I devote this week’s lesson to reflect on past attempt to correct the anomalies and blind spots inherent in the language spoken by billions of people across the globe, English. Mindful of the quantum of misuse that poses danger to the canon and established rules, the language purists and masters have consistently sounded the alarm of the possible extinction of the Queen’s English. In their arguments, but for the intervention of the language enthusiasts, to sanitise the misuse and abuse, the vocabularies could just as well be thrown to the dogs.
Figuratively, the dogs in this sense are those I described as non-conformists who believe the language could be used or bent without restrictions to standardise or adhere to the established norms. After all, this school of thought, wrongly though, insists, English as a colonial heritage should be stepped down for the mother tongue to prevail. But that is not our focus. Keep to the rules of engagement so long as the language serves as a medium of communication for the ease of doing business among the Anglophone nations, the purists maintain.
Looking back, we have treated subjects or topics; righting the wrongful use of phrases such as “More grease to your elbow,” “Rub minds,” to sample just the two, many users of the archaic vocabularies are still stuck to, and have blatantly refused to ignore, or put aside for the more dignifying and current usages. How about this pitfall, “upliftment” being glamourised, chiefly by the preacher or pastors in different churches, speaking on the uncommon favour that would come the way of those who support in lifting the house of God, materially and financially, as the case may be.
We would dwell on these phrases and statement, “More grease to your elbow,” “Rub minds” and “Upliftment,” to again, remind us of the need to shift grounds and go with the correct and current expressions as updated by the lexicographers and owners of the language, Britain, and as handed down to us. We cannot continue to contradict or oppose changes made available to leverage on. The language, like every other thing in life evolves. Often, people are adamant to change which we all know is inevitable. Revolution must take place, so nature has designed it, whether we like it or not. See the way technology is going, with changes taking place on the daily basis.
As I write, scientists are busy in the laboratories around the world, especially in advanced countries to come out with new discoveries. AI (Artificial Intelligence), for example, is the talk of the town, yet, something to surpass it is on the way from China, we are told. English can’t be an exception or would it remain static. Beginning with this lesson, I would be reminding ourselves the need to grow beyond the state we are currently. The common mantra now is constant self-improvement, to see farther to make the difference or the desired impact that touches life.
To put paid to elements who oppose change, after several years of efforts to liberalise the dictionary by admitting more vocabularies, the Oxford English Dictionary yielding to the call, particularly from African point of view, entered about twenty-one Nigerian languages or expressions; making it universally acceptable phrases. That is evolution in practice, to show that nothing is cast in gold or wood. For persons who don’t want to bend, but take to the old ways of doing things, please change, as far as the language is concerned.
Again, for the benefit of those who may have missed it on the modern usage of the statements, “More grease to your elbow” in salutation to one’s achievement and “Rub minds,” to meet or gather to exchange ideas. Here is the modern usage of the expressions, and don’t write or speak, “More grease to your elbow.” Write and speak, “More power to your elbow,” “Meet minds.” Not “Rub minds.” Once more, purge yourself of this blind spot, “Upliftment.” It is either you use the verb, “uplift.” Or the adjective “uplifting,” to pronounce that good thing await the giver; that he or she would reap abundantly for donating towards the upkeep of the pastor or development of place of worship.
