The cliché and colloquial exclamation mark oops! Says it all- surprise that the un-English statement, ‘level playing ground’ has found favour with the political gladiators and commentators, especially who are asking for equal opportunities for all parties or persons contesting for elections.
One is playing with imagery here or what the purists and masters of the language would call established or standard axiom or idiomatic expression that needs not be tampered with or changed at the convenience of the speaker or writer. It is now common place, to the discomfort of English pragmatists, the level at which the abuse of the language is taken.
Talking about level. Before we go into the issue proper, going by the reference books, the dictionary, in this case the Chambers 21st Century dictionary, describes ‘level’ a noun, as a horizontal plane or line, a specified height, value or extent, level area of land; and to level with something. Bring at par, giving people equal opportunity to express themselves, to keep it short and simple.
And so to create the feeling of senses, especially the sense of sight and touch in people’s mind, the creative writer or speaker utilizes imageries or figures of speech to draw his conclusion, living no one in doubt about the message he or she is trying pass across. Still there are other levels, but the most outstanding one is the ‘leveller’, a noun that drives home the fact that we are all equal before the Creator, and so we speak of death as one great leveller.
Man cannot manipulate this one or buy it. Think again, and treat one another as equal. After all, as the popular saying goes, six feet or even less awaits all no matter how highly placed one is in the society. Death is then the leveler as it neither spare the rich nor the poor. Then why do some fellow Nigerians, very few in number, particularly those who have unhindered access to our commonwealth are accumulating monies generation unborn can’t exhaust? Simply put, it is madness, or greed that can possibly lead the thief to his or her early grave, except he or she recants.
One can also be level-headed; often said of someone who is calm during crisis, the reference books as well describe the adjective, ‘level-headed’ as someone who is sensible, well balanced; and I will emphasize here, someone who is not moved or disturbed by the challenges of life Nigerians, for instance, are currently facing. To live long, let’s imbibe that attitude of taking our troubles to the Risen Lord, who is always there in the Blessed Sacrament to hear us, but first listen to Him also. Back to our lesson, the coinage, ‘level playing ground’ like other bastardized maxims, idioms and figures of speech, is home grown English.
Often, the politician or political analyst, in some cases is quick to speak of ‘level playing ground’ blotting out the standard expression, ‘level playing field’ when canvassing equal opportunities be given to the players on the field, in this case the political class now crisscrossing the land seeking for political relevance or elective offices. Stop complaining either, obtain your voters’ card, and vote your conscience in the coming 2023 elections.
From the Presidential to the Local Council elections you are presented yet again with another chance to vote out politicians without conscience and install people of integrity who have empathy for the poor, the struggling and the down trodden who are in the majority. One would be right to speak of ‘level playing field’ and ‘flat playing field’ in conversations about politics or business that has to do with competiveness demanding equal opportunities or being at par with someone gunning for the same office without giving one person undue advantage over the other person, either by manipulating the system or outright violation of the rules in favour of one party.
Be reminded that there are no short cut to the established figure of speech, ‘level playing field’, or should one change it at will to suit him or her. And so, do away with the un-English phrase, ‘level playing ground’, but stick to the standard maxim, ‘level playing field’, or ‘flat playing field’ if you like, to avoid sounding repetitive or monotonous.
