-
one or visitor that the officer he or she
is looking for is not “At his or her desk”
and that is the correct usage.
Jettison the statement “He is not on
seat,” which is not only a piece of collo-
quialism but exclusively used by most
Nigerians to indicate that the boss or
officer in charge of the programme or
who supervises the issuance of inter-
national passport, for instance, is away
from his or her duty post. One can
therefore correctly write “The officer
charged with the responsibility of giving
out voter cards “is not at his or her desk.”
The “He or she is not on seat” response
or reply we readily dish out when we are
confronted by those seeking to speak to
or meet one-on-one, face-to-face with
the Priest, the boss or those entrusted
with certain assignment is a piece of il-
literacy, so say the masters and purists
of the language. Remember, the correct
expression “He or she is not at his or her
desk” when someone enquires about
your boss or the Priest.
“The matter on the ground” is yet an-
other coinage made popular by some
educated Nigerians that has lasted over
a long period of time and appears to be
gaining grounds even as language ex-
perts advice otherwise. They have giv-
en us; time without number, the right
usage “The matter or item in question.”
Let’s always make deliberate effort to ei-
ther memorize them or find a suitable
and straightforward expression that can
best describe our thoughts and opinions
rather than indulge in flowery or col-
ourful language that would expose our
ignorance.
“Aside the Laity meeting, I also have
other important matter to attend to later
in the day.” That is the way many of us
speak and write omitting the almighty
preposition ‘from’ in the construction
of the statement “Aside the Laity meet-
ing, I also have other important matter
to attend to later in the day.” Take note
and correctly write “Aside ‘from’ the La-
ity meeting, I also have other important
matter to attend to later in the day.” The
importance of the preposition ‘from’ in-
dicative of a starting point, the process
or source of something is vital to com-
plete the expression, otherwise it may
turn out to become a weak phrase and
all together piece of illiteracy brewed
and formulated here in Nigeria.
In the same manner, let’s keep away
from the frequently abused but loose
word ‘Key’ that is fast spinning into a
cliché in communicating the word. The
masters and purists of the language say
‘key’ is steadily declining into a piece of
illiteracy, rather we should go for syno-
nyms to pick from and sound livelier,
functional. Replacements we can
think of that come handy are ‘vital,’
‘essential’ ingredients to achieving
something tangible or completing a
task, assignment etc.
“The matter is key” in our discus-
sion, and that is the way most of us do
express our thoughts many a times.
But then we should place less empha-
sis on the word ‘key’ or temporarily
suspend it and go after simpler words
to bare our minds. That is all what the
masters are insisting on. In its place
for example, we can speak and write
‘vital,’ ‘essential’ and such words that
would simplify ‘key’ that would make
us sound better, direct and explicit.
Enough of recycling the same word
day in day out as if one is bereft of
fresh ideas. Reading wide is of es-
sence for us as regular writers and
even the casual ones not to remain
redundant.
Simply download the reinvented
e-Book English for Communicators:
Pitfalls and Blind Spots on www.eng-
lishforcommunicators.com, click on
book store. It’s also available on Ama-
zon.com KDP or on Kobo, click on mike
echi account and download.
