This is one in the several pitfalls and blind spots in the language of mass communication people ignore, or are simply ignorant about, the un-English expression, ’10 acres of land’ bandied around by land speculators or those genuinely involved in the sale or lease of land and the buyers. Land, to the Nigerian is a hot cake, so people and communities across the length and breadth of the country scramble for it leading sometimes to fatal communal clashes and loss of livelihood. In fact, this is not a Nigerian thing alone but cuts across regions and continents.
Think of the Russia invasion of Ukraine, it all borders on territorial conquest for selfish reasons, or for self-preservation as the sponsors would mildly sum it up. The crux of the matter, or our main concern here is the wrongful use of the phrase, for example, ’10 acres of land’ when one can simply write or speak, ’10 acres’ leaving out the unnecessary baggage or the attachment, ‘of land’. ‘10 acres’ is a complete statement. The purists and maters of the language frown at what they describe as the un-English statement, ’10 acres of land’ but advice that ‘10 acres’ is the Standard English in any transaction bordering on land matters. Breaking it down further, the noun ‘acre’ is the imperial system of measuring of land area which is equal to 4840 square yards (4047 sq.m).
If you like, ‘acreage’ also a noun is the number of acres in a piece of land, the Chambers 21st Century dictionary explains, whereas ‘hectare’, a noun, and the metric system of measurement now in vogue is the equivalent of 100 acres, or 10000 square metres (2.471 acres) in the metric unit of land measurement. Why bring this matter of misused or abused expression to the fore is to correct some of the inconsistencies associated with the language influenced by linguistic diversity. The language experts have taken time to list them out for our study and to be guided in order to avoid the mistake of falling cheap to the blind spots of English. For instance, one can correctly write or speak, ‘Daniel got on lease five acres or the equivalent of it in hectares to plant rice’. Never write or speak, ‘Daniel got on lease five acres of land or the equivalent of it in hectares to plant rice’.
Again, drop the commonly used, though incorrect phrase ’10, 35, 100 acres of land’, and simply write or speak ’10, 35, 100 acres’ or the equivalent of it in hectares. The expression, ‘acute’ or ‘serious’ crisis appears not to go down well with the English pragmatists as they insist that ‘crisis’ is ‘crisis’, just as ‘crime’ is ‘crime’, dressing it up with the adjectives, ‘acute’ and ‘serious’ preceding ‘crisis’ and ‘crime’ are unnecessary and time wasting. According to them, it makes no sense, and that the adjectives add nothing to the statement of fact. However, some followers of the subject also argue that the adjectives, ‘acute’ and ‘serious’ only show the magnitude or extent of the event or occurrence.
Whichever way one looks at it, communicate your ideas or opinions clearly to be understood. But for this writer, in this case, he choose to toe the line of the language pragmatists; ‘crisis’ is ‘crisis’, or ‘crime’ is ‘crime’. The extra baggage, ‘acute’ or ‘serious’ to him, is meaningless and on called for. Let’s again remind ourselves; the build up to 2023 elections is gathering momentum and the campaign slogans are nonetheless pouring in ceaselessly. A quick one that both the politicians and their allies or followers, including, surprisingly too, the pen pushers want everyone to hear is the overburdened tautology, ‘electioneering campaign’, just as those seeking to be elected to the various offices move around to sell themselves to the electorates who would decide their fate when the chips are down. For the umpteenth time, the phrase, ‘electioneering campaign’, is tautology carried too far.
All in the attempt to sound pompous, many are deceived into piling up words or statements that hurts the average learner of the language. To put it plainly, an election is the process or act of choosing people for office, especially political office by taking vote, while the verb form, ‘electioneer’ is to work for the election of a candidate into public office. The familiar expression, ‘electioneering’, according to the reference books, including the Chambers 21st Century dictionary, is to campaign or work for the election of the candidate into a political office. So, to speak or write, ‘electioneering campaign’ is like repeating the meaning found in words already used. Desist from the temptation of trying to impress oneself and play safe. The truth of the matter is that the word ‘campaign’ is the synonym of ‘electioneering’ and vice versa. Don’t jump on the bandwagon because one hears others speaking it and so should follow suit. Carry out your fact finding exercise before publishing. That way, one strives for perfection. One would get to the destination with constant practice. Don’t give up.
